Soap Opera Digest 9/21/04 (Praise for Mary Beth)

• Thumbs Up! High Sierra

Oddly it was the week before all the hoopla about Mary Beth Evans' near

exit from her recurring role on ATWT that we noticed how much her character,

Sierra, seemed at home. The actress's previous visits (though always beautifully

performed) seemed like just that: visits.

But during Sierra's most recent stay, she truly belonged in Oakdale. Evans's chemistry

with the major players was critical to the success of the story, and she came through.

Her Sierra is exactly who she's supposed to be: a fiercely protective, yet pragmatic

mother who understands that just because you're young and he screams wrong guy

to your parents, it doesn't mean you're not truly in love. So, she supports daughter

Lucy's lust for Dusty with caution.

Evans was equally affecting when the focus turned to Sierra's own heart, broken by

the falsely accused - then killed Alan. As she crumbled in the arms of sister Lily and

mom Lucinda, it seemed like she'd never left.

We couldn't help wishing she never would again.

• What's Up for ATWT's Mary Beth:

As previously reported, Mary Beth Evans has been signed to a contract as ATWT's

Sierra. Why now? "She's been with the show for four years, soit goes without saying

that we regard her extremely highly," explains Executive Producer Christopher Goutman.

"She's done fantastic work, especially in the last few months, and we are continually

looking for her to have a larger position on the show. However, her lifestyle-living in

California- has precluded her from doing that before. But her situation changed and

that's what we responded to. We have always wanted to have Mary Beth on the show

on an ongoing basis."

To that end, ATWT has a lot planned for Evans. "We have a terrific story for her and

Hunt [Block, Craig]. We'll follow up on the ramifications of Craig's actions vis-a-vis

her husband, and we will also get her involved in WorldWide business where her path

will cross with Jordan," teases Goutman.

The show would not comment on the length of Evans contract.

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