If Jess Walton Takes A Permanent "Sick Day," Who Should Play Jill On The Young and the Restless?




If the unthinkable were to occur and The Young and the Restless' Jess Walton doesn't come back after her "illness," who would you like to fill the role? Online speculation has Anna Stuart and Victoria Wyndham in the running, while Daytime Confidential's Jamey suggests General Hospital's Jane Elliot. Just to throw a couple other stilettos into the ring, what about Linda Dano or Deidre Hall with dye job? While discussing it with Jamey he couldn't resist the fantasy, "Imagine Deidre Hall opposite Eileen Davidson once again," he told me. 

Who would you like to see as Jill?

Anna Stuart
15% (173 votes)
Deidre Hall
35% (398 votes)
Jane Elliot
15% (169 votes)
Linda Dano
13% (145 votes)
Victoria Wyndham
16% (181 votes)
Someone Else (Put in comments)
7% (78 votes)
Total votes: 1144

Comments

Member since:
15 May 2008
Last activity:
1 hour 56 min

Lord half of these heifers are a joke imo playing that role. Nothing against them, they are stellar actors but half of them can't do the role of Jill justice like Jess has for years. The only one would be my UBER fav Quartermaine, TRACY! Dee can be Casey Reed on Y&R fo' sure.

Luke Kerr's picture
Member since:
16 August 2007
Last activity:
28 min

Take off your earrings Jillian, because I disagree. lol....there have been to many people like Cady McClain who went from a role like Dixie to an equally as popular character on another soap. Gina Tognoni wasn't much on OLTL, does a great job on GL as Dinah. Giving an actor or actress a new character so sink their teeth into can be one of the best things that ever happened to them if they have good writing. I would pit at least four of those ladies toe-to-toe against Jess Walton any day, and I love Jess Walton. lol

Member since:
9 September 2008
Last activity:
1 year 51 weeks

I think HALL & DANO are the best suggestions from that list.

BUT, if someone else were to play the role of Jill (I do hope Jess is okay), it should be...

DEBORAH ADAIR!

Adair back in the role would be a wonderful Y&R coup on many levels. And the woman could still kick some major ass.

Member since:
15 May 2008
Last activity:
1 hour 56 min

Luke I don't have to take off a lint ball for that mess! *LMAO!* Cady I could've seen her playing a bitchy role and the same with Gina T. But those other gals when you picture them against Jeanne Cooper and the men Jill has ran through in GC.... Well it don't gel well. Since Jamey put the idea of Jane out there I'm not too broken up if Jess leaves. I hope she doesn't but hell that is a BADASS replacement.

Member since:
27 March 2009
Last activity:
1 year 20 weeks

I could see Anna Stuart in the role. I love Jane Elliot too, but she's under contract at GH. Anna Stuart is free and willing to work. She'd be a great temporary recast. She knows how to play a solids rich bitch with a heart of gold and vulnerability. She would be a rocking Jill Foster Abbott temp-recast! I could also see her as the high profile businesswoman Jill is, not so much with the others.

Member since:
22 January 2008
Last activity:
27 min 12 sec

Anyone who doesn't think Dee can do good bitch needs to go watch clips from the Salem Stalker storyline, the Devil Possession storyline or Marlena vs. Kristen. Who would have ever thought after years of playing tragic heroine Ashley Abbott, Eileen could do a bat shit crazy character like Kristen justice? Anna Stuart is the only major miss for me. She is tooooo femme and glam for the part. They need a more aggressive big boned gal for Jill!

Luke Kerr's picture
Member since:
16 August 2007
Last activity:
28 min 1 sec

How could you Jillian! You're possibly depriving one of these women a paycheck because you don't have faith in their acting. Linda Dano is a daytime icon and would rock da house as Jill. Deidre Hall is headed towards broke (ok, not really but just saying) and will need the money for alimony. This could be as big for Jane Elliot as Tracy Q is. Anna Stuart could do this role in her sleep. Victoria hasn't had an acting gig in years and I'm sure she'd entertain such an opportunity. You're wishing financial ill on one of these ladies! lol

Luke Kerr's picture
Member since:
16 August 2007
Last activity:
28 min 1 sec

And what's more, it's hard out there for a one time soap diva. You should give these women a chance. lol

Member since:
15 May 2008
Last activity:
1 hour 56 min

Sit it down Luke! *LOL* Sorry but Linda Dano needs to go back to OLTL, she can take Skye with her or hell they can turn back up to GH. Victoria can do Broadway and that Anna chicka, she can turn up to AMC to cause hell for Erica and Kendall. Dee has always been my candidate for Nikki's big sis Casey. We need to pimp that idea hard.

