In the year since Vernee Watson won the coveted Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Stella Henry on “General Hospital,” fans who had been clamoring for more from the actress in Port Charles got their wish and this year it’s landed Watson her second Daytime Emmy Award, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series during “The 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.”
“I won last year and I was thinking, ‘What does this really mean?’ Because my salary didn’t go up and I still have to go on those stupid auditions, so what does it mean? It means that the work that I have done has been recognized and is important,” said Watson in her speech. “I’ve been teaching young people for 35 years. I’m trying to pass along that work ethic and that legacy of learning. It’s not instant and when I won last year, I said, ‘I didn’t get this from being on Instagram or my social following because I’m not on that stuff. It’s about the work. So I would like for you all to go to theheartarts.org, see what I’m doing and support me, and support me in passing on this legacy that I feel like I am. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord.”
Watson beat out the likes of Kassie DePaiva (Eve Donovan, “Days of our Lives”), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah Horton, “Days of our Lives”), Martha Madison (Belle Black, “Days of our Lives”), Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott, “The Young and the Restless”) and Mishael Morgan (Hilary Curtis, “The Young and the Restless”).
The award was presented by the “Days of our Lives” actors and Emmy nominees Marci Miller and Kate Mansi, who both portrayed Abigail Deveraux on the drama series during the eligibility period, and Billy Flynn, who’s returning alongside Mansi as Chad DiMera later this fall.
You can watch Watson’s win and speech in its entirety by playing the clip below (starts around the 1:55:00 mark).