How Old Is Nikki On ‘The Young And The Restless?’

Diehard fans of The Young and The Restless will remember that Nikki Newman has been a fixture on the award-winning daytime drama almost four decades since 1978.

In that time, she has only been plays by three actors, Erika Hope who filled the role for a year until the character was recast with Melody Thomas Scott taking over in 1979.

In 1984 Robin Eisenman took over the role temporarily.

With so many years active as a character on the popular soap, it is no wonder The Young and the Restless fans wonder about the actor’s age as she still looks very young.

The Young And The Restless – On Portraying Nikki Newman

The official website for The Young and The Restless described the timeless character of Nikki Newman, saying that she “has matured from the girl from the wrong side of the tracks to the serial’s luminous and resourceful heroine.”

Of her decades long relationship with the character, actor Melody Thomas Scott told Michael Fairman who played Patrick Murphy on The Young and The Restless till 2017, “Ever since I have been an actress, which is 56 years now, I have always preferred high drama, angst, and catastrophes. I find it more interesting to play. I guess it’s no accident that I found my way into soap operas.”

Y&R – The Road That Led to ‘The Young and The Restless’

Melody Thomas Scott was born on April 18, 1956, in Los Angeles, California and took on her first role in the 1964 Alfred Hitchcock movie Marni.

During the mid-70s the ageless Young and The Restless star appeared in numerous parts in television and films, notably in John Wayne’s final film The Shootist (1976).

For that role she got the honor of being that last actress to ever exchange lines with John Wayne.

Later the actor was offered parts on such nighttime drama series as The Rockford Files, and Charlie’s Angels with a recurring role in The Waltons.

In 1979 at 23 years of age, Scott took on the role of the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks portraying Nikki Reed on The Young and The Restless and, from there, the rest is, shall we say, history.

In February of 2019 The Young and The Restless featured a stand-alone episode that honored Melody Thomas Scott for her 4 decades as Nikki.

Fans of The Young and Restless can continue to catch new episodes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:30 AM Central on CBS.