Jill Abbott
Jill Abbott | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Young and the Restless character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portrayed by |
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Duration | 1973–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First appearance | March 27, 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Classification | Present; recurring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Created by | William J. Bell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Introduced by | William J. Bell and John Conboy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jill Abbott is a fictional character from the American CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. The longest-running and only remaining original character, Jill was created and introduced by William J. Bell. Originally portrayed by Brenda Dickson, when Dickson departed in 1980, the role was first recast with Deborah Adair. Dickson returned in 1983 and, although she stated that she would never leave the role again, she was replaced by Jess Walton in 1987, who continues in the role to present time.
When she debuted, Jill was an 18-year-old
The character is considered an icon on the soap opera,[2] and has been described as an integral part of the series. Both Dickson and Walton have characterized her as "manipulative". Walton, who classes her as a "savvy businesswoman", has opined she is similar to Gone with the Wind character Scarlett O'Hara. Critics have described her as both vindictive and a vixen. John Goudas of The Miami News said that the show "flourishes when her character takes center stage," while Nekeeta Borden of Zap2it noted that Jill has always craved a sense of belonging despite her personality. Walton's portrayal has been met with acclaim, having garnered her two Daytime Emmy Award wins.
Casting
Dickson debuted as the character on the second episode of the series. Footage of Dickson as Jill appears in the film Taxi Driver. On January 9, 1980, Dickson left the role. In May 1980, Bond Gideon briefly took over before Adair portrayed the character for an additional three years, from 1980 to 1983. Dickson returned to the role on September 8, 1983. Melinda Fee served a temporary recast also in 1984, and Adair briefly reprised the role in 1986 as a fill-in for Dickson. In 1987, when asked if she would ever leave the character of Jill again, Dickson stated: "I'm planning to branch out, maybe even a miniseries. But [that] only means shooting here at night to fill in. I can't give up Jill. I'm having too much fun with her. Besides, it's all so easy."[3] Despite this, Dickson was later replaced by Walton: first serving as a temporary replacement on June 19, 1987; then as a permanent recast airing on June 25, 1987.[4][5][6] Dickson briefly vacated the role on June 18, 1987, due to illness.[7] Dickson returned on June 22, 1987 and ultimately made her final appearance as Jill on June 24, 1987.[8][9]
In March 2009, speculation arose that Walton had taken a medical leave; however, Nelson Branco of
Development
Characterization
"There is a basic insecurity that came from her being the housekeeper's daughter. She was around Katherine with her rich society country club friends, and she had this deep feeling of inadequacy, and that is where I think it all stems up."[18]
—Walton, on Jill's insecurity as a person (2010)
In 1994, Walton described her character as, "Very much like a latter-day
Jill is known as a businesswoman, after working as a manicurist during her youth.[28] Walton has said that she wants to see Jill's business side incorporate into the storyline more, stating: "That's what Jill has always done, and she does it well. She was a really successful businesswoman. Jill did a lot of foolish things, but she was a savvy businesswoman." Additionally, Walton described Jill's business as the "core of the whole character", stating: "Jill is really a part of me – this is a unique job in that part of me does live as Jill, and I know Jill is a very savvy businesswoman."[29]
Relationships
Walton said that "Jill is attracted to powerful men" but is a "bossy little lady" who isn't going to "buckle under" to them.