Luke Kerr's picture
Member since:
16 August 2007
Last activity:
28 min 1 sec

I refuse to sit down! I've been doing that all day. Don't you go messing with my Another World memories....you hear me now? LOL

Member since:
22 January 2008
Last activity:
27 min 12 sec

Victoria Wyndham circa 1998 I would die to see as Jill, but...after she was paired with Charles Keating she started talking in some weird, faux British accent like she had lost her doggone mind! Rachel Davis came from the wrong side of the tracks! She pulled a Madonna before Madonna. I ain't trying to watch her perfoming "Love Letters" in Geona City.

wr022's picture
Member since:
24 March 2008
Last activity:
34 weeks 6 days

I think Y&R should try and steal Finola Hughes again, god knows Guza's not going to use her. She played a great bitch on Pacific Palisades.

Member since:
15 May 2008
Last activity:
1 hour 56 min

*ROTFLMAO!* CHURCH JAMEY! See I ain't the only one that thinks Ma Corey should NOT desecrate the role of Jill Abbott. Luke you've been shut down with that. Sorry fearless leader but we've vetoed that idea. Side note: I thought it was just me that heard Rachel and that damn faux accent.

Member since:
22 January 2008
Last activity:
27 min 12 sec

Oh no, Vicky is actually rumored to be up for it! LOL And trust, me, I don't say this lightly, because she is one of my top five fave actresses in soaps period, but she is not Jill. Now Dina Mergeron...maybe?

Member since:
15 May 2008
Last activity:
1 hour 56 min

Oh Lord! John Abbott, I'm coming to join you honey! *clutching my chest like Fred Sandford* I'm going to say some chants and pray to Bill Bell VW doesn't get it. Look I have NOTHING against the actress, she's a wicked one (meaning she's the greatest for some of ya'll out there) but she is NOT Jill Abbott. I'm sorry she isn't. Now I am thinking she could've been a cool Gloria Bardwell..........

Luke Kerr's picture
Member since:
16 August 2007
Last activity:
28 min 1 sec

I know, Judith Chapman can play a dual role as Jill  and Gloria and it will turn out they are twin sisters....LMAO!!!!!

JasonMorganIsAHottie's picture
Member since:
9 October 2008
Last activity:
11 weeks 6 days

I voted for Anna Stuart only because Jane Elliot is under contract at GH.

All of the ladies would be great in the Jill role.

SoapSnob's picture
Member since:
1 July 2008
Last activity:
39 min 27 sec

Victoria Wyndham is NOT Jill Abbott - too aristocratic looking and sounding.

Anna Stuart is NOT Jill Abbott - too "femme and glam" and old money snooty. (Remember when Anna subbed for Maeve Kincaid as Vanessa on GL? She was perfect in that.)

Linda Dano is NOT Jill Abbott - too... just too NOT Jill.

Deidre Hall is NOT Jill Abbott - she is (or should be or will be) Dr. Casey Reed. (LOL)

Jane Elliott is NOT Jill Abbott - she is too vicious. I still remember - and get chills thinking about - her as Carrie Todd Marler, Ross' multiple personality killer of a wife.

BRENDA DICKSON is the ONLY SUITABLE replacement. Or permanent recast if it is necessary. Brenda at least needs to be given a chance to redeem herself.

season1217's picture
Member since:
23 July 2008
Last activity:
14 weeks 1 day

I, too, suggested Judith Chapman on Facebook. They could delve further into Jill's past and have Rebecca Budig play a young Jill.Tongue

Member since:
15 May 2008
Last activity:
1 hour 56 min

You and Luke are no longer in this discussion Season, with that type of thinking! *LOL*

season1217's picture
Member since:
23 July 2008
Last activity:
14 weeks 1 day

Me and Luke think outside the box.

