Taylor Hayes (The Bold and the Beautiful)

originated the role of Taylor, portraying the character for three decades; from 1990 until her departure in 2019. Show creator William J. Bell introduced the role of psychiatrist Dr. Taylor Hamilton Hayes, played by Hunter Tylo, during the episode dated June 6, 1990. According to Variety, Bell created Taylor as "a romantic leading lady but also as a character who could facilitate social issues — and directly partake in a few, too". Previously, Tylo was dismissed from two other soaps, All My Children and Days of Our Lives. The actress noted that her "crazy sense of humor" and "funny business" could have won her the role of Taylor, and she said: "After the audition, they told me I was the only one right for the role. I think they liked my 'a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do' attitude." Sherilyn Wolter temporarily replaced Tylo in 1990. Tylo vacated the role in May 1994 to pursue other projects, but the soap opera left the door open for her to return, In March 1996, following Taylor's decreased airtime and rumors circulating of her exit, it was confirmed that the actress was to leave The Bold and the Beautiful after her contract expired that June, to pursue a primetime role on the Fox television drama Melrose Place. Taylor's final appearance was in May 1996. However, in July 1996, Tylo was controversially fired from Melrose Place on the grounds of being pregnant and was replaced by Lisa Rinna. In response, she sued that show's executive producer Aaron Spelling and Spelling Productions for millions of US dollars, and won her case. It was immediately reported that she would return to The Bold and the Beautiful, with head writer and executive producer Bradley Bell issuing the statement: "I am certain that Hunter's talent and ability will continue to be an asset to the show." although two months later in December she signed a new contract which gave her more flexibility to pursue other projects. In October 2002, Bradley Bell killed off the character and Tylo's last appearance was on October 30, 2002. Following this, she told Soaps in Depth that "I knew it my heart I would not be going back", stating that she wanted to "let the character go". During her time off the show, she had turned down offers to appear on other soaps including As the World Turns. In 2005, Deanna Barnert of Soap Opera Digest wrote that according to an industry insider, a character from the show "may come back from the world of the beyond", leading fans to speculate whether either Macy Alexander (Bobbie Eakes) or Taylor would be returning. Taylor was revealed to be alive, with Tylo returning on-screen during the April 25, 2005, episode. She was said to be "having fun surprising her castmates" with her reappearance on set. In a post on her website, she wrote: "For me, contract talks ended 4 weeks ago", adding "My friends and B&B fans will be sorely missed." Tylo's final appearance aired on her birthday: July 3, 2013. Dan Kroll of the website Soap Central was shocked by her exit, though felt that a future return was possible, judging from her previous departures. The news of Tylo's exit came just months after the high-profile departures of Ronn Moss and Susan Flannery from the series. The actress then made several guest appearances in April and May 2014, for a May sweeps story arc which revisited Taylor's accidental killing of Darla years earlier, with Darla's now teen daughter Aly (Ashlyn Pearce) struggling to deal with the issue of her mother's death. Tylo appeared again on November 5, 12 and 24, 2014. Tylo made a surprise return to The Bold and the Beautiful during the final moments of the April 12, 2018, episode. Tylo said her return was "so out of the blue" and revealed that it was kept secret: "They had me hidden away...I had a code name...They kept it quiet from everybody." Entertainment Weekly exclusively announced on October 27, 2021, that the role of Taylor has been recast with Krista Allen. The series had reportedly reached out to Tylo to return, but she was unavailable. Tylo later disclosed that she chose not to return after 2019 due to her dissatisfaction with the writing for Taylor. Allen, who previously played Billie Reed on the soap opera Days of Our Lives, said: "If there was ever any type of role to come back to daytime with, it would be this one. I couldn’t have asked for a better role to step into — or bigger shoes to fill. I love a good challenge." Allen wore a wig when auditioning for the role, explaining that she wanted to "lock in the look of Taylor Hayes as best I could", and prepared by watching Tylo's last episodes. Allen began filming on October 28, 2021, and made her first appearance on December 10. with her last appearance on the show being on November 10. On August 6, 2024, Rebecca Budig debuted in the role. Speaking to People of her casting, Budig stated: "I just hope they're open to that idea and interpretation of it and that they just believe the relationships between Taylor and Ridge and Taylor and Brooke." ==Character development==

