Starr Manning
Starr Manning | |||||||
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One Life to Live character | |||||||
Portrayed by |
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Duration | 1996–2013 | ||||||
First appearance | January 8, 1996 | ||||||
Last appearance | March 20, 2013 | ||||||
Classification | Former; regular | ||||||
Created by | Michael Malone | ||||||
Introduced by |
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Crossover appearances | General Hospital | ||||||
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Starr Manning is a fictional character from the daytime drama
Starr is the oldest child of
Casting and creation
The role of Starr was originated by child actors, Ariella and Natalie Jamnik who appeared in the role from in January 1996 upon the character's birth onscreen. The Jamnik sisters departed from the series in January 1998 and Meghan Rayder briefly appeared in the role throughout February 1998.[1] Kristen Alderson first made her debut in the role of Starr Manning on March 20, 1998, on One Life to Live.[2] After a 3-year stint, in April 2001, Alderson signed a 5-year contract making her at the time the youngest performer in daytime television to appear in a contract role.[3] In the spring of 2009, rumors began to circulate that Alderson was about to leave the series due to her not getting along with co-star, Brandon Buddy who played Cole Thornhart. However, Alderson later revealed in an interview that both rumors were completely false.[4]
Upon the serial's cancellation, it was announced that production company Prospect Park would continue production of the series, along with ABC's other cancelled soap opera All My Children as web series. In October 2011, it was reported that Alderson was in negotiations to continue with the soap opera online.[5] However, Soaps In Depth later confirmed that Alderson and her brother, Eddie, had declined the offer to continue with the series, and would be relocating to California.[6][7] Two days before the airing of One Life to Live's series finale on ABC, the network announced that Alderson, and several other co-stars including her onscreen parents Kassie DePaiva and Roger Howarth would be reprising their roles on the last remaining ABC soap opera, General Hospital.[8][9][10][11]
Alderson began taping her first scenes on January 27 and several days later revealed through Twitter that she had signed a three-year deal.[12][13][14][15] It was then announced that Van Hughes would briefly reprise his role as Cole.[16] Alderson would make her first appearance during the week of February 20, with she and Hughes first appearing on February 24.[17][18]
In January 2013, news broke that Alderson and other One Life to Live co-stars who had been airing on General Hospital were to depart or "at least temporarily exit". One Life to Live was in the process of being brought back by Prospect Park's
Development
Characterization
A blend of her legendary parents' (One Life to Live’s Todd Manning and Blair Cramer) best and worst qualities, Starr is a willful young woman plagued by the trauma of the deaths of her first love and their child.[2]
As a child, Starr is known for her mischievous behavior, exacerbated by her parents' chaotic relationship. Still as strong-willed as ever, Starr nonetheless settles down during her teen years.[22] Alderson described Starr as being very stubborn when she does not get things her way or when someone goes against what she honestly believes is right; very much like her parents. "When Starr was younger, she was a brat and if she wanted something, she would fight until she got it," Alderson said.[23] Though Starr mellows out during her teen years, a 2010 storyline in which another girl threatens her relationship with Cole forces the character to revert to her old ways. Alderson said, "Lately, we haven't seen that side of her because it hasn't had to come out. The fans were missing that spunk and backbone, so they'll be excited to see Starr back in her element. She's going to fight for what she believes in."[24] In a 2009 interview, Michael Fairman highlighted that Starr changed a lot after becoming a teenage mother. Alderson said that the storyline helped her mature personally, and also allowed the maturation of the character.[25] Starr shares similarities with both her parents. Very much like her mother, when Starr is very distraught, she leans on the nearest man. This is displayed on two separate occasions when Starr falls for other guys due to her relationship with Cole being in shambles.[26]
Musical element
In 2007, the series produced "Prom Night: The Musical", a number of musical episodes focusing on the
In summer, 2011, One Life to Live returned to musical themes for the character of Starr by having her develop a friendship with college DJ
Cole Thornhart
In the fall of 2006, Brandon Buddy made his first appearance as Cole Thornhart creating a
Teen pregnancy
"I'm Starr's age and I'm definitely not ready... Think about sex and decide how important it is to you.... You can always say 'no,' even if you've said 'yes' before — it's your decision."
—Kristen Alderson on Starr's decision to have sex[32]
In 2008, One Life to Live launched a storyline featuring Starr focusing on teen pregnancy as part of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
17: What is the show trying to do through the teen pregnancy story line?
[W]e just really hope to get parents and teenagers talking about [teen pregnancy] because it happens to 750,000 teenage girls every year. The statistics are insane! So just to get people to be like, You know, I should have a plan before I have sex. Starr didn’t use protection when she had sex, because she got very caught up in the moment and everything, and that happens to a lot of people. So, we’re just trying to say, Well, this is what happened to Starr, this is what she’s dealing with — think about it and talk about it and bring it into your own life.
17: Did Starr ever expect she would get pregnant at 16?
You know, it’s funny, because Starr had a line where she goes, "You know, I was always in the classroom when they were talking about safe sex, and I would look around at all the other kids and say, 'I wonder who’s going to be the one to not listen to these lectures, 'cause it’s definitely not going to be me,' ” and it was her. Everyone thinks, That won’t happen to me, I only had sex one time without protection, it’s not going to happen, and it could, and it does — to a whole lot of teenagers.