Member since:
20 December 2008
Last activity:
3 years 37 weeks

I'm sorry to say this,

It's either the producers/screenwriters not write for the character of Jill until Jess returns, or better yet bring back the original Jill "Brenda". Do you think ratings will increase IF ever Brenda returns? I've had enough of all these recast in soaps, especially with popular soap characters, like Jill.

Member since:
15 May 2008
Last activity:
1 hour 56 min

Seasons, you and Luke need to get back in that box... CitySuerpboy, Brenda imo has closed off any hope of coming back to Y&R when she decided to trash talk the show on her blog by mentioning all the goings on with the actors some of whom are still @ Y&R...

Member since:
28 March 2009
Last activity:
4 years 5 weeks

What about Robin Mattson? She's available and I feel like she'd have more of the right sort of energy for the part than most of the choices listed.

I agree Jane Elliot would be awesome too if she weren't taken. I could maybe see Anna Stuart, possibly Victoria Wyndham, but I can't see Linda Dano or Deidre Hall in the part at all; I just feel like neither one really has the right sort of feel for it.

THEBEST's picture
Member since:
12 February 2008
Last activity:
10 hours 15 min

Jane would be a good choice, but like I said about Jess & Jill, she IS Tracy Quartermaine...
But, if it had to be that way, I could get jiggy with Jane taking on the role of Jill.

Deidre casted as Jill would be such a headline grabber and big win for Y&R.

Anna Stuart or Linda Dano would be good enough for me...Victoria is a no-go. I don't need Justine Kirkland 2.0 on my screen.

Member since:
19 January 2009
Last activity:
16 min 12 sec

BRENDA DICKSON! BRENDA DICKSON! BRENDA DICKSON!! BRENDA DICKSON!!!

Erm, Brenda Dickson, please.

"Well hello, and welcome to my soap comeback!"

Soap_Stud's picture
Member since:
28 November 2008
Last activity:
3 weeks 2 days

I'd go with any of the AW actresses, as I feel AW had the best cast on daytime! With that said, let's not overlook the following actresses:

* Sharon Wyatt (ex-Tiffany, GH, ex- Rebecca PASS)
* Robin Mattson (ex-Gina, SB, ex- Natalie, AMC)
* Christine Tudor (ex-Gwyn, Loving)

Soap_Stud's picture
Member since:
28 November 2008
Last activity:
3 weeks 2 days

With Kim Zimmer's contract up in June, Y & R should steal her from GL and cast her as Katherine's real daughter! I mean, I love GL and Reva, but it would be a smart decision the part of Y & R.

Member since:
27 March 2009
Last activity:
4 years 5 weeks

Those of you who don't want Vicky Wyndham in the role, are probably too young to remember when Rachel was AW's fantastic bitch. She mellowed around 1975, when she married Mac Cory, and eventually became a heroine. But pre-1975, Rachel was really, really mean. VW could hit it out of the park back then. She played the perfect mix of meanness and vulnerability. And, she was nothing like Justine Kirkland. She was from the wrong side of the tracks, and acted like it.

I'm calling Paul Rauch an casting my vote for VW.

Member since:
15 December 2008
Last activity:
19 hours 21 min

I'm kind of surprised you didn't offer it as an option, but... I'd like to see BRENDA DICKSON be "cleaned up" (her hair and makeup need some fine tuning) and offered her role back should Jess Walton decide to take a powder.

'Jill' hasn't been written as the "Alexis Colby of Genoa City" in years, so it might be an opportunity to bring Brenda back in a slightly more subdued way... but wouldn't it be ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS to see the Jill/Katherine feud reignited (as it obviously will be when it's revealed Jill is not really Katherine's daughter) with Brenda and Jeanne going head-to-head again?!

Plus, what better way to continue bringing Y&R back to it's roots than to bring back the originator, give her a good story, and write her more like the Jill of the late 70s through circa 1983? With a bitchy "Jill" edge, but still relatable--still capable of occasionally being vulnerable and soft instead of the brittle character as portrayed circa 1986-87.

I bet they could get Brenda back at a reasonable price and both the actress and the show would benefit from her return!

As for those other talented ladies suggested, I just can't see any of them playing Jill Foster Abbott.