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PROFILE

Kathleen Widdoes

ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE

SOAP STAR STATS

Kathleen Widdoes (Emma, ATWT)

— Steven Bergman

Vital Statistics

Birthday:: March 21
Hails From:: Wilmington, Delaware
Years On Show:: 1985-present
Marital Status:: Married to Jerry Senter
Children:: Has an adult daughter, Nina, with ex-husband Richard Jordan.
Nominations:: Was nominated for Daytime Emmys for Supporting Actress in 1986, 1987 and 1991, and for Lead Actress in 1994.

The 411

Kathleen Widdoes was only 18 when she made her professional acting debut playing Alma in Bus Stop at the Robin Hood Playhouse in Wilmington. She then toured Canada while she was playing Catherine in A View from the Bridge, and went on to study theater in Paris.

After, Widdoes moved to New York City. From 1958-59, the actress appeared as Jill on YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE; in 1959, she portrayed Emily in a TV broadcast of the play Our Town.Throughout the '60s, she continued to have roles in many plays, including The Three Sisters, The Idiot and The Tempest.

Over the next decade, Widdoes racked up more TV and film credits, guest-starring on popular nighttime series such as BONANZA and KOJAK. She also received critical notice for her performance as Beatrice in a production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Meanwhile, she appeared on two more soaps; from 1978-80, she played AW's Rose and in 1983, she portrayed RH's Una.

In 1985, she finally joined ATWT as Emma, where she's remained ever since — though she's continued to act in other venues and has appeared on the series OZ and LAW & ORDER. During her time on ATWT, she's received an impressive four Daytime Emmy nominations.

Et Cetera (Five Random Facts)

— Was nominated for Broadway's 1973 Tony Award as Best Actress for Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
— Is the godmother of actress Kaitlin Hopkins (ex-Kelsey, AW).
— Attended the Sorbonne in Paris on a Fulbright Scholarship.
— Her daughter, Nina, was part of the ensemble cast in Much Ado...
— Played Susan Lucci's (Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN) mother and Tony Curtis's wife in the TV movie MAFIA PRINCESS.

Other Roles

Other Soap Roles
RYAN'S HOPE (Una MacCurtain, 1983)
ANOTHER WORLD (Rose Perrini, 1978-80)
YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE (Jill Malone #1, 1958-1959)

TV Roles
OZ (Mrs. Beecher, 1997-2002)
LAW & ORDER (Judge Childers, 1999)
NURSE (Dr. Carol Swanson, 1981)
GREAT PERFORMANCES (Edith Wharton, 1981)
SECRETS OF MIDLAND HEIGHTS (Helen Dulles, 1981)
KOJAK (Sonya, 1977)
WIDE WORLD MYSTERY (Joan Harper, 1975)
TOMA (1973)
BONANZA (Anna Kosovo, 1972)
THE F.B.I. (Margaret Kane, 1968)
HERE COME THE BRDIES (Dr. Wright, 1968)
HALLMARK HALL OF FAME (Tina, 1967)
THE INVADERS (Ellen Woods, 1967)
12 O'CLOCK HIGH (Irina Zavanoff, 1966)
THE NURSES (Young Woman, 1965)
THE DEFENDERS (Sandra Mason, 1962; Theresa Sullivan, 1963)
THE DUPONT SHOW OF THE WEEK (Kathy Allen, 1962)
WAY OUT (Bonnie Draco, 1961)

TV Movies
THE HOLLOW BOY (Mrs. Rosenbloom, 1991)
MAFIA PRINCESS (Angelina Giancana, 1986)
PUNCH AND JODY (Margaret Howell Grant, 1974)
THE RETURN OF CHARLIE CHAN (Irene Hadrachi, 1973)
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Beatrice, 1973)
OUR TOWN (Emily Webb, 1959)

Film Roles
Hi-Life (Frankie, 1998)
Courage Under Fire (Geraldine Walden, 1996)
Without A Trace (Mrs. Hauser, 1983)
I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (Doctor Rawlings, 1982)
Savages (Leslie, 1972)
The Mephisto Waltz (Maggies West, 1971)
The Sea Gull (Masha, 1968)
Petulia (Wilma, 1968)
The Group (Helena, 1966)

Quotable Kathleen

"Quite honestly, and just between you and me, I'd rather be playing a different type of role. The most fun in soaps is to be one of those wealthy, powerful, professional ladies — you know — a bitch."
Soap Opera Digest, 11/4/86

"You have to be so careful in this business. So much of what you do is based on this image of you that you create. That's how you make your living. If you get labeled, it's hard to dispel."
Digest, 11/4/86