After years of not having a relationship, Jill has a brief romance with district attorney
Feud with Katherine
Jill is known for her feud with Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper), which took place over four decades. BuddyTV wrote that, "Nothing spells rivalry like the on-going feud between Jill Foster Abbott and Katherine Chancellor."[36] In 1993, Katherine was diagnosed with breast cancer and shared several tender scenes with Jill.[37] Nancy Reichardt of the Los Angeles Times noted that the characters were acting out of character; she wrote: "Katherine's breast cancer scare was touching and seeing Katherine and Jill come together added an intriguing new dimension to their relationship. To confuse us, the show has thrown out this budding friendship as if it never happened. How much more moving it would have been if these two women faced Katherine's request for Jill to name her child Phillip as former adversaries trying to put the past behind them instead of as bitter enemies of days gone by."[37] Of working with Cooper, Walton has stated: "I thank God every day for that woman. She feeds me. She is like a shot in the arm when you see her in the morning. She is funny and sharp and I love her."[18]
In 2003, Katherine and Jill were believed to be mother and daughter after Katherine's friend, Charlotte Ramsey, provided factual proof. Of the storyline, Walton stated: "She's [Abbott] going down a bad road. In looking back over the past 16 years, she's gone down a lot of bad roads, for a lot of different reasons. She'll survive this one and, hopefully, maybe this time she'll learn something from it." She also described Jill as being in a "soul-searching period" during the storyline, saying: "Now she's numbing herself with the alcohol because all those feelings of love are coming up for her mother, and she doesn't know how to deal with them." Walton said she felt Jill had been "shaken to the very foundation" upon the revelation that Katherine is her mother, stating: "A big part of who she has been all these years has to do with her anger towards Katherine. She always shoved any feeling of love down. Now, she's questioning everything about herself. That's why she is in such pain and why she is drinking. That hate thing is baseless now."[27] While admitting to having been surprised with the maternity revelation, Walton thought it was "fabulous and rich, and it's opened up a whole new facet to the story".[27] However, in 2009, the characters' history was rewritten by Maria Arena Bell; Charlotte had made up this information for revenge against Katherine, and they were not mother and daughter.[26]
A writer from the
Paternal discovery
In June 2010, when Jill's adoptive mother,
Heart disease
"My character thinks she's invincible, super-strong, super-tough and doesn't want to show any weaknesses. A lot of people are like that (...) They have ostrich syndrome; they want to bury their head in the sand so they don't hear anything they don't want to know. She tried taking it lightly and cavalierly, but then it starts to sink in and get serious."[2]
—Walton describing Jill's response to her diagnosis (2017)
In February 2017, after learning that her husband Colin stole her life savings (millions of dollars), Jill suffers from a near-fatal heart attack.
The storyline idea was developed by head writer and co-executive producer Sally Sussman Morina.[2] For this storyline, the soap opera partnered with the American Heart Association in order to highlight the issue of women's heart health. Executive producer Mal Young felt that the character of Jill was the "perfect choice to show how a woman's life can dramatically change as a result of heart disease." He further mentioned that "Along with providing us with some very emotional and dramatic episodes, the subject also gives us the opportunity to educate and highlight a very pertinent issue using characters our viewers know well. As well as seeing how it affects Jill as she comes to terms with her condition, the story will also illustrate how it impacts her family and those closest to her."[41] The producers considered Jill to be the right character to tackle this issue due to her being the show's longest-running character, as well as other factors: her unhealthy lifestyle, age and "bullish personality that would deny anything was wrong".[2] Following the episode where Jill is diagnosed, Walton appeared in a public service announcement urging viewers to visit the American Heart Association website.[41] Young knew that the soap opera had to be "very responsible", stating: "We did not want to sensationalize this. We wanted to get the facts in while at the same time telling a good, dramatic story."[2]
Storylines
Backstory
Jill Foster was born in
1973–
Jill was working at a beauty shop to help support her family, until a regular at the shop, the wealthy Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper), hires her as a hairdresser and paid companion. "Jill tolerated Kay's habits of regularly drinking herself into oblivion and smoking to such an extent that her husband Phillip Chancellor, couldn't stand to be near her. Jill pitied Kay, and desperately, wanted to do everything in her power to help her." "All of Jill's many acts of kindness and great patience toward Katherine did not escape Phillip's notice and he became inexorably drawn to the innocent and beautiful young lady."
Jill gave birth to Phillip Chancellor II's baby,
Jill begins to work for cosmetics company
Jill begins an affair with wealthy
In 2003, Liz was diagnosed with a
In 2008, Katherine retires as CEO of Chancellor Industries and made Jill her successor. She stepped down and made Cane CEO, angering Billy. In November, Katherine "dies" in a car accident. However, the true victim is her lookalike,
Jill became engaged to Australian businessman
Jill is later kidnapped by Colin, who is revealed to have been released from jail. He blackmails her into remarrying him as he alludes that he has information on the music box that Katherine once told him. However, his information ends up being a dead end. After Colin's lies are exposed, Jill locks him in the attic and refuses to let him out until he owns up to his lies, which he eventually does and they patch things up. Almost a year after Katherine's death, Jill finds her most expensive jewelry to have been hidden in a chandelier at the Chancellor Estate. Enclosed with a note, Katherine left them there for Jill to find before her death as they are worth a significant amount. However, the meaning of the music box remains unknown to everyone. Afterward, all of Katherine's loved ones receive letters from her that were to be delivered on the one-year anniversary of her death. She also asks them to throw a party and celebrate, which they do. Once the party in the park is finished, Jill leaves the music box there, only for it to be stolen by an unidentified person. Jill and Colin return soon after to find the box missing, but Colin convinces her to finally let go of it.
Years later, the box was found. This time, a key was found hidden in a secret compartment. It led to Collin finding a safe deposit box with a letter from Katherine and a ring from Phillip for Jill.
