The Daytime Emmy lead actress lunch became a soap opera tradition when The Bold and the Beautiful's Susan Flannery began taking the nominees for a very special meal prior to the awards ceremony. Since then, the winner for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress from the previous year has invited that year's nominees to a special celebratory lunch. This year, that actress was B&B's Jacqueline MacInnes Wood.
However, Wood decided to break with tradition just a bit and invite actresses nominated in other categories, including Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress and Outstanding Guest Performer. They enjoyed their afternoon at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills.
That meant supporting nominees Emily O'Brien (Gwen Rizczech and Theresa Donovan, Days of our Lives), Alison Lanier (Summer Newman, The Young and the Restless), Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra, Y&R), and Jennifer Gareis (Donna Logan, B&B), as well as guest performer nominees Ashley Jones (Bridget Forrester, B&B) and Alley Mills (Heather Webber, General Hospital) were also in attendance.
Several of the lunching ladies shared snaps and thanks on their Instagram accounts and in their Instagram stories, including Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan, B&B), who received a lead actress nod this year.
"Daytime Emmy nominated actresses luncheon," Lang wrote alongside a video slideshow of her favorite pics from the event. "Thank you @jacquelinemwood_1 for hosting such a beautiful lunch🥰 It was a special day celebrating with all these amazing women!"
Courtney Hope also expressed her joy at being among such incredible women.
"To be alongside these beautiful powerhouse women is an honor! What a wonderfully fun Emmy nominee brunch!" she said. "Thank you @jacquelinemwood_1 for including us all!"
Emily O'Brien shared her own pics, along with the caption: "Many thanks to @jacquelinemwood_1 for such a lovely afternoon! How wonderful it was to get to know all of you incredible women, I am so grateful... I can't wait to celebrate with you all at the Emmys."
Other actresses who shared festivities of the day in their Instagram stories included Wood, Noelle, and Gareis.
The Daytime Emmys will be broadcast live on Friday, June 7, on CBS (and Paramount+) at 8 PM ET. On the West Coast, the ceremony will air on tape delay at 8PM PT.
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