Arabella "Babe" Carey is a fictional character from the American daytime drama All My Children. She was originally portrayed by actress Alexa Havins, from October 13, 2003, to October 8, 2007, and then by actress Amanda Baker from October 8, 2007, to October 31, 2008. Havins crossed over as character sporadically on One Life to Live from November 24, 2003 to February 2005. The character was killed off on the October 23, 2008 episode of the show, after suffering injuries during a series of tornadoes, although she reappeared briefly on June 2 and 29, 2009, as a ghost. In September 2011, Babe (Havins) briefly returned to Pine Valley as an apparition appearing to JR.
Though originally scripted as age 19 in 2003, in a star-crossed romance with character JR Chandler,[1] Babe's birth date was later set by the series as April 10, 1983, upon the character's death.[2] The writers often had the character referred to as "Baby Doll" by her mother, Krystal Carey (Bobbie Eakes), and occasionally as "Bella" when speaking to Kevin Buchanan (Dan Gauthier) on One Life to Live. In addition, the series displayed significant comparisons between her and legendary character Dixie Cooney.[3]
Casting and character creation
Alexa Havins
In a January 20, 2004 interview with magazine Soap Opera Weekly, Havins briefly described her audition and how she secured the role: "I missed the first round of auditions, and the casting director called my manager and said, 'How come I think this girl's perfect?' And she said, 'Because Alexa can play trash with her eyes closed' (laughs)."[4]
The character was originally designed as a bad girl the audience could hate, but was later presented as a "flawed good girl." Havins preferred the character to be "driven" and said her "all-time favorite Babe moments" are when the character was being spunky. "I love when she's pumped and she's like a cheerleader, seeing the good in everything," she said.[5] Of Babe's darker moments, Havins stated, "My favorite moment of Babe down — just emotionally beat up and dragged through the dirt — would probably be the moment at the river with Krystal," the moment Babe is told her baby has died. "...I loved when Little Adam almost drowned [in the pool]. There was this vulnerable side of her that hadn't come out for a while," she said. "And I loved playing that because that was a range of emotions between loving your child, being scared to death, hating your husband for not being responsible, etc. There was not one set way of thought or feeling in those scenes."[5]
While with the series, Havins was often put in feature stories. When asked in 2006 by Soap Opera Weekly if difficult to be in "such constant" heavy stories, she stated, "We laugh at our scheduling producer because she always feels bad. She's like, 'I don't mean to kill you, but you dabble.' I do. I am in every set, which is great. It's fun, but it's exhausting. Right now, I'm like, "Sleep!"[6]
In early 2007, rumors circulated that Havins would not be renewing her contract as Babe Carey once it expired later in the year. After her husband and All My Children co-star at the time, Justin Bruening, exited the show, the rumors gained momentum.
James Harmon Brown and Barbara Esensten, new head writers of the series, were reluctant to state whether or not Havins would be departing the soap opera. In their interview with TV Guide, the two remained ambiguous about the matter, though hinting at a recast. Barbara Esensten commented:
It’s out there that we will probably lose her, and it certainly isn’t our choice. However, we’re still writing the show as if she’s not leaving. If we should have to recast Babe, we’ll help the actor take over the part by writing specifically for the new actor like what we did with the Greenlee recast. We saw some little things in Sabine Singh (Greenlee), so we wrote for her accordingly, but you get into real trouble when you completely change the character for a recast. Luckily, Jim and I don’t have any trouble separating the actor from a character because the latter is really paramount in our eyes.[7]
Havins leaving the series was confirmed when, on September 4, 2007, Soap Opera Digest reported that actress Amanda Baker would be stepping into the role following Havins's departure.[8] Havins portrayed Babe Carey for four years, but decided to leave to pursue other acting opportunities. To her fans, she left a message of appreciation and content:
Dear Friends,
I just filmed my final scene as Arabella "Babe" Carey on All My Children. Sitting in my dressing room, I have taken a moment to reflect on the past four years of my life both professionally and personally. What an incredible experience it has been! Not only have I gained life-long friendships with the cast, crew, and you — the viewers; I found my amazing husband. I couldn't have asked for a more rewarding experience, but now it's time to say goodbye. What a bittersweet moment. I am really excited for this next chapter in my life, but will miss you all dearly. Thank you for your unwavering love and support. I wish you all the blessing in the world! Take care.