In an interview with Soap Central's Dan J. Kroll, Alderson described the plot as being "a very adult storyline… It's a very big issue and we feel very honored to be doing such a powerful storyline and hopefully educate some viewers about teenage pregnancy because it's a very big issue and it [can be] scary."[35] In January 2009, Soap Opera Digest conducted an interview with Amy Kramer, the director of Entertainment Media for the campaign. Kramer discussed the campaign's history with ABC and also gave some facts about the storyline:[36]
Because it [One Life to Live]'s a soap opera, the producers have the luxury of telling it in real time. Starr was pregnant for 37 weeks on ONE LIFE [in 2008]. The audience saw her dealing with so many of the things that girls in her situation deal with — finding out she's pregnant, telling the first friend, trying to keep it from her parents, [deciding] how she and her boyfriend were going to deal with it, how it will impact their relationship, and the way she felt when her body started changing. If it's just an hour-long drama, a lot of the nuances are left out.
Baby switch and Schuyler Joplin
Starr's decision to put the child up for adoption and the child's supposed "death" eventually drives the couple apart. By 2009, Cole is struggling with a drug addiction and Starr's attempts to help him deal start to bring them closer together. For
"I think maybe something will develop after all the drama dies down; with him going through so much, and her going through so much, and going through so much together. They have really realized that they need each other to help one another out. They’re realizing they are working better as a team than alone. I don’t really know if it’s anything romantic, quite yet. They are putting that on hold while they have so much to deal with."[25]
—Alderson, on Starr and Cole's potential reunion.
During Starr's time away from Cole, she develops a crush on her biology teacher,
Hannah and James
In the spring of 2010, Starr does not have a date to prom because Cole is in prison. At the time, Cole and Starr's relationship is being threatened by Cole's college lab partner, the crazed
Losing Cole and Hope
Upon Alderson's introduction as Starr on General Hospital, it was assumed by fans and critics that Starr would be paired with Michael Corinthos (Chad Duell). However, many wondered what would happen to Cole and Hope. Viewers are shocked in late February when Starr survives a fatal car accident that kills Cole and Hope. Alderson responded to the decision on Twitter urging fans not to blame head-writer Ron Carlivati revealing that both Buddy and Hughes were unavailable to continue in the role of Cole. Alderson promised her fans that the storyline would definitely lead to greater possibilities for Starr.[39][40] Starr goes on the war path when Michael's father, Sonny is arrested in connection to the shooting which led to the car accident. At the time, Michael is also grieving the loss of his girlfriend, and according to Alderson he is the "only person that could really understand what Starr is going through."[41]
Storylines
1996–2005
Upon birth, baby Starr is kidnapped by her presumed dead father to make her mother after finding her with another man. When Starr is diagnosed with
2006–12
Starr befriends
On New Year's Starr and Cole are reunited during a prison break. Hannah soon follows and takes Starr hostage at gunpoint. Cole takes a bullet for Starr and James realizes she will always love him, so he ends their relationship. Todd helps Cole fake his death so he can go be with his parents. But once Starr and Hope are in LA, Cole shows up having been sent by Todd to be Starr's "bodyguard".
2012–13
Upon
Starr is seen grieving on the anniversary of Cole and Hope's death, as well as lamenting the day she met Michael and starting a relationship. As they leave the gravesite, an unknown figure walks forward and gazes sadly at Cole and Hope's gravestones. It is heavily suggested that it is Cole and he survived the accident; however, it remains unknown. On March 20, 2013, Starr receives an emergency call from Langston, telling her to return to Los Angeles immediately. She leaves Michael and tells him she will be back soon. A few days later, Starr calls Michael and tells him she is not returning to Port Charles, and breaks up with him without an explanation. It is implied that Hope and Cole turned up alive in Los Angeles and Starr went into hiding with them.
Reception
Alderson received fan mail from fans all over in response to her portrayal of pregnant teenaged Starr, "[…] the most important thing is that we've gotten teenagers and their parents to really talk about the issue and ask the important questions. 'Do you have a plan? What are you going to do? Is this the right time for you?' And they have gotten so much closer to their parents and it warms out hearts to hear that," Alderson revealed in an interview.[35] Amy Kramer also commented on the success of Alderson's online blog about the storyline; "Kristen had hundreds of comments on the blog during the pregnancy — people sharing their own stories about their own relationships with their boyfriends or their parents, or [writing] how they felt about it." Kramer also applauded the series for the strong portrayal of Starr's mother during her pregnancy.[36]
One Life's Executive producer, Frank Valentini was honored by HeartShare Human Services of New York at their annual spring gala for his work in Starr's pregnancy storyline. Valentini, Alderson, Kramer along with ABC's Sue Johnson were invited to participate in a symposium at Hofstra University "[highlighting] the unique role entertainment can play in dealing with social and health issues that affect woman in the country and around the world."[42]
In August 2008, Soap Opera Digest featured an interview on their website with Ashley Wilkens who made a guest appearance as the assistant at Starr's obstetrician's office; Wilkens was also a teenage mom who began working with the campaign to raise awareness. Wilkens could identify with Starr who had made the choice to put her baby up for adoption, despite her family's disapproval.
