About
"The reason for my longevity on television? I just won’t let it die. It’s still here because I want it to be. You can accomplish almost anything if you want to."
In her nearly two-hour interview, Eileen Fulton (1933-2025) talks about growing up in North Carolina, moving to New York, and studying under Sanford Meisner. She discusses being cast as "Lisa Miller" on the daytime soap As the World Turns in 1960 for what was originally a three-month summer storyline that continued until the end of the show in 2010 (five years after the filming of this interview). She talks about working with her co-stars, the influence of creator Irna Phillips and producer Ted Corday, and some of the major storylines in which her character was involved. Fulton also discusses the short-lived As the World Turns spinoff, Our Private World, on which she starred. She chronicles her theater and nightclub appearances, as well as some business ventures she lent her name to over the years. B-roll consists of on-set photos from As the World Turns, as well as some of her stage work. Jane Altschuler conducted the interview on November 11, 2005 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Eileen Fulton on her favorite and least favorite As the World Turns storylines, and "Lisa's" love life
Eileen Fulton on starring in the 1966 As the World Turns spin-off Our Private World
Eileen Fulton on controversial topics covered by As the World Turns, and various storylines on the show
Eileen Fulton on As the World Turns head writer Irna Phillips
Eileen Fulton on acting in independent films, and on her longevity
Eileen Fulton on career highlights and how she'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her early interest in performing and on television and radio she enjoyed; on studying acting in college
On her early experience and impressions of television, and on studying acting under Sanford Meisner; on her earliest acting roles; on acting in the feature film "Girl of the Night"
On joining As the World Turns as "Lisa Miller Hughes," and on changing the character from nice to a villain; on working with Helen Wagner as "Nancy Hughes" on As the World Turns, and with Don Hastings as "Don Hughes"
Chapter 2
On the rehearsal process for As the World Turns, and on working with Ted Corday; on mishaps on the live set of As the World Turns, and on head writer Irna Phillips; on leaving As the World Turns in 1963
On starring in the 1966 As the World Turns spin-off Our Private World; on appearing in two Broadway shows while still doing As the World Turns in 1961
On returning to As the World Turns and on the "grandma clause"; on playing the character of "Lisa" on As the World Turns, and on her fan mail
Chapter 3
On the cast though the years of As the World Turns; on how various aspects of the production of As the World Turns have changed over the years; on memorizing lines for As the World Turns, and on "Lisa's" wardrobe, hair, and makeup
On the writers of As the World Turns, and on giving input into her character; on the extent of Proctor & Gamble's involvement with As the World Turns, and on her distaste of focus groups; on controversial topics covered by As the World Turns, and various storylines on the show
On her favorite and least favorite As the World Turns storylines, and "Lisa's" love life; on her lack of storylines later in the run of As the World Turns
Chapter 4
On winning a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for her work on As the World Turns; on the legacy of As the World Turns, and of her character, "Lisa", and on her continued acting career and nightclub act; on her product line and her novels
On acting in independent films, and on her longevity; on her acting style, and on advice to aspiring actors; on career highlights and how she'd like to be remembered
On b-roll pictures from her career- "Lisa" and "Bob" from 1961 on the set of As the World Turns; with Don Hastings; with Robert Horton; with the cast of "The Fantastiks"; from the feature "Girl of the Night"; with Farley Granger; on the set of As the World Turns; with Nick Costa; with Tom Poston
Shows
As the World Turns
Eileen Fulton on joining As the World Turns as "Lisa Miller Hughes," and on changing the character from nice to a villain
Eileen Fulton on working with Helen Wagner as "Nancy Hughes" on As the World Turns, and with Don Hastings as "Don Hughes"
Eileen Fulton on the rehearsal process for As the World Turns, and on working with Ted Corday
Eileen Fulton on mishaps on the live set of As the World Turns
Eileen Fulton on As the World Turns head writer Irna Phillips
Eileen Fulton on leaving As the World Turns in 1963
Eileen Fulton on starring in the 1966 As the World Turns spin-off Our Private World
Eileen Fulton on appearing in two Broadway shows while still doing As the World Turns in 1961
Eileen Fulton on returning to As the World Turns and on the "grandma clause"
Eileen Fulton on playing the character of "Lisa" on As the World Turns, and on her fan mail
Eileen Fulton on the cast though the years of As the World Turns
Eileen Fulton on how various aspects of the production of As the World Turns have changed over the years
Eileen Fulton on memorizing lines for As the World Turns, and on "Lisa's" wardrobe, hair, and makeup
Eileen Fulton on the writers of As the World Turns, and on giving input into her character
Eileen Fulton on the extent of Proctor & Gamble's involvement with As the World Turns, and on her distaste of focus groups
Eileen Fulton on controversial topics covered by As the World Turns, and various storylines on the show
Eileen Fulton on her favorite and least favorite As the World Turns storylines, and "Lisa's" love life
Eileen Fulton on her lack of storylines later in the run of As the World Turns
Eileen Fulton on winning a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for her work on As the World Turns
Eileen Fulton on the legacy of As the World Turns, and of her character "Lisa", and on her continued acting career and nightclub act
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Eileen Fulton on winning a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for her work on As the World Turns
Our Private World
Eileen Fulton on starring in the 1966 As the World Turns spin-off Our Private World
Topics
Advertising and Sponsorship
Eileen Fulton on the extent of Proctor & Gamble's involvement with As the World Turns, and on her distaste of focus groups
Advice
Eileen Fulton on her acting style, and on advice to aspiring actors
Emmy Awards
Eileen Fulton on winning a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for her work on As the World Turns
Television Industry
Eileen Fulton on the extent of Proctor & Gamble's involvement with As the World Turns, and on her distaste of focus groups
Eileen Fulton on her acting style, and on advice to aspiring actors
Professions
Actress
Eileen Fulton on her acting style, and on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Eileen Fulton on her acting style, and on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Eileen Fulton on playing "Lisa Miller Hughes" on As the World Turns
Eileen Fulton on playing the character of "Lisa" on As the World Turns
Eileen Fulton on playing "Lisa" on As the World Turns
Eileen Fulton on playing "Lisa" on As the World Turns
People
Ted Corday
Eileen Fulton on the rehearsal process for As the World Turns, and on working with Ted Corday
Don Hastings
Eileen Fulton on working with Helen Wagner as "Nancy Hughes" on As the World Turns, and with Don Hastings as "Don Hughes"
Sanford Meisner
Eileen Fulton on her early experience and impressions of television, and on studying acting under Sanford Meisner
Irna Phillips
Eileen Fulton on As the World Turns head writer Irna Phillips
Helen Wagner
Eileen Fulton on working with Helen Wagner as "Nancy Hughes" on As the World Turns, and with Don Hastings as "Don Hughes"