‘The Young And The Restless’ (Y&R) Interview: Melissa Claire Egan Discusses Soap Debut On ‘All My Children’ As “Annie”

Melissa Claire Egan is one of “Young and the Restless” biggest superstars, with a huge fanbase. Justin Hartley and Melissa have an on-screen chemistry that cannot be matched by any other couple on the show right now. Soap Opera Digest caught up to chat with her about what it was like to be named hottest newcomer in 2006 for her role of Annie on “All My Children.”

She recalled the moment she learned she was named hottest newcomer. She said, “I was flattered and excited. Heck, thinking about it even now nine years later-  I still get butterflies thinking about the moment.” She said she cannot believe that she first appeared on the soap scene almost a decade ago.

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Melissa Claire Egan revealed she never thought she’d be the type to get star struck by anyone, however, when she first met Susan Lucci (AMC, ex-Erica) she felt overwhelmed by the experience. She said, “Susan is and was an icon. I remember in the beginning having normal conversations with her about our lives and in my head I’m screaming at the top of my lungs oh my god this is Susan Lucci!” She noted after that she went on to stab her, choke her, and eventually get slap by the soap queen on the set of “All My Children.” She said, “It’s a soap opera star’s dream.”

When she first landed the part of Annie, she had no expectations. She said she wasn’t thinking about quitting her full-time job or of that nature. She was excited for a new beginning that hopefully would change her life at some point- and it did.

She said in the soap world, you never feel secure in a role. At any moment, you can be killed off or the soap can be canceled. When Annie went crazy in “AMC,” she felt secure for a while because fans loved the storyline. She noted that on “Y&R,” she feels pretty secure as Chelsea Lawson-Newman.

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She said she has changed so much since she landed her first major soap role. She has almost ten years of experience, played two amazing characters (Annie and Chelsea) and married to an amazing (and hot) man. She said if she could talk to her 24-year-old self she would say that she is proud of her for all the hard work she did. She said she’d probably tell me, “Wow, your hubby Is really hot.”

Melissa had a piece of advice for newcomers trying to break into the soap world today. She said, “Work not only on your TV character but your personal character as a human being. Be good. Work hard. Be grateful. And don’t ever be an entitled brat!” Do you remember Melissa’s portrayal of Annie on “AMC?”

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