Updated to add: Congratulations to Judith Light on her 2012 Tony win!
 
Originally published on 11/7/11

SEEING THE LIGHT

Last week, the soap opera rumor mill was churning with speculation regarding whether or not Judith Light would reprise her iconic role as Karen Wolek on One Life to Live before the series went off the air on ABC in January 2012.

For a while the answer seemed to be yes. Currently, it appears to stand at no.

Nevertheless, I wanted to take a moment to honor the actress who, when I was compiling nominations for Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments, inspired kudos not only from soap fans:

The thing about soap opera is that it's the relationships and small moments that matter. That's why, when the "big moments" happen, they mean so much more. Something like Karen Wolek on the stand. Unless you followed her story – all the moments of anguish, self-hatred, loathing, etc... – the moment when she testified to save a friend wouldn't have as much meaning.

And soap journalists:

Mimi Torchin: Judith Light won the 1980 Daytime Emmy for Lead Actress for this scene and no matter how successful she has become (she was nominated for a Tony Award in 2011 for her role in Lombardi), this scene will be remembered as HER most memorable moment by everyone who witnessed it, no pun intended.

But also her follow actors:

Linda Dano: I believe you can get a certain actor who is filled with emotion or is digging deep, and you can walk by your TV and, I swear to you, that actor will stop you dead in your tracks, and you’ll find yourself sitting down and watching. I think that some performance in daytime – not all, but some – is as good as it gets.

Judith Light is currently appearing in Other Desert Cities on Broadway, alongside Stockard Channing and Stacey Keach. Read an interview with the cast, here.

And please check out Judith Light's Intimate Portrait, the part that addresses One Life to Live, below: