‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ has experienced a number of character replacements over its many years on air. Characters such as Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) and Thorne Forrester (Winsor Harmon), who’ve had various actors in their roles, are prime examples.
The transition has been seamless for these four stars, despite the challenges that come with inheriting a role.
Katie Logan, the youngest of the Logan sisters, has long felt inferior to her siblings, Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis). Nancy Sloan was the first to play Katie, taking on the role intermittently from 1987 to 2004.
However, when the producers of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ decided on a recasting in 2007, they chose Heather Tom, a Daytime Emmy award winner.
Previously, Tom had made her name as Victoria Newman on ‘The Young and the Restless’, from 1990 to 2003. Following her exit from the CBS soap opera, she was cast as Kelly Cramer on ‘One Life to Live’.
Tom’s appointment as the new Katie stirred a buzz among fans.
Under Sloan, Katie was a secondary character, but Tom’s portrayal turned Katie into a protagonist. With storylines including Katie’s relationship with Bill Spencer (Don Diamont), a heart transplant, and other health-related story arcs, Tom got to display her formidable acting skills. She has since won four more Daytime Emmys for her role as Katie.
Ridge Forrester is a central character in ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’.
As the eldest son of Eric and Stephanie Forrester (John McCook and Susan Flannery) and a love interest for Brooke, Ridge is always at the center of the drama.
Ronn Moss was the first to bring the charming, strong, and cocky fashion designer to life.
Moss embodied Ridge’s charisma and strength for 25 years before surprising fans with his exit from the series, citing memory issues from a car accident in a 2012 interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Moss’s last appearance as Ridge was in September 2012.
The search for a new Ridge led producers to former ‘All My Children’ star Thorsten Kaye. Kaye took over as Ridge in December 2013. Although his casting had mixed reviews, Kaye’s sensitive portrayal of Ridge has captivated viewers.
As the daughter of Eric and Brooke, Bridget Forrester holds a special place in the show. Several child actors have played young Bridget, but the casting of an adult Bridget was a stroke of genius.
Jennifer Finnigan assumed the role in July 2000, instantly captivating viewers.
With compelling storylines, including the scandalous affair between Brooke and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan), Finnigan’s acting abilities were evident. Her outstanding performances led her to win three Daytime Emmys for Younger actress.
After three years, Finnigan left the show in January 2004, going on to achieve success in prime time TV with roles on ‘Crossing Jordan’ and ‘Salvation’.
Former ‘The Young and the Restless’ star Ashley Jones then took over as Bridget.
Taylor Hayes has been a key character in ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ since 1990. As a renowned psychiatrist, she became Ridge’s new romantic interest and Brooke’s nemesis.
Hunter Tylo first portrayed the character, earning fan adoration as the elegant heroine.
Tylo played Taylor intermittently until her final departure in March 2019.
When producers approached Tylo about reprising her role in December 2021, she declined, leading to the casting of Krista Allen.
The former ‘Days of Our Lives’ actress had significant shoes to fill in replacing Tylo.
In a 2021 interview with Soap Opera Digest, Allen acknowledged the fans’ concern about Taylor’s recasting, but she expressed confidence in her ability to deliver. She said, “She is a woman of great strength, and that’s what I am prepared to bring to the role.”
Fifteen months after Allen’s debut, most fans have embraced her as the new Taylor. Even though it’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Tylo as Taylor, Allen has brought her own unique interpretation to the role.