Following Havins's departure, viewers were adamant in their feelings that Babe should not have been recast; the views ranged from the decision having been made too soon, to recasting Babe having been unnecessary, to sentiment that only Havins is Babe.[10][11] Voices expressing their discontent but also relaying their willingness to give the recast a chance were also present.[12]
Baker, the character's recast, acknowledged the challenge of taking over a prominent character.[13] She said she had studied scenes of Havins as Babe, and that she was focused on her portrayal as the character.[13] Before landing the role, Baker was screen tested with actors who often interact with the character (Jacob Young, who portrays JR Chandler and Bobbie Eakes, portrayer of the character's mother, Krystal). A few days after her audition, she received a phone call informing her that she had won the part. Baker said that she was treated with a warm welcome from the rest of the cast and Havins herself, and that this has made her feel at home while on set.[13]
Baker described working with Michael E. Knight (Tad Martin) and Eakes as a fun but somewhat intimidating experience.[14] "They are naturals at it!" she stated. She said that Eakes helped her feel more comfortable during her first few weeks as Babe, and to get a better understanding of the character. "She came up to me the first day we worked together and offered to go over lines together and help me with anything I needed. She is a sweetheart," said Baker.[14] Baker revealed that in her spare time in between takes as the character, she managed to find something to keep entertained by. "It seems like there is always something to do when you have down time on the set," she said. "I either run lines with the other actors or hang out in the hair and makeup room. I love those ladies!"[14] Adding to Baker's enjoyment on the set was Young. "He is always cracking jokes!" stated Baker.[14]
After a year as Babe, Baker voiced that her time as the character had been "awesome!" once she "got [there] and got settled." "I always wanted to live in New York City, so that was a dream come true!"[15] She added that "New York has so much culture" and she had been able to grow as a person and actor. "It's good that you can be given a script and learn 40 pages and feel comfortable with that. You get to know so much about the character that you don't question things, you just do it instantaneously," she said.[15]
When asked if it was difficult to take on a role that "so many fans" associate with another actress, Baker stated, "It was. I fortunately had the opportunity to work with her on her last day, which was my first day." Baker said that it "was kind of bittersweet, but when you go into a character who has been established by another actor, it's hard to take on." "You want everybody to love you but a lot of people don't like change. In time, though, people get used to it," she said.[15]
Baker explained how Babe had grown since her portrayal of the character. "I think that she has become a lot more responsible," stated Baker. "She's definitely made some changes within herself, become more mature. At one point in time, especially with JR, a lot of her choices were careless and she thought too much with her heart."[15]
After Brown and Esensten were fired as writers of the series, new head writer Charles Pratt, Jr. ultimately decided to kill Babe off. In an interview with Soap Opera Digest before her final episodes aired, Baker stated, "Going out with a bang is definitely better than going out with a whimper, and I'm going out with a bang!"[16]
Reception
Bianca and Babe friendship
Bianca and Babe's friendship became popular with viewers while both characters were pregnant. The relationship was described as a "beautiful friendship" by Soap Opera Digest.[17] Within the series, when the two give birth to their children on the same night (Bianca to Miranda and Babe to Little Adam), their bond further endeared them to the audience. Of the birth scenes, actress Eden Riegel, Bianca's portrayer, stated, "I had done so much research. I read books [like] What to Expect When You're Expecting. I watched the TLC series A Baby Story. It felt like I watched hundreds of episodes! As soon as I got home I'd be watching women give birth on TV." Riegel added that one of her makeup artists was pregnant and invited her to go along to a Lamaze class. She sat in a room "full of pregnant Upper West Siders" and practiced breathing exercises.[17]
Havins prepared for the birth scenes beforehand as well. "I got books and spoke to my mom," she said. "Everyone that had a child I was picking their brain, and there were some really great things online that helped." Havins stated, "And for some reason I have always watched Maternity Ward on TLC and just to see it firsthand was great. I wanted it to be no makeup, no lip gloss...I wanted to make it [look] real."[17]
Bianca (Eden Riegel) and Babe's (Alexa Havins) ruse to fool JR left a group of viewers hoping that the scam would result in an actual romance between the two (2004).
