(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — Early this afternoon, Entertainment Weekly broke the news that daytime’s number one drama, “The Young and the Restless,” has put another former “All My Children” star on contract to join Genoa City’s ranks. This happens just several weeks after wooing the ABC Daytime drama’s acclaimed and long-time casting director, Judy Blye Wilson. The CBS drama and Wilson have snatched up one of Wilson’s most popular Pine Valley finds, Melissa Claire Egan. Beginning on November 11, Egan will debut in the contract role of mystery woman Chelsea.
Egan debuted in the role of Annie McDermott on “AMC” in July 2006. This 30-year old actress would earn a Daytime Emmy nomination for Supporting Actress in 2009 as Annie turned from an all around good girl to Pine Valley’s most psychotic femme fatale. The character was responsible for killing her brother, Richie (Billy Miller), her future lover’s aunt, Di Henry (initially played by Kelly Giddish), and the attempted murders of Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) and Greenlee Smyth (Rebecca Budig). At the end of her initial four-year contract in 2010, the actress agreed to a 6-month extension at “AMC’s” request and stopped airing regularly on the soap by February 2011. Egan returned for a short stint during the summer to help say goodbye to the network run of the soap that gave her her big break.
Before hiring Wilson and Egan, “Y&R” had already built up a long history of picking up former “AMC” actors fresh off their Pine Valley stints including Peter Bergman (Jack), Stacy Haiduk (ex-Patty), Amelia Heinle (Victoria) and Debbi Morgan who debuted as Devon’s (Bryton McClure) biological mother, Harmony, earlier today. The cast currently boasts three Blye finds including Miller (Billy), Jeff Branson (Ronan) and the recently fired Eden Riegel (Heather).
Look for Chelsea to play into Billy’s storyline reuniting former co-stars and good pals Egan and Miller.