Characterization Taylor is a globally renowned psychiatrist and works at the UCLA Medical Center. The writers wanted Taylor to retain a "pristine" and "well-mannered" personality, according to Tylo, to contrast her from rival Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) who was "feisty and reckless", the different facets which attracted Ridge to each of them. In the years following Taylor's 2005 return, her storylines changed significantly. After Ridge leaves Taylor, she becomes depressed and struggles with alcoholism. Tylo explained how this affected the character: "The love of her life throws her away after she struggled so hard to come back to him. It was painful and humiliating. That made her more real and now, after everything she's been through, Taylor gets to be a little manipulative spiteful and even resentful." In March 2012, Tylo said that Taylor is finally learning to pursue what she wants instead of always putting others first. She said, "In psychology, they tell you to be true to yourself. Maybe she is finally doing that, even though in her moral compass she knows that it is better to put other people first. She has been going after what she wants instead. It is a very good growing place for Taylor to go back to reality and realize that she is not perfect and that she needs to try not looking so perfect so much." Reflecting on Taylor being revealed as Bill Spencer Jr.'s (Don Diamont) shooter, Tylo loved "the idea of a crazy psychiatrist", "I’ve always said that Taylor is the good doc who can’t take her medicine; that’s how I’ve always described her, and this story just gives her so many things to do." and Ridge's mother, Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery), initially disliking Taylor. By July 1991, John Goudas of The Gadsden Times wrote that Taylor was "hooked" by Ridge but was "no-nonsense". Taylor refuses to marry Ridge unless he was serious about the end of his relationship with Brooke; Goudas noted that Taylor wanted "insurance" and deemed her "upfront" approach as the "polar opposite" to that of Brooke. Ridge and Taylor ultimately marry in 1992. The actors were under pressure during the shooting of the wedding as it was filmed on the day of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. Speaking on Ridge's decision to remain married to Taylor, Tylo said that the actors were "so sick of this triangle" and revealed: "One of the things Bradley's going to do is have Ridge pick Taylor over Brooke. For a change, instead of women breaking couples up or getting pregnant to trap a man, we're going to see how couples work through their problems." Ridge and Taylor divorce, although soon become involved once more, and get back together when Ridge finds out that he fathered Taylor's son, Thomas Forrester (Adam Gregory). Ridge and Taylor remarry on June 24, 1998. Despite Ridge and Taylor's remarriage, Brooke continues her attempts at winning Ridge back. Stephanie encourages Taylor to see Brooke's intent, with Tylo observing: "It was so obvious she was going after Ridge. How can you explain away that she always kept ending up in the elevator in her bra and underwear over and over again? Stephanie’s whole mission was to get Taylor to smell the coffee and [realize] that not everybody has as altruistic an agenda as she does." Her pregnancy becomes high risk and she refuses treatment to protect the babies. Tylo said that this was "a great way to bring awareness about the disease and the threat it poses to pregnant women". Taylor's "ghost" visits Ridge in 2004 and encourages him to be with Brooke. Following Taylor's return to the show, her marriage to Ridge fell apart in 2006 and they divorce. They have since reunited on several occasions but he continues going back to Brooke, despite Taylor's efforts to thwart this from happening. Daytime Confidential's Jamey Giddens noted that Steffy and Thomas "grew up watching their daddy basically climb out of their mom's bed and right into the sack with Rick (Jacob Young) and Hope's (Kimberly Matula) mom, over and over again." Other relationships Taylor has been romantically linked to Ridge's half-brother Thorne (Winsor Harmon) multiple times. They were briefly involved from 1997 to 1998, when Ridge is in jail and urges Taylor to forget about him. Taylor also briefly lies about Thorne being Thomas' father. After accidentally killing Thorne's wife Darla in 2006, Taylor falls in love with Thorne, who is "forgiving and loving" towards her, even helping her attend AA. They nearly marry, but split up due to his then 4-year-old daughter Alexandria Forrester learning that Taylor killed Darla. When the news of Rick and Taylor becoming closer reaches Brooke and Ridge, they both protest against it; Tylo described this as "two pots calling the kettle black". Brooke accuses Taylor of being with Rick as a form of revenge against her, and enlists Phoebe's help in stopping the relationship. Tylo told Soap Opera Digest that Taylor's revenge is "a subconscious thing", explaining: "Taylor sort of feels like Brooke stole her child, so this is kind of retribution. Taylor is like, 'Well then I'll take your kid'." Phoebe accepts Rick and Taylor being together, wanting both of them to be happy and giving Taylor the "green light she was looking for". Lowder believed that the tables were turning on Brooke, and said "now Brooke's son is in love with [Taylor], and she's in love with him – and it's legit (...) Taylor wins, Brooke loses – and Brooke's going crazy". Rick and Taylor get engaged Whip was previously involved with