Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 6:00 PM ET by Scotty Gore

Photo: Donna Svennevik/ABC

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — She may not have been the first actress to step into the character of Victoria Lord on ABC’s “One Life to Live,” but on March 17 Erika Slezak will mark four decades in the role of the daytime drama’s sole remaining original character. And, with the milestone anniversary less than two months away, fans have the opportunity to send the actress their congratulations and share their favorite Viki moments from the past forty years.

On March 17, 1971, Slezak became the third actress to portray Viki, who over the years as become the matriarch of Llanview. Gillian Spencer, who would later achieve fame as Daisy Cortlandt on sister soap “All My Children,” originated the role of Viki when “One Life to Live” premiered on July 15, 1968, and was replaced by Joanne Dorian when she left the show in 1970. And a few other actresses have briefly filled in as Viki over the years in flashbacks and while Slezak was on maternity leave for for a time in the 1980s. But it is Slezak, a six-time Daytime Emmy winner, who has become synonymous with Viki, and vice versa.

Now, on the eve of her 40th anniversary with “One Life to Live,” fans can visit the actress’ official website, click on the link at the bottom of the page, and leave their warm wishes and congratulatory remarks in the guest book section.

And so, on behalf of the staff and management of Soap Opera Network, we congratulate Ms. Slezak on 40th anniversary with “OLTL,” thank her for all the wonderful memories and for sharing her “Life” with us for the past four decades. Again, congratulations and may you have many more years in Llanview.

“One Life to Live” airs Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Anytime on ABC.com and SOAPnet.com. Check local listings.