Tracey Bregman is a well-known figure in the soap opera world, though not everyone is fond of her character’s storylines.
Recently, she shared that her most iconic role, Lauren Fenmore from “Young and the Restless,” was once viewed as so unlikable that she faced death threats.
In fact, she mentioned that “people tried to run me off the highway” due to how her character was portrayed.
Lauren first graced screens in 1983, and Bregman has continued in the role ever since. Despite the character’s current popularity, things weren’t always so rosy. Initially, Lauren was quite a bully, and Bregman recalled that her character’s interactions with co-star Beth Maitland’s character, Traci Abbott, were particularly difficult for audiences to digest.
During her appearance on the “Soapy” podcast, Bregman opened up about the backlash she faced for Lauren’s cruel remarks. She confessed to Maitland that delivering such harsh lines was personally tough. “It was incredibly challenging because Beth has been one of my closest friends for 42 years. We were so tight that I could tell she was really affected by it,” she explained.
Bregman even shared a memory about Maitland feeling insecure about her weight, saying, “I had to deliver the worst comments to her, and I actually cried more than she did because it was just too hard for me.”
Though there were enjoyable moments while filming, Bregman pointed out, “Playing a sneaky character is like a double-edged sword. Yes, it’s fun, but death threats become part of the deal, and people have even tried to get me off the road.”
Podcast hosts and fellow soap stars Greg Liquorar and Rebecca Boudig were taken aback by her story.
“That was definitely a rough experience,” Bregman noted. “There were really dark moments that I haven’t detailed.”
Bregman has portrayed Lauren in over 2,000 episodes, with 1,847 of those on “Young and the Restless” and 377 on “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Prior to this, she started her soap opera journey with the role of Donna Temple Craig on “Days of Our Lives,” appearing in over 150 episodes from 1978 to 1980.
While Lauren’s character has developed a fan base over time, not all soap villains have been as fortunate.
Recently, “General Hospital” actress Eva Laru discussed her exit from the show after just one season. Despite earning favor with viewers in “All Kids,” she found that her character’s transition to “General Hospital” left her feeling unrecognized and disliked.
“Honestly, it was difficult for me personally,” she mentioned in an interview. “Playing a character like Maria Santos, who was meant to inspire love and hate, became tough when the audience shifted so drastically from loving her to outright hating her. It was especially challenging, given that I was used to being a favorite.”