In early 2004, there were viewers who believed Bianca to be secretly in love with Babe and hoped Bianca and Babe's relationship would become sexually intimate; this was witnessed by fansites for the pairing, emails being sent to the ABC studio and message board postings. AfterEllen.com, a website that focuses on the portrayal of lesbians and bisexual women in the media, eventually took notice and briefly commented:
...fueled in part by a late summer episode showing Bianca and Babe in bed together (a ruse to trap Babe's husband), which spawned a whole new subset of fans rooting for a Bianca-Babe pairing.[18]
Baby switch reveal
By late 2004, viewers largely found the Bianca and Babe friendship unappealing. This was specifically due to Babe knowingly keeping Bianca from her own child. Babe is initially unaware that her child has been switched with Bianca's and that Bianca's child, the one she is caring for, is still alive and not dead as she has been told. However, once convinced by Krystal to keep Bianca's child as her own in order to save JR from heartbreak, she does as advised. Due to her guilt, she goes as far as to name Bianca godmother of the child. Infuriated by these events, viewers longed for Bianca to discover the truth. On December 7, 2004, this request was given to fans. Described as "Babe's long-overdue confessional" and beginning of redemption, she confesses to Bianca the truth about their children.[19]
Havins and Riegel described what went into taping the moment Bianca discovers that her child is alive and Babe's deception. "It was crazy!" said Riegel of the "grueling" day. "It was insane, in fact. [Havins] and I were on the set from 9 a.m. to like 7:30 at night, just the two of us."[19] Havins agreed and relayed, "It was so intense to tape. It was a long, long day, a 12-hour tape day." They were warned by All My Children executives that the episode would be "especially" demanding. "I don't think they've ever handed that much material to just two actresses before, so they wanted us to be prepared," said Riegel.[19] "It was the most dialogue I've ever had in my entire life. To the point where several weeks before they gave me the script, our producer, Julie [Hanan Carruthers], sat us down and said to us, 'This is just so important.,'" added Havins. "And she turned to me and said, 'We're almost nervous because it's so much material. If it's too much, let us know.' It was that dialogue-heavy."[19]
Riegel found humor in the situation and said, "Unfortunately, we only got the script like three days ahead of time! But hey! We're old pros." When asked if they were intimidated by the challenge of the reveal scenes, Riegel asserted that she "wasn't scared at all," and clarified that it "was a good challenge" and "one of those things where it's like, 'This is what I do. This is what I love.'" She said, "To have all that material and to be there in the moment ... I didn't want to be in any other place." She found it exciting. Having waited for the moment "for a long time," it turned out to be "a big pay-off."[19] She added:
But I was a little nervous because this was definitely a very, very special episode. That was the biggest challenge to me; I was going in there knowing, 'This is the moment.' I kept having to make myself laugh and leave set and play with my friends in the hair and makeup room and just sort of try to view the day as though it was just an average taping day because the last thing those scenes needed from my character's perspective was that sense of gravity, that feeling of, 'This is so important.' Because it was not a big deal for my character — she had no idea what was coming.[19]
Havins agreed with Riegel that the reveal scenes were exciting. "I'm always up for a challenge and I work best under pressure," she said. "My competitive side kicks in. So the thought that I maybe couldn't do it made me be like, 'Oh, yeah, I'm doin' it!' We put so much preparation into it."[19]Justin Bruening (Jamie Martin) and Jacob Young (JR) were the only other cast members in the episode. "...I worked with a private coach, we worked on it together.... We put a lot of time into this episode," Havins stated. "We usually don't have that luxury, but this time we did; this took priority. And shooting it, too, we knew it was a big deal." She revealed that the producers and director were patient with them. "And if we felt we didn't like where a take went, usually they're like, 'No, it's fine, let's move on,' but this time they were like, 'Let's do it again. We loved that take, girls, but let's try something else,' and we'd go in a totally different direction." She said, "They took the time and they were as invested in this episode as [Riegel] and I were, so that was a really good feeling. We were all there, we were all in it together, and hopefully, the finished product shows it."[19]
