Beth Ehlers

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SOAP STAR STATS

Beth Ehlers (Taylor, AMC)

Vital Statistics

The 411

Born the third of five children, Beth Ehlers grew up on Roosevelt Island in New York City. She was discovered at age 10, when she was spotted by a talent agent while making her acting debut in a church play. Her first big television role was alongside the legendary Bette Davis in a TV movie titled FAMILY REUNION. Ehlers pursued acting at Manhattan Satellite Academy before attending Syracuse University. After one year, she left school to join GUIDING LIGHT as Harley in 1987.

Ehlers has been nominated five times for a Daytime Emmy; in 1998, she won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite New Couple with Grant Aleksander (ex-Phillip). Ehlers and co-star Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus) took home a fan award for "Irresistible Combination" at the 2005 Daytime Emmy Awards.

During her hiatus from the show, Ehlers worked in Los Angeles as a production assistant on commercials and music videos. After a brief return for the show's 60th anniversary celebration in January 1997, Ehlers returned to the show on a permanent basis. Her film credits include 1983's vampire-inspired The Hunger with David Bowie and Hiding Out with Jon Cryer. Her television credits include FAMILY REUNION, IN DEFENSE OF KIDS, MOTHER MAY I, and MYSTERY ON FIRE ISLAND. She also was a series regular on the NBC show THE BEST TIMES, which was based on the cult '80s flick Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

Et Cetera

— Named one of Entertainment Weekly's "Stars of Tomorrow" in 1991
— Once worked at Barnes & Noble and the Gap
—Sharon Stone allowed Ehlers to use her limousine for her wedding.
—Aappeared in Reba McEntire's music video for the song "And Still" alongside then-boyfriend (and GL co-star) Mark Derwin (ex-Mallet). The video was filmed on location in Guatemala.
—Is the only daytime actress to be nominated in all three female categories at the Daytime Emmys: Outstanding Younger Actress, Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Lead Actress.
—Prefers handwritten cards and letters to e-mail.
—In 2006, was the star of daytime's first-ever crossover with Marvel Comics, playing a superhero named "The Guiding Light" in a special episode.
—Was invited to appear on MARTHA alongside Martha Stewart in 2006. The duo planted begonias together on the show.
—Portrayed GUIDING LIGHT creator Irma Phillips during the show's 70th anniversary special that aired January 25, 2007.

Career Highlights

TV Roles
THE BEST TIMES (Mia, 1985)
IN THE DEFENSE OF KIDS (TV movie, 1983)
MYSTERY AT FIRE ISLAND (TV movie, 1981)
FAMILY REUNION (TV movie, 1981)
Film Roles
Hiding Out (1987)
The Hunger (1983)

Rock The Quote

"I wasn't really interested in being on a soap. And then, when I read the description of the character in the breakdown, I thought for sure I had no chance of getting it: Harley was described as being drop-dead gorgeous." —Soap Opera Weekly, 1/8/91

"I hated [Harley and Mallet's impromptu wedding] at first. When [the producers] told me what they were going to do, I started to cry. I think I was too close to the material to be objective. But then, as we started to work on the wedding, it became very touching to me. I thought, 'This is perfect,' and I couldn't imagine it any other way." —Soap Opera Digest, 4/28/98

"Everyone's like, ‘Oh, you probably didn't care when you lost the Emmy because you had a newborn baby. And I'm like, ‘Are you kidding me?!' I had that kid in my arms at the hospital room and I was like, ‘G-d damn it, I friggin' lost again!'" —Digest, 11/23/99

"Your children hold a mirror up to you in ways that can be really scary!" —Digest, 12/9/03

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