Soap Opera Digest September 12, 2022

Chloe Lanier, who won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actress in 2018 for her portrayal of vixen Nelle Benson, is popping in to Port Charles for a visit this week. The actress was a regular on the show from 2016-18 and 2019-20, when Nelle fell to her presumed death after a heated confrontation with Carly. While the show is keeping the details of Nelle’s reappearance under wraps, Lanier reports that her comeback came about “when Frank [Valentini, executive producer] texted me. I was on a plane and he said that he had an idea for something [involving Nelle], and I was like, ‘Oh, okay, cool.’ He didn’t tell me what it was, but I was like, ‘Sure, that sounds great!’” Once she officially signed on, though, tapping into her inner Nelle…

After pouring his heart out to Trina in a letter, Spencer shows up at the party celebrating her exoneration, intent on handing her the missive. According to his portrayer, Nicholas Chavez, Spencer has held his tongue thus far to Trina “because he loves her and love is about what you give and not about what you take and Spencer is finally understanding that. And he knows that [by remaining silent], he’s giving Trina the gift of being able to be a young woman who might be in love with another person that’s not him, and who could be what she needs.” At the same time, Spencer knows that confessing his feelings “would also be giving her the gift of the truth: ‘I’ve always been fighting for you and I love you with…

Diane’s worst fears come true when Talia publishes an exposé on Ms. Jenkins’s unsavory past. “I guess Talia wasn’t that charmed by Diane after all, because the article still comes out and it’s not very flattering,” chuckles Susan Walters (Diane). “Unfortunately, all of it’s true, so it’s not like she can sue anyone for libel.” Not surprisingly, Diane is hit hard by the account. “She’s ashamed and humiliated, and even though Kyle already knows all this stuff, did he really need to see it in black and white again?” Walters points out. “Just knowing there’s somebody out there against you makes you a little nervous that every nook and cranny of your life can be exposed. It’s quite disconcerting because Diane is genuinely trying to make a new life for herself.” Diane…

With Sonny in the hospital recovering from stab wounds, Leo is Public Enemy No. 1 in Salem. “After we decided that Abigail would die, we thought that there would be some subsequent attacks or a second attempted murder that ties to Leo having his list of revenge,” begins Head Writer Ron Carlivati. “Sonny drew the short straw, which put Leo right back front and center and raises the question, ‘Is Leo guilty or is someone framing him?’” Determined to prove his innocence, Leo dons a disguise and visits Sonny at the hospital. “The walls are closing in on Leo and the evidence against Leo for stabbing Sonny is pretty solid,” contends the scribe. “It just seems to corroborate the idea that he killed Abigail and crossed her off his list and…

Thomas taking a more active role in Douglas’s life does not sit well with Liam. “I think Liam has had pretty understandable PTSD when it comes to Thomas,” says portrayer Scott Clifton. “Any time Thomas wants to make a change or lodge any kind of a complaint, Thomas asking for anything just freaks Liam out. Between all the interactions they’ve had in the past, and almost always, as far as Liam sees, it always leads to a pretense for Thomas to get closer to Hope. Liam has seen this cycle over and over again.” Though Thomas insists he has changed, Liam does want to give Thomas the benefit of the doubt. “Hey, maybe Thomas is better this time,” Clifton notes. “Maybe this is not a manipulative ploy. It could be, but…

with Brook Kerr (Portia, GH) Digest named you and Vernee Watson (Stella) as Performers of the Week for the beautiful work you did when Portia and Stella had their heart-to-heart before Trina’s trial. What did you think when you first read the script? “When I got the script, it just really flowed, and I really have to give a shout-out to [the outline writer] Shannon Peace and [dialogue writer] Charlotte Gibson. It was beautifully written and I think for Portia, this was kind of the first time she really opened up to someone else besides Curtis. I think she’s got just so many plates spinning — she’s worried about the schizophrenia, she’s worried about things from the past possibly coming back to the forefront, she’s got a daughter who is on…