Eileen Davidson
From Free net encyclopedia
Eileen Davidson (born on June 15, 1959, in Artesia, California) is an American soap opera actress and former model.
She originated the role of Ashley Abbott Carlton on The Young and the Restless in March 1982. After leaving the show in February 1989, she tried her hand at primetime television. Her show, Broken Badges (1990-1991), flopped. She went back to daytime, where she assumed the role of Kelly Capwell on Santa Barbara from May 1991 until the soap's cancellation in January 1993. When that show ended, she was offered the role of Kristen Blake on Days of Our Lives in May 1993. Three years into her stint in 1996, head writer James E. Reilly had her take on the trashier persona of Susan Banks. Her dual characters were such a hit that Reilly penned three more for her to play (Sister Mary Moira, Thomas, and Penelope). While Davidson stated she had fun playing the roles, four characters had worn her out and she asked to leave the show. Her character, Kristen, was supposedly killed by Susan, although it was shown later that she left the country, to possibly taunt the citizens of Salem once more. All of the related characters were subsequently written out in April 1998.
After a year-long vacation, she returned to her role on The Young and the Restless in March 1999, where she remains today. Davidson was married to former General Hospital and Port Charles actor Jon Robert Lindstrom from 1997 to 2000. She is currently wed to her third husband, actor Vince Van Patten, by whom she has one child, Jesse Thomas, born on May 20, 2003. Her first husband (1985-1986) was Christopher Mayer, from whom she is divorced as well.
Eileen started her career as a model in Mexico City and California, eventually adding commecials and print work in Europe before turning to acting.
Rumors
Some rumors have surrounded Davidson for more than fifteen years is that she is a transsexual woman. According to published reports, the rumor dates as far back as 1985, when Davidson was first on The Young and the Restless. She spoke out against the rumors in 1999:
"People swear they saw me on Donahue talking about my surgery. But it was Tula, who has long blond hair and angular features like I do. I never appeared on Donahue, and I am not a transsexual." (see quote).
Even after she gave birth in 2003, the rumor still circulated.