“The Bold and the Beautiful” has always had its share of divas, but one of the greatest was Jackie Payne Marone Knight, played by British actor and singer Lesley-Anne Down, who made her film debut at age 15 and has since gone on to star in several American soaps, both daytime and primetime. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Down had a surprising answer when the outlet tried to gauge her interest in returning to the world’s most-watched daily serial.
I’m Into Something Good
Originally from the Wadsworth area of London, Down got her start in a “sexploitation” film in 1969 and graduated to roles in pivotal UK television series such as “Upstairs, Downstairs.” Her constant work expanded to Hollywood, where she appeared alongside superstars Kirk Douglas, Peter Sellers, Elizabeth Taylor, and Harrison Ford.
She finally became known by American audiences via the 1985 miniseries “North and South,” which ultimately led to turns on “Dallas” and “Sunset Beach.” It was after that when Down found herself intermixed among the Forresters and Logans as Nick’s ever-doting mother, Jackie, in 2003 – a role she almost didn’t take.
Don’t Stop Movin’
Down had wanted to focus on being a real-life mom, not a soap mom. “I had enough money. I didn’t need to work,” she told EW. But the show’s flexible filming schedule, which only required her to be on set two days a week, cinched the deal for her, though she just hadn’t expected her stint as Jackie to last nine years. When her contract wasn’t renewed in 2012, Down found plenty of other roles – including her most recent appearance as one-time British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the 2024 biopic “Reagan.”
When EW asked Down if a return to the half-hour soap might be in the cards, her answer was quick and direct. “Why would you even think I would go back and do that?” Down replied immediately. “You’re going to have to call up Linda Gray!” she added in a cheeky reference to her “Dallas” co-star who also had a role on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” playing Priscilla Kelly for a short run of episodes in 2004, and a single appearance in 2005.
You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello
One of Jackie’s many love interests on “B&B” was Deacon Sharpe, played by Sean Kanan, who has since reprised the role as of 2021.
After seeing Down’s remarks regarding a possible return to the series, Kanan commented on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I have to admit I’m disappointed that Lesley wouldn’t come back.” He added that working with Down was “one of the highlights of my time in the show” and that “I absolutely adore her.”
Perhaps it’s for the best that Jackie won’t be visiting Los Angeles anytime soon, since Deacon already has his hands full with Taylor (Rebecca Budig) and a hopeful Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) waiting in the wings.
B&B Flashback: Jackie and Deacon
Check out this 2005 episode featuring Lesley-Anne Down in scenes with Sean Kanan.
Do you think Lesley-Anne Down should change her mind and return to “B&B”? Let us know in the comments below!
