Alexandra Spaulding
The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's general notability guideline. (October 2011) |
Alexandra Spaulding | |
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Guiding Light character | |
Portrayed by |
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Duration |
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First appearance | February 10, 1984 |
Last appearance | September 18, 2009 |
Classification | Gus Aitoro |
Nieces |
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Other relatives |
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Alexandra Spaulding is a fictional character from Guiding Light, an American soap opera on the CBS network.
Beverlee McKinsey originally played the role from February 10, 1984, to August 21, 1992.[1] McKinsey made the character one of the most memorable women on daytime television and although she loved her family, "her voice dripped venom when she addressed her enemies."[2] Lydia Bruce played the role of Alexandra for a couple of days in the fall of 1984 after the death of McKinsey's husband. After an extensive search for a permanent replacement, Marj Dusay, who had played the ruthless matriarch/businessman Myrna Clegg on Capitol, was hired and portrayed the character from September 24, 1993, to March 11, 1997, from November 20, 1998, to January 21, 1999, and finally from December 26, 2002, until the final episode on September 18, 2009. She received an Emmy Nomination for the role in 1995. Legendary film and television actress Joan Collins, best known for her role as Alexis Colby on the primetime soap Dynasty, guest starred in the role from September 23, 2002, to December 23, 2002, having originally signed for six months. Collins' portrayal brought a large amount of press and attention to the show as her incarnation of the character was known as "your typical rich bitch."[3] Collins was even reported to have re-written her lines to accommodate the large amount of dialogue she needed to learn and grueling work schedule.[4]
Background
I always loved the storylines where they let her be a little absurd and show her power. I was so in favor of seeing a woman of my age show power, intelligence and also the gift of tongue and cheek and the gift of not being perfect. I love seeing women like that and how they battle to stay strong. I loved it when they put her in the big boy battles and as well as the vulnerability of love and the missing of love and standing by your family. Alex has been great to play. Soaps are fantastic to give you the human side. You roll around in time as the character evolves.
— Marj Dusay, Guiding Light: Finale Interviews
Storylines
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After a difficult childhood, throughout which she and her brother, Alan, alternated between feuding and supporting one another against their domineering father, Brandon, the young Alexandra ran away from her family wealth to gallivant across
Over the years, she's searched out many of the relatives she believed she lost, including a sister, Victoria, with whom she offered to share the family fortune. More important was her reunion with wayward son Lujack, who she eventually won over despite his misgivings. She supported him in his endeavors, although sadly he would die in an explosion. Her life got more complicated when her supposedly dead brother reappeared looking for revenge of his own. She fled to San Rios where she was kidnapped by rebels before being rescued and returned to
She began a romance with
She would return several years later, after Alan had a heart attack and the company was in turmoil. She pushed him out and tried to keep the bottle on
In the
Reception
Charlie Mason from
References
- ^ Fox, Margalit (May 9, 2008). "Beverlee McKinsey, 72, Actress in Decades of Soap Operas, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Maloney, Michael (Mar 24, 2011). "The 15 Most Memorable Female Soap Opera Characters Ever". Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ CAVALLO, JO (2002-07-17). "Joan Collins to Play Nasty Again". People. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Fox, Margalit (September 23, 2002). "Joan Collins: No Daytime Dynasty Reunion". Fox News.com. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ^ Mason, Charlie. "15 Soap Opera Recasts That Never Should've Happened [PHOTOS]". Soaps She Knows. Retrieved 20 July 2023.