TVLegend
05-19-2021, 08:08 PM
Diane Jenkins is a fictional character from the long running CBS soap opera The Young and The Restless. The role was first portrayed by Alex Donnelley, who debuted in 1982. Diane was originally a two day bit role, but was later developed into a long term character. Donnelley vacated the role two years after her debut; despite returning briefly in 1986 before returning to the role fully in 1996. In 2001, Donnelley left once again in what was supposed to be a storyline dictated departure, however, the role was later recast with Susan Walters, who became the second Diane. After three years in the role, Walters chose to drop to recurring status in 2004, but wasn’t seen again, with the exception of a brief guest appearance in February 2010. Seven months later, the role of Diane was recast a second time with Maura West, who took over in October of the same year. Maura’s Diane was noticed for her rather youthful looks compared to previous actresses.
Diane has had relationships with business tycoons Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) and Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). Diane has a son with Jack, Kyle Abbott (Blake Hood, Hartley Sawyer, Lachlan Buchanan, Michael Mealor), who was initially supposed to be Victor’s son before his sperm sample was switched. Donnelley described Diane as “taking herself much too seriously”, while Walters criticized the character for existing solely to advance another character’s storyline. Critics described Maura’s Diane as delusional with a short fuse whose devious plans would always fail. Former head writer Maria Arena Bell was heavily criticized for the writing for West. In 2011, within eight months of joining the cast, West was let go and the character was killed off two months later in a whodunit storyline. It was later revealed that Diane’s arch nemesis, Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) killed Diane in self defense.
A guest appearance Donnelley made on Simon & Simon attracted the attention of the series’s casting department, and she was eventually cast in the intended short term role of Diane. The role was later expanded and Donnelley signed a three year contract. In 1984, Donnelley left the role to pursue a career in episodic television and in feature films, but returned for a brief guest appearance in 1986. In 1996, Donnelley returned to the role fully, mentioned earlier, and remained for an additional five years until it was announced that she would exit in a storyline dictated departure during the February sweeps period of 2001. After her onscreen departure, Donnelley was officially let go from the soap but was said to possibly return at a later date. Instead, the role was recast with Walters due to the writers wanting to take Diane in a different direction. Donnelley commented that it was disappointing not to be returning to the role. In 2004, Walters opted not to renew her contract and was bumped to recurring status, also mentioned earlier. Walters explained that she wasn’t ruling out a possible return in the future. However, she wanted the character to have a storyline of her own instead of existing for the sole purpose of advancing another character’s storyline. After nearly six years offscreen, Walters reprised the role of Diane in a two episode guest appearance in February 2010.
In August of the same year, seven months later, it was announced that ATWT and later GH veteran Maura West would take over the role. West said that the character had potential and was interesting. Despite that, in May 2011, within eight months of joining the cast, West was let go from the role and exited onscreen.
With all this being said, which actress did you like best in the role? Alex Donnelley, Susan Walters, or Maura West?
Diane has had relationships with business tycoons Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) and Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). Diane has a son with Jack, Kyle Abbott (Blake Hood, Hartley Sawyer, Lachlan Buchanan, Michael Mealor), who was initially supposed to be Victor’s son before his sperm sample was switched. Donnelley described Diane as “taking herself much too seriously”, while Walters criticized the character for existing solely to advance another character’s storyline. Critics described Maura’s Diane as delusional with a short fuse whose devious plans would always fail. Former head writer Maria Arena Bell was heavily criticized for the writing for West. In 2011, within eight months of joining the cast, West was let go and the character was killed off two months later in a whodunit storyline. It was later revealed that Diane’s arch nemesis, Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) killed Diane in self defense.
A guest appearance Donnelley made on Simon & Simon attracted the attention of the series’s casting department, and she was eventually cast in the intended short term role of Diane. The role was later expanded and Donnelley signed a three year contract. In 1984, Donnelley left the role to pursue a career in episodic television and in feature films, but returned for a brief guest appearance in 1986. In 1996, Donnelley returned to the role fully, mentioned earlier, and remained for an additional five years until it was announced that she would exit in a storyline dictated departure during the February sweeps period of 2001. After her onscreen departure, Donnelley was officially let go from the soap but was said to possibly return at a later date. Instead, the role was recast with Walters due to the writers wanting to take Diane in a different direction. Donnelley commented that it was disappointing not to be returning to the role. In 2004, Walters opted not to renew her contract and was bumped to recurring status, also mentioned earlier. Walters explained that she wasn’t ruling out a possible return in the future. However, she wanted the character to have a storyline of her own instead of existing for the sole purpose of advancing another character’s storyline. After nearly six years offscreen, Walters reprised the role of Diane in a two episode guest appearance in February 2010.
In August of the same year, seven months later, it was announced that ATWT and later GH veteran Maura West would take over the role. West said that the character had potential and was interesting. Despite that, in May 2011, within eight months of joining the cast, West was let go from the role and exited onscreen.
With all this being said, which actress did you like best in the role? Alex Donnelley, Susan Walters, or Maura West?