In 2006, Havins was asked if she felt that Babe had been redeemed since the baby switch. Havins replied, "More or less. That's not something that can be done overnight; it takes time. And I don't think it's necessarily acts, like one heroic act, that redeem someone."[20] She clarified:
It's just showing change. She's very remorseful and there's regret with the whole situation. It's one thing if somebody didn't feel sorry for what they did, but she repented for her sins. Everyone has a past. Everyone makes mistakes. The only thing you can do is move on and try to be a better person from that point forward.[20]
When Bianca forgives Babe in 2007 for keeping her child from her, there were viewers who still felt that it was due to Bianca being in love with Babe, and were upset that Bianca could not seem to resist any interaction with her. In a 2007 interview with TV Guide, Havins seemed perplexed that a significant number of viewers had still not forgiven Babe for the baby switch, and felt that the character had been redeeming herself.[21]
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 2013, via Hulu, Hulu Plus, and iTunes.
Dimitri Marick is a fictional character from the American ABC soap opera All My Children. The role has been most notably portrayed by Michael Nader, previously famed for his role on Dynasty. Former head writers Agnes Nixon and Lorraine Broderick created the character in 1991, designing him as a brooding and mysterious character based on heroes from gothic literature, such as Maxim de Winter from Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca and Heathcliff from Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights. The character's introduction raised All My Children in the Nielsen ratings, placing it consistently as the second most-watched daytime soap opera in the US.
Eden Sonja Jane Riegel is an American actress. She portrayed Bianca Montgomery in the daytime drama All My Children, and propelled the character into a gay icon, as well as a popular figure within the medium. Nominated previously on multiple occasions, she received a Daytime Emmy Award for the role in 2005.
Megan McTavish is American television actress and soap opera writer. McTavish is best known for several head writing stints on All My Children.
Elizabeth Hendrickson is an American actress. Her big break came when she was cast as character Frankie Stone on the daytime drama All My Children. Her equally popular role of Maggie Stone, the character's identical twin, launched the character into iconic status as one half of supercouple Bianca Montgomery and Maggie Stone.
Alexa Carole Havins is an American actress. She first came to prominence in 2003, when she became the originating actress in the role of Babe Carey Chandler on the soap opera All My Children. Her role as the flawed but good Babe Carey earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2005 and recognition as being half of one of the show's most popular soap opera pairings.
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Adam "JR" Chandler Jr. is a fictional character from the ABC and The Online Network daytime drama All My Children. He was portrayed by Jacob Young from 2003 to 2011, prior to Ryan Bittle taking over the role in 2013. Bittle was cast as the new JR on Prospect Park's continuation of All My Children.
Bianca Montgomery is a fictional character from the American daytime drama All My Children. Until Eden Riegel assumed the role, portraying the character from July 2000 to January 2010, the character was portrayed solely by child actresses: Lacey Chabert, Nathalie Paulding, Gina Gallagher, Caroline Wilde and Jessica Leigh Falborn. When Riegel decided to permanently exit the role, plans to recast were confirmed; in June 2010, Christina Bennett Lind replaced Riegel, and remained on the series through the original television finale episode, which aired September 23, 2011. In February 2013, it was announced that Riegel would be reprising her role as Bianca in a guest-arc on Prospect Park's continuation of All My Children.