In November 2010, Alderson and costar Brandon Buddy were honored by Michael Fairman giving them the "Power Performance of the Week" when Starr and Cole were forced to say goodbye after he is sentenced to 10 years in prison.
References
- ^ a b "Who's Who in Port Charles: Starr Manning". Soapcentral.com. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
- ^ Disney–ABC Television Group. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J. (April 15, 2001). "Who's coming? Who's going?". Soapcentral.com. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J. (May 25, 2009). "Alderson rejects claims that she wants to leave OLTL". Soapcentral.com. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Gore, Scotty (October 27, 2011). "'One Life' November Casting Updates". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ "LIFE Ends For Gregory & The Aldersons". Soaps In Depth. Bauer Media Group. November 10, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ "In Development…Numerous 'One Life to Live' Stars Saying No to Potential Prospect Park Move". Soap Opera Network. November 10, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- American Media. January 11, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Silberman, Lindsay (January 11, 2012). "One Life to Live Alums to Reprise Characters on General Hospital". TV Guide. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Barnert, Deanna (January 11, 2012). "'One Life to Live' Faves Move to 'General Hospital'". MSN TV. MSN. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Nobles, Omar (January 11, 2012). "'One Life to Live's' DePaiva, Howarth, Alderson and Easton Joining 'General Hospital'". TVSource Magazine. SoSource Media. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Giddens, Jamey (January 16, 2012). "One Life to Live's Kristen Alderson Starts Filming General Hospital Eppys on Jan. 27!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Fairman, Michael (January 27, 2012). "Kristen Alderson tweets she has signed a 3-year deal with General Hospital!". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Bowe, Jillian. "Kristen Alderson Inks 3-Year Deal With General Hospital!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J. (January 30, 2012). "OLTL's Kristen Alderson inks long-term GH contract". Soapcentral.com. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ "Cole & Starr Together Again!". Soaps In Depth. Bauer Media Group. January 30, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Bowe, Jillian (January 25, 2012). "First Airdates Announced For Robert, Anna and OLTL Stars on General Hospital!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ "Who Will Show Up When?". Soaps In Depth. Bauer Media Group. February 16, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- Tribune Media Services. Archived from the originalon January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ Lewis, Errol (January 17, 2013). "ABC Comments on 'GH' vs. 'OLTL' Re: Starr, Todd and John". Soap Opera Network. Manti, Inc. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
- ^ Logan, Michael (March 25, 2013). "Breaking News: One Life to Live Stars Head Back to General Hospital". TV Guide. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
- ^ Jacobs, Damon L. (February 23, 2010). "Moving Day with OLTL - Kristen Alderson Interview". We Love Soaps. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ American Media. January 7, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Barnert, Deanna (2010). "Kristen Alderson Talks 'One Life to Live'". MSN TV. MSN. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Fairman, Michael (May 10, 2009). "THE KRISTEN ALDERSON INTERVIEW – ONE LIFE TO LIVE". On Air - On Soaps. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ American Media. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- American Media. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Tina (February 6, 2008). "One Life To Life - Starr Manning Turns 16!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
- ^ a b c Fairman, Michael (May 14, 2010). "The Ron Carlivati and Kristen Alderson Interviews – One Life to Live". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Gore, Scotty (August 31, 2011). "Kristen Alderson Makes Music for 'One Life to Live'". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Gore, Scotty (September 17, 2011). "'One Life' Fall Casting Notes". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ a b West, Abby (March 11, 2008). "Scoops on 'World Turns,' 'One Life'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ "The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy". 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-04-30. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
- Hearst Corporation. June 9, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ a b Kroll, Dan J. (June 30, 2008). "Kristen Alderson talks about Starr's pregnancy, viewer reaction and some stunning figures". Soapcentral.com. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ American Media. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Giddens, Jamey (November 1, 2011). "EMERGENCY RECAST: Brandon Buddy to Be Replaced as One Life to Live's Cole!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on December 15, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Giddens, Jamey (November 1, 2011). "UPDATE: Van Hughes Cast as Cole on One Life to Live!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on November 25, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ "Alderson Speaks Out!". Soaps In Depth. Bauer Media Group. March 1, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Fairman, Michael (March 1, 2012). "GH's Kristen Alderson takes to twitter to share her thoughts on the death of Cole and Hope!". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (March 7, 2012). "'General Hospital's' Kristen Alderson Finds Another Life to Live in Port Charles". XFINITY TV. Comcast. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Fairman, Michael (March 25, 2009). ""OLTL" participates in Teen Pregnancy Symposium…Valentini honored!". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- American Media. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Fairman, Michael (November 11, 2010). "Power Performance of the Week: Brandon Buddy & Kristen Alderson's last scenes!". On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ Giddens, Jamey (November 17, 2010). "Chelsea Handler Pokes Fun at One Life to Live's Starr and James!". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2012.