Daytime Confidential's Top 10 Most Improved of 2008
No. 8: Mandy Bruno - Guiding Light
Marina Cooper (Mandy Bruno) was one half of a hot pairing this year in 2008, opposite Aussie bad boy Cyrus Foley (Murray Bartlett). With a blatant chemical connection, Bruno and Bartlett fed off one another in each and every seen, which is why it made absolutely no sense for a show on soap opera life support to split them apart. Cyrina fans were disgusted when Marina's beloved Aunt Harley (Beth Ehlers) swooped in and snatched the rogue right out from underneath her nubile niece. Harley's betrayal did have one positive effect. It gave Mandy Bruno material she could finally get dirty with. Going head-to-head with an actress of Ehlers' caliber and status on the soaps allowed the young actress the opportunity to expand her range and learn from a pro.
Bruno impressively kept Marina centered as the character raged at Harley and even tried her hand at revenge. Watching Bruno express Marina's devastation over what Cyrus and Harley put her through, and valiantly portraying her struggle to break free of the man she so desperately loved has been one of the precious few joys of watching Guiding Light this year.
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Comments
3 December 2008
5 days 10 hours
Pleasantly surprised to see Jake Silbermann on here. I get flack from friends for saying that he's gotten a lot better than when he first started on the show (they still say he's wooden). I like him and I think he does a good job portraying a character with stunted emotional growth. I just with TPTB would take him off the back-burner and put him in a decent storyline along with Van.
Nice to Arianne Zuker on here too. She was terrible when she first started on Days but she's grown tons since the return. Too bad her current storyline stinks.
8 May 2008
6 weeks 6 days
I think that Judith Chapman could act, but her character was simply irredeemable until today's episode. It was the best work of her career and made me and the fans sympathetic to her. I wanted Gloria gone, but I am loving her now.
siomonstuart2003
14 November 2007
3 years 2 weeks
Thank You for putting Brandon Buddy on the list! I'd put him #1 on my most improved list. The kid has come a loooong way. Not only has he improved but I think he's turned into a terrific actor who brought me to tears several times over the last year. I haven't watched recently (my own private Tarty Boycott) and BB is one of the few things I really miss...
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DaisyClover (aka SamBot #1)
12 May 2008
4 hours 59 min
SO glad to see My girl Mandy Bruno on here. She really did do the Damn thing this past year. I'm just happy to see her get the credit she deserves!
Brandon Buddy, Lawrence St. Victor, and even Judith Chapman have all improved leaps and bounds this past year as well!
Nice list, y'all!
20 December 2008
2 years 43 weeks
You guy's really hit the mark on the head about
lawrence St Victor & Mandy Bruno...they really have been amazing in a very turbulant year over at "Guiding Light". I do have to say there seems to be more interest in the show as of late for many reasons...let's just hope we can save the LIGHT.
21 November 2008
3 hours 20 min
While some actors transcend mediocre to bad writing, it seems like Judith Chapman needs it on the page; when it's there, she brings the heat.
Good picks all the way around...
24 January 2008
29 weeks 3 days
i would just have to say that picture of star and cole rivals any hollywood golden era movie poster. they have chemistry and energy and knowing their story makes the picture even more amazing.
awesome choices - i bow to your listmaking! keep them coming!
6 September 2008
45 weeks 6 days
i'm glad that DROOPY DAWG lady won, i like her!
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