Maggie Stone is a fictional character from the American daytime drama All My Children. She was portrayed by actress Elizabeth Hendrickson, who also portrayed Maggie's identical twin sister Frankie Stone. The character came to Pine Valley in 2002 after Frankie's death, and befriended Bianca Montgomery whilst investigating her sister's murder. The series portrayed Bianca as having fallen in love with Maggie, with Maggie initially maintaining that she is only interested in men. The series featured her dating several men, taking a few of them to bed, sometimes out of confusion and other times out of a clear attempt to dispel her growing romantic attraction to Bianca. The two eventually become girlfriends, though heartbreak follows.
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Greenlee Smythe is a fictional character from the American daytime drama, All My Children. She was originally portrayed by actress Rebecca Budig from August 11, 1999 to November 30, 2005, and was portrayed by actress Sabine Singh from April 20, 2007 to January 15, 2008. On December 14, 2007, it was announced that Budig accepted the offer to reprise the role, and would continue her portrayal of the character. Episodes with Budig began airing again January 16, 2008. The return is one of the most widely reported in the genre's history, with newspapers such as the Associated Press and New York Daily News featuring the story. Budig again departed the role on February 17, 2009, the day the character was killed off. In the June 29, 2009 issue of ABC Soaps in Depth magazine, head writer Charles Pratt, Jr. confirmed they had written Greenlee to remain alive, but that Budig would be making no immediate plans to return to the show. On October 8, 2009, it was confirmed that Budig would return to the show in December. Budig returned on December 23, 2009 and remained with the series until its finale on September 23, 2011.
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JR Chandler and Babe Carey are fictional characters of the JR and Babe or Jabe couple from the American daytime drama All My Children. JR Chandler was portrayed by Jacob Young. Babe Carey was portrayed by actress Alexa Havins, and then by Amanda Baker. Written as volatile and yet loving, the up-and-down romance tells of a young star-crossed couple who met one captivating night at the end of a fog-covered dock and from there are faced with much interference, significantly but unintentionally caused by each other, in their struggle for true happiness.
Bianca Montgomery and Maggie Stone are fictional characters and a supercouple from the American daytime drama All My Children. Bianca was portrayed by Eden Riegel, and Maggie was portrayed by Elizabeth Hendrickson.
Amanda Baker is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Jolene Crowell on General Hospital: Night Shift in 2007 and Babe Carey Chandler on All My Children from 2007 to 2008. Baker reappeared on June 4 and 29, 2009 as a ghost on All My Children as Babe Chandler.
Reese Williams and Bianca Montgomery are fictional characters and a lesbian couple from the ABC daytime drama All My Children. Reese was portrayed by Tamara Braun, and Bianca was portrayed by Eden Riegel. On Internet message boards, the pairing is commonly referred to by the portmanteaus "Rianca" and "Breese". The couple debuted in October 2008 and is groundbreaking for featuring the first same-sex marriage proposal, as well as the first legal same-sex wedding and marriage, on an American soap opera. In addition, the pairing's family is the first onscreen family made up of same-sex parents in the history of American daytime television.
Lena Kundera and Bianca Montgomery are fictional characters from the American daytime drama All My Children. Commonly referred to by the portmanteau "Lianca", they were the first lesbian couple on an American soap opera. Lena was portrayed by Olga Sosnovska, and Bianca was portrayed by Eden Riegel. Lena and Bianca's romance "quickly became a hit with viewers" and regularly surpassed older more established heterosexual couples for the number 1 spot on Internet and soap opera magazine readers' polls. The characters are the first to share a same-sex kiss in American soap opera history.
References
↑ "PEOPLE Celebrates All My Children: 41 Years of Love, Lust & Life in Pine Valley!". People. September 2011 [Sep. 9 softcover, Sep. 27 hardcover]. pp.128 pages.
↑ Date of birth seen on her gravestone: (04/10/1983 – 10/23/2008).
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Levinsky, Mara (2004). "Shooting Stars. On December 7, AMC fans finally got the moment they had been waiting for: Courtesy of Babe's long-overdue confessional, Bianca discovered that her baby is alive! Here, actresses Alexa Havins (Babe) and Eden Riegel (Bianca) describe what went into taping the big moment". Soap Opera Digest.
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