Tom frames this historic moment not as a personal rivalry with legend Erika Slezak, but as a celebration of the tight-knit daytime community and a tribute to executive producer Brad Bell’s support of her writing ambitions.
Insiders note the rarity of a single performer being nominated for both acting and writing in the same ceremony, a feat Tom calls 'insane' that highlights her strategic pivot into behind-the-camera roles while maintaining her on-screen dominance.
Tom currently holds six Daytime Emmys, tied with Erika Slezak. A win on Friday, Oct. 30, would make her the first actress to secure seven. She is the only performer to win in all three acting categories: younger, supporting, and lead.
Heather Tom isn't just accepting an award; she's rewriting the rulebook for daytime longevity by proving she can dominate in front of and behind the camera simultaneously.
The Hollywood landscape is shifting, but some icons remain untouchable. Heather Tom stands on the precipice of daytime television history this Friday, October 30, at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmys. As a star of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” Tom is nominated in two distinct categories: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama and Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series.
A victory in the acting category would mark her seventh Daytime Emmy, breaking a long-standing tie with soap opera legend Erika Slezak and cementing Tom’s status as the most decorated actress in the genre’s history. Tom’s journey to this pinnacle has been a masterclass in versatility. She won her first Daytime Emmy in 1993 for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series for “The Young and the Restless,” followed by a second in that same category in 1999.
She later transitioned to “The Bold and the Beautiful,” securing the Supporting Actress award in 2011, and Lead Actress wins in 2012, 2013, and 2020. This trajectory makes her the only performer ever to win Daytime Emmys in all three acting classifications. While Slezak holds the record for most wins in a single category (Lead Actress) with six, Tom’s cumulative success across different roles positions her to surpass Slezak’s total count if she takes home the trophy this week.
Despite the record-breaking potential, Tom approaches the ceremony with a diplomatic grace that speaks to her deep roots in the industry. “I don’t think I could be in a rivalry with Erica Slezak because she’s just iconic,” Tom told Variety. “It kind of floors me to think that I’m kind of in the same conversation as her, because I was such a huge fan.” She emphasized her respect for Slezak, noting that she had the honor of working with the “One Life to Live” star and praising her consistency.
Tom also highlighted the “leading ladies’ lunch,” a tradition she says was created by Slezak and Susan Flannery, as her favorite aspect of the nomination season, underscoring the communal nature of the daytime world rather than its competitive edge. The second half of Tom’s double nomination stems from her expanding role behind the camera, a move she credits entirely to “Bold and the Beautiful” executive producer and head writer Brad Bell.
“He’s always been extremely supportive of what I’ve wanted to do and branching out,” Tom explained. After nearly 37 years in daytime, Tom began writing spec scripts and eventually contributed to the show’s writing team. Bell, she notes, “expects a lot from the people who work for him in all capacities,” but rewards dedication with opportunity.
If she wins the writing award, Tom stated unequivocally that “the only person that I absolutely 100% have to thank is Brad.” As “The Bold and the Beautiful” enters its 40th season, the show is leveraging streaming platforms to reach new audiences, a strategy Tom believes is revitalizing the genre. She noted that while older viewers once relied on VCRs, the show’s full catalog is now accessible at their fingertips, attracting a younger demographic.
Tom is also channeling her creative energy into the emerging microdrama format, developing projects inspired by fairy tales like “Snow White” and “Sleeping Beauty,” as well as vampire lore. “It’s the ground floor of what daytime was 50 years ago,” she said of the new medium, highlighting the freedom to “lay it all out there” without the constraints of traditional television. The 53rd Daytime Emmys will be held at Hollywood’s Palladium, with “The Young and the Restless” leading the nominations with 18, and Genie Francis receiving the lifetime achievement award.
