And she's been a trouper despite all the inevitable publicity surrounding each nomination and each loss. She dealt with the fact that her name became synonymous with award losers. However, Lucci took it all in stride and turned lemons into lemonade: she made a memorable television commercial for an artificial sweetner and handled some good-natured ribbing when she hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE in October 1990. Her emotional win in 1999 made the cover of People magazine.

Though she's not nominated this year, take a look at some of her past competitors in the Lead Actress category, a Who's Who of daytime talent.

*winners in bold

1978

Mary Fickett (Ruth, ALL MY CHILDREN), Jennifer Harmon (Cathy, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie, DAYS OF OUR LIVES), Laurie Heinemann, (Sharlene, ANOTHER WORLD), Susan Lucci (Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN), Beverlee McKinsey (Iris, ANOTHER WORLD), Victoria Wyndham (Rachel, ANOTHER WORLD)

1981

Julia Barr (Brooke, ALL MY CHILDREN), Leslie Charleson (Monica, GENERAL HOSPITAL), Helen Gallagher (Maeve, RYAN'S HOPE), Judith Light (Karen, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Susan Lucci (Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN), Robin Strasser (Dorian, ONE LIFE TO LIVE)

1982

Ann Flood (Nancy, THE EDGE OF NIGHT), Sharon Gabet (Charlotte, THE EDGE OF NIGHT), Susan Lucci (Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN), Robin Strasser (Dorian, ONE LIFE TO LIVE)

1983

Leslie Charleson (Monica, GENERAL HOSPITAL), Dorothy Lyman (Opal, ALL MY CHILDREN), Susan Lucci (Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN), Erika Slezak (Viki, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Robin Strasser (Dorian, ONE LIFE TO LIVE),

1984

Ann Flood (Nancy, THE EDGE OF NIGHT), Sharon Gabet (Charlotte,THE EDGE OF NIGHT), Deidre Hall (Marlena, DAYS OF OUR LIVES), Susan Lucci (Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN), Erika Slezak (Viki, ONE LIFE TO LIVE)

1985

Deidre Hall (Marlena, DAYS OF OUR LIVES), Susan Lucci (Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN), Gillian Spencer (Daisy, ALL MY CHILDREN), Robin Strasser (Dorian, ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Kim Zimmer (Reva, GUIDING LIGHT)