leslie's articles & interviews

Performer of The Week
Soap Opera Digest - November 12, 1998

Stoic is not hard for Leslie Charleson (Monica) to play. After all, she faced an unbelievably demanding storyline just four years ago when her character was stricken with breast cancer. Plus, playing a woman who either cheated or was cheated on for the better part of her two-decade marriage has provided Charleson ample opportunity to put her stiff upper lip to good use.

But throughout the trials and tribulations of life as Monica Quartermaine, one thing has pretty much remained constant: Charleson has proven an innate ability to demonstrate her character's vunerability behind all that stoicism. This talent has never been more evident than in Charleson's current storyline. As the stolid wife being forced to stand idly by while her husband spirals into a drug-addicted haze, this actress has opened a window into Monica's pain and genuine love for Alan -- emotions beyond the silent rage, disappointment, confusion and concern. "I don't know which is harder," Monica recently admitted to close friend Bobbie. " Watching [Alan] ruin his life completely, or my inability to help him."

Having already been through a battle to save her own life, Monica is carefully trying to save her beloved husband's. And as we watch the path to hell Alan is taking, Charleson is aptly guiding us down Monica's rocky, parallel trail. Through the self-doubt (finding Alan with a prostitute can't have done much for the old self-esteem) and tragedy, we're sure Monica will emerge stronger than ever, she always does. But this trial around, it's the gentle brush strokes provided by Leslie Charleson that make the journey so much more compelling.