About
"My husband picked me up by my elbow and took me over to the stage. Shemar Moore gave me the Emmy. And when I turned around and I saw the whole room on their feet…I didn't even know if I could speak let alone remember a speech! I'll never forget that as long as I live. It was an amazing, amazing moment."
In her two-and-a-half-hour interview, Susan Lucci talks about her early life and her drive to pursue acting. She describes her audition to play "Erica Kane" on Agnes Nixon's then-new daytime drama All My Children, and recalls how the show and her character immediately resonated with viewers and became an enormous hit for ABC. She chronicles the many aspects of "Erica Kane" including her fashion, career, motherhood, and many loves. She discusses some of the famous storylines of All My Children and the development of her character over 30-plus years. She details her long Daytime Emmy losing streak, her fans' reaction to it, and how she dealt with losing year after year. Lucci speaks of the triumphant night she finally won the Daytime Emmy, and what it meant to her and to her many fans. She talks about the end of All My Children and her projects since, including competing on Dancing with the Stars, several made-for-television movies, and the series Devious Maids. Karen Herman conducted the interview on April 21, 2013 in Atlanta, GA.
Highlights
Susan Lucci on breaking her Emmy losing streak in 1999
Susan Lucci on auditioning for the character of "Erica Kane" on All My Children and finding out she got the part
Susan Lucci on the villainous aspects of her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Susan Lucci on All My Children's controversial abortion storyline
Susan Lucci on her advice to aspiring actors
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on television she watched growing up; on her early interest in acting
On her early television experience; on being cast as "Erica Kane" on All My Children; on her initial feeling about being cast on a daytime drama
On taping the first few episodes of All My Children; on her All My Children character "Erica Kane"; on the popularity of the show and working with show creator Agnes Nixon
On "Erica Kane's" love life, fashions, career, and role as a mother; on the producers of All My Children; on memorizing scripts and rehearsing for the show
Chapter 2
On the standout storylines of All My Children; on the villainous aspects of "Erica Kane"
On All My Children being in production on 9/11 and her reaction to it; on her fans; on her Emmy losing streak
On finally winning the Emmy; on the end of All My Children; on the possibility of her appearing on the online version of All My Children
On the longevity of her All My Children character "Erica Kane"; on various made-for-television movies she appeared in which she appeared; on acting on Dallas
Chapter 3
On her relationship with ABC; on competing on Dancing With the Stars; on guest-starring on Hot in Cleveland
On appearing on Broadway in "Annie Get Your Gun" and her cabaret act; on appearing on the series Army Wives
On appearing on the series Deadly Affairs and Devious Maids; on how television has changed during her career; on career highlights and regrets and advice to aspiring actors
Shows
All My Children
Susan Lucci on being cast as "Erica Kane" on All My Children
Susan Lucci on auditioning for the character of "Erica Kane" on All My Children and finding out she got the part
Susan Lucci on her feelings about being cast in a daytime drama
Susan Lucci on taping the first few episodes of All My Children
Susan Lucci on her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Susan Lucci on her All My Children character "Erica Kane" being a breakout character and the popularity of the show
Susan Lucci on working with show creator Agnes Nixon on All My Children
Susan Lucci on the writing of her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Susan Lucci on the love life of her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Susan Lucci on taping intimate scenes for All My Children
Susan Lucci on her All My Children character "Erica Kane's" sense of fashion
Susan Lucci on her All My Children character "Erica Kane's" career and motherhood
Susan Lucci on the producers of All My Children and shooting on location
Susan Lucci on receiving and learning her All My Children scripts and the rehearsal process
Susan Lucci on the standout storylines for her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Susan Lucci on her character "Erica Kane's" drug addiction storyline on All My Children
Susan Lucci on All My Children's controversial abortion storyline
Susan Lucci on the coming out of "Erica Kane's" daughter storyline on All My Children
Susan Lucci on the villainous aspects of her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Susan Lucci on All My Children being in production on 9/11 and her reaction to it
Susan Lucci on her All My Children fan and their reaction to her Emmy experiences
Susan Lucci on her notorious Emmy losing streak
Susan Lucci on breaking her Emmy losing streak in 1999
Susan Lucci on the end of All My Children
Susan Lucci on taping the final episodes of All My Children
Susan Lucci on the prospect of her appearing on the online version of All My Children
Susan Lucci on the longevity of her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Susan Lucci on being able to do projects outside of All My Children
Susan Lucci on her relationship with ABC
Dallas
Susan Lucci on her six-episode stint on Dallas and working in nighttime vs. daytime soaps
Dancing With the Stars
Susan Lucci on competing on Dancing With the Stars
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Susan Lucci on breaking her Emmy losing streak in 1999
Hot in Cleveland
Susan Lucci on guest-starring on Hot in Cleveland
Saturday Night Live
Susan Lucci on guest-hosting Saturday Night Live
Topics
9/11
Susan Lucci on All My Children being in production on 9/11 and her reaction to it
Advice
Susan Lucci on good advice she's received as an actor
Susan Lucci on her advice to aspiring actors
Characters & Catchphrases
Susan Lucci on her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Susan Lucci on good advice she's received as an actor
Emmy Awards
Susan Lucci on her All My Children fans and their reaction to her Emmy experiences
Susan Lucci on her notorious Emmy losing streak
Susan Lucci on breaking her Emmy losing streak in 1999
First Big Break
Susan Lucci on auditioning for the character of "Erica Kane" on All My Children and finding out she got the part
Historic Events and Social Change
Susan Lucci on the coming out of "Erica Kane's" daughter storyline on All My Children
Susan Lucci on her character "Erica Kane's" drug addiction storyline on All My Children
Susan Lucci on All My Children's controversial abortion storyline
Susan Lucci on All My Children being in production on 9/11 and her reaction to it
LGBTQIA+
Susan Lucci on the coming out of "Erica Kane's" daughter storyline on All My Children
Memorable Moments on Television
Susan Lucci on breaking her Emmy losing streak in 1999
Pivotal Career Moments
Susan Lucci on auditioning for the character of "Erica Kane" on All My Children and finding out she got the part
Pop Culture
Susan Lucci on her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Technological Innovation
Susan Lucci on how the television industry and technology have changed since she started her career
Television Industry
Susan Lucci on good advice she's received as an actor
Susan Lucci on her advice to aspiring actors
Susan Lucci on how the television industry and technology have changed since she started her career
We Celebrated
Susan Lucci on breaking her Emmy losing streak in 1999
Professions
Actress
Susan Lucci on receiving and learning her All My Children scripts and the rehearsal process
Susan Lucci on good advice she's received as an actor
Susan Lucci on her advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Susan Lucci on receiving and learning her All My Children scripts and the rehearsal process
Susan Lucci on good advice she's received as an actor
Susan Lucci on her advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Susan Lucci on playing "Erica Kane" on All My Children
Susan Lucci on playing "Erica Kane" on All My Children
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Susan Lucci on guest hosting Saturday Night Live
Reality TV
Susan Lucci on competing on Dancing With the Stars
People
David Canary
Susan Lucci on the love life of her All My Children character "Erica Kane"
Henry Kaplan
Susan Lucci on taping the first few episodes of All My Children
Agnes Nixon
Susan Lucci on working with show creator Agnes Nixon on All My Children
Susan Lucci on the end of All My Children
Ruth Warrick
Susan Lucci on taping the first few episodes of All My Children
Betty White
Susan Lucci on guest-starring on Hot in Cleveland