Heather Tom poised to become most-awarded actress in Daytime Emmy history

Heather Tom stands on the verge of claiming the record for the most Daytime Emmy wins by an actress, a milestone that would place her above Erika Slezak in the genre’s annals.

Tom has six current wins, matching Slezak, who earned her six awards exclusively in the lead actress category for 'One Life to Live' between 1984 and 2005. Tom’s tally includes awards in the younger actress, supporting actress, and lead actress classifications, making her the only performer to win in all three. Her potential seventh victory would come from a nomination for outstanding lead actress in a daytime drama for her role as Katie Logan on 'The Bold and the Beautiful.' This marks her first nomination in that specific category since 2020. She is also nominated as part of the writing team for the same series, a rare double nod that she describes as "insane." Tom won her first award in 1993 for 'The Young and the Restless,' followed by a second win in that category in 1999. Her subsequent wins for 'The Bold and the Beautiful' occurred in 2011 for supporting actress, and in 2012, 2013, and 2020 for lead actress.

Tom maintains a respectful distance from the competitive aspect of the record, citing Slezak’s iconic status in the industry. "I don’t think I could be in a rivalry with Erica Slezak because she’s just iconic," Tom stated. "It kind of floors me to think that I’m kind of in the same conversation as her, because I was such a huge fan." Tom also noted that Slezak and Susan Flannery created the annual leading ladies' lunch for nominees, a tradition Tom considers her favorite part of the nomination process. Regarding her writing nomination, Tom credited executive producer Brad Bell for supporting her transition behind the camera. Bell, who has led the show's writing staff, gave Tom the opportunity to write spec scripts after she expressed interest in branching out after nearly 37 years in daytime television. "He’s always been extremely supportive of what I’ve wanted to do and branching out," Tom said.

The 53rd annual Daytime Emmys will take place on Friday, October 30, at 5 p.m. PT at Hollywood’s Palladium in Los Angeles. The ceremony, produced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, will feature no host. 'The Young and the Restless' leads all programs with 18 nominations, followed by 'Beyond the Gates' with 15. Genie Francis of 'General Hospital' will receive the lifetime achievement award. The broadcast will be available on YouTube. As 'The Bold and the Beautiful' enters its 40th season, the network has launched an app containing its full episodic catalog, a move Tom believes has helped attract younger viewers. The show is currently developing new storylines inspired by past plots, and Tom is also working on microdramas based on fairy tales and folklore, including projects inspired by 'Snow White' and vampire lore.