Reception
John Goudas of
In 2008, Tommy Garrett of Canyon News awarded Walton a "Daytime Gold Standard" for her portrayal. He stated: "Walton played each scene in this “Bette Davis-like” emotional marathon of a week. How did Walton do it? With aplomb and greatness."[33] The following year, when Jill opened her own nail salon, Mike Jubinville, also of Zap2it, noted that the character had "stepped into a time warp".[51] Prior to being paired with Colin, Nekeeta Borden wrote that, "Jill Foster Abbott (cough, cough) Fenmore's (Jess Walton) Jimmy Choos must have crossed paths with a black cat, because she can't find a good man to bless her somewhat shriveled heart." Of the character's possible pairing with Colin, she added: "I, for one, hope that Maria Arena Bell and Co. keep Colin in Genoa City and surprise us all by making him a dream lover for Jill. She is a multidimensional character with a lot of fire, and a great capacity to be soft and vulnerable. Goodness knows she's been through the ringer [sic]. Can Jill find love with Colin, or will her newest dalliance lead to heartbreak?"[30] In 2013, Giddens wrote of Walton's portrayal throughout her run, stating: "Unlike most soap opera recasts, where success or failure depends on chemistry with an opposite sex romantic lead, newcomer Jess Walton would sink or swim, based on her ability to connect with fellow female powerhouse Jeanne Cooper, who played Jill's bitter rival Katherine "Kay" Chancellor." He also commended Walton and Cooper's portrayal of their characters' rivalry, "To say Walton swam alongside Cooper would be an understatement. The two women did a backstroke even Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps would have to admire, during their 26 years as acting partners," he wrote.[52]
Walton won a
Charlie Mason from
References
Sources
- ^ "Y&R: Famous Plots – Kay/Jill Feud". Youngandtherestless.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
- ^ The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Goudas, John (January 10, 1987). "Bad girl gets thanked with high ratings". The Miami News. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
- ^ William J. Bell and Edward J. Scott (Executive producers); William J. Bell (Head writer) (June 19, 1987). The Young and the Restless. Season 15. Episode 3630. CBS.
- ^ William J. Bell and Edward J. Scott (Executive producers); William J. Bell (Head writer) (June 25, 1987). The Young and the Restless. Season 15. Episode 3634. CBS.
- ^ a b c d e f "SOAP STAR STATS: Jess Walton (Jill, Y&R)". SoapOperaDigest.com. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
- ^ SOD (June 18, 2020). "Five Things That Happened Today In Soap History". Soap Opera Digest. United States. p. 1. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
In 1987, Brenda Dickson exited Y&R as Jill.
- ^ William J. Bell and Edward J. Scott (Executive producers); William J. Bell (Head writer) (June 22, 1987). The Young and the Restless. Season 15. Episode 3631. CBS.
- ^ William J. Bell and Edward J. Scott (Executive producers); William J. Bell (Head writer) (June 24, 1987). The Young and the Restless. Season 15. Episode 3633. CBS.
- ^ Lee, Elizabeth (March 30, 2009). "Jess Walton walks out over pay cut issue". SoapCentral. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ Lee, Elizabeth; Kroll, Dan J. (March 31, 2009). "Jess Walton walks, ultimately resigns with Y&R". SoapCentral. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J. (May 12, 2009). "Jess Walton: I was done with Y&R". SoapCentral. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J. (February 23, 2012). "Jess Walton signs new Y&R contract". SoapCentral. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J. (April 2, 2012). "Jess Walton leaving Y&R – for now". Retrieved September 23, 2012.
- ^ Novakovich, Lilana (April 9, 2012). "Hope's health worries her friends and family". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J. (September 18, 2012). "Jess Walton back to Y&R for "great story"". SoapCentral. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ Sloane, Stephanie (November 2012). "Jess Walton Returns to Y&R". Soap Opera Digest. 37: 5.
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- ^ Jamaica Gleaner. Gleaner Company. November 11, 2006. Archived from the originalon November 21, 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
- ^ a b Novakovich, Lilana (December 11, 1998). "Y&R's Kay and Jill television's most enduring battle". Waterloo Region Record. Metroland Media Group.
- ^ Tribune Media Services. Archived from the originalon June 25, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c "'Young And Restless' Works With American Heart Association For Important Message To Women". CBS Los Angeles. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
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- ^ Irwin & Cassata 1998, p. 21
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Further reading
- Irwin, Barbara; Cassata, Mary (1998). The Young and the Restless, Special Silver Anniversary Collector's Edition. General Pub Group. ISBN 9781575440453.