Eileen Davidson

Best known as a star of daytime dramas, Eileen Davidson first gained prominence and popularity as Ashley Abbott on "The Young and the Restless" (CBS), a role she played from 1982 until 1989. Since 1993, this tall attractive actress with long blonde hair, full pouty lips and sparkling green eyes thrilled viewers of NBC's "Days of Our Lives" with her portrayal of the strong-willed, calculating Kristen Blake, her lookalike, Susan, and Susan's twin, a nun.

Davidson began her show business career as a model after catching the eye of a photographer. She studied acting and appeared in a number of stage productions before taking the plunge in soap operas as the upper-crust Ashley Abbott. Like many daytime performers, Davidson attempted to translate her daytime success into feature and primetime work. She ventured into films with the low-budget "Goin' All the Way" (1982) and was alongside Harley Jane Kozak as one of the women-in-jeopardy in the horror film "House on Sorority Row" (1983). Davidson had the lead as a female biker who had been raised by wolves in the adventure comedy "Easy Wheels" (1989) and was the apex of a love triangle with Jon Voight and Armand Assante in "Eternity" (1990).

Davidson debuted in primetime with the TV-movie "Sharing Richard" (CBS, 1988), co-starring with fellow daytime stars Hillary B Smith and Nancy Frangione in a tale of three friends who discover they are all dating the same man (Ed Marinaro). She was a danger-loving cop on the short-lived police drama "Broken Badges" (CBS, 1990-91) before returning to daytime assuming Robin Wright's role as heiress Kelly Capwell in the acclaimed but low-rated "Santa Barbara" (NBC).

Her stint as the duplicitous Kristen on "Days of Our Lives" has offered the actress an opportunity to shine. Despite playing a villain, she brings a humor and humanity to the part and makes some of the more absurd plot points (like faking a pregnancy and hiring a pregnant doppelganger to pose as her character) palatable. Davidson earned widespread attention, landed on the covers of numerous magazines specializing in daytime TV and was expected to be on the short list for an Emmy nomination.

While the latter did not happen in 1997, Davidson still managed to impress, especially as she was playing multiple roles. She finally received the recognition of an Emmy nod in 1998, just before she left the role. After a respite, Davidson returned to the daytime grind reprising her role of Ashley Abbott on the long-running CBS serial "The Young and the Restless."