Brooke; Garret wrote: "Now he's in love with Brooke's mortal enemy Taylor Hayes Forrester... Hearst is magnificently suited for the role and fans want to see Whip and Taylor find happiness. At least for a few months." Whip becomes jealous when Taylor admits to Stephanie that she still has feelings for Ridge. Whip's frustration with Taylor's feelings for Ridge leads to the demise of their relationship the following year, and they end the marriage. Rivalry with Brooke Beginning in 1990, Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Taylor would fight over Ridge's affection for years. In 2013, Tylo revealed that she and Lang would distance themselves from each other to make their on-screen rivalry convincing: "We cannot look comfortable with each other. We need to look like we are in a place of competition." In 2010, Lang and Tylo recreated a 1983 lily pond cat-fight between Krystle Carrington and Alexis Colby in the drama Dynasty, shooting the scenes in a koi pond at the CBS Studios. Tommy Garrett of Canyon News said the "two Mrs. Ridge Forresters" had escalated to "all out war". Baby Jack In 2007, Brooke and Taylor's rivalry intensified when Brooke begins pursuing Nick Marone (Jack Wagner) while he is married to Taylor. Soap Opera Digest noted that the women were "crossing swords once again for the same man". Tylo observed that both Brooke and Taylor were being written with "more intelligence" this time around, and was happy in revisiting the rivalry between them as "long as it wasn't over Ridge" again. Taylor begins drinking and becomes mentally unstable, with her parental rights being taken away. The scenes where Taylor loses custody and suffers a breakdown in court were filmed shortly after Tylo's own son died. Tylo told On-Air On-Soaps: "I got a lot of emails from people worrying. They would go from worrying about me to saying, 'Was I okay with those scenes and after them?'" The actress said that she tapped into her own tragedy when portraying those scenes, and allowed herself to feel the "feeling that will never go away which is, 'It's not fair'". Taylor is soon awarded joint custody of Jack when she passes a mental health evaluation. However, she cannot bond with him and ends up giving Jack to Brooke in the end. Departure (2002) In October 2002, it was announced that Bradley Bell had decided to kill off Taylor, and Tylo would depart the role after twelve years. In a statement on her website, she wrote: "It is with great sadness I have to tell you that Brad has decided to kill off the character Taylor. He feels the character is too good and has too much integrity to take her down other pathsin a word, played out." The actress confessed that she was unhappy with her character's direction at the time of her exit, saying: "I really felt like Taylor had lost the wind from her sails and was going nowhere." Tylo added: "Taylor either needed to die or she needed to go berserk and lose her mind or something, which I think would have made a lot of people mad." Taylor is gunned down by Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) and, despite undergoing surgery, she dies in Ridge's arms due to her injuries. Tylo eventually returned to the soap, with Taylor revealed to be alive in 2005. ==Storylines==

1990–2002 Her father is Jack Hamilton (Chris Robinson), and she has a younger brother, Zachary. Taylor's mother, Sharon, died when she was a child which led to Jack's gambling addiction. Her chaotic childhood led to Taylor becoming a psychiatrist. She was in an abusive relationship with Blake Hayes (Peter Brown) who also stalked her. Taylor begins counseling Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss) and his wife Caroline Spencer Forrester (Joanna Johnson) when Caroline is diagnosed with leukemia. After Caroline's death, Ridge takes interest in Taylor, to the dismay of his ex Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). Storm (Brian Patrick Clarke) and Taylor briefly date and he proposes to her at Christmas 1990 but she refuses. Ridge and Taylor begin a relationship which is temporarily broken up by Brooke; Ridge follows Taylor to St. Thomas Island and successfully wins her back. The couple marry in 1992; Taylor befriends Ridge's overprotective mother Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery). In 1993 while trapped in a cabin at Big Bear and suffering from hypothermia, Taylor sleeps with her mentor from medical school James Warwick (Ian Buchanan) to prevent him from dying a virgin. A guilty Taylor writes Ridge a note confessing her infidelity, but she is presumed dead after a plane crash in April 1994. Stephanie destroys Taylor's letter, and Ridge eventually remarries Brooke. However, Taylor is revealed to be alive and suffering from amnesia. She was assaulted by drug dealers who took her place on the plane. She is rescued by Prince Omar Rashid (Kabir Bedi) and taken to his palace in Morocco. Omar holds Taylor captive when she regains her memories; she lives under the alias Princess Laila and is coerced into marrying Omar, effectively committing bigamy (the marriage was declared void). Taylor ultimately returns to California. She poses as a British nurse taking care of a temporarily blinded Ridge before revealing herself to family and friends in May 1995. Ridge and Taylor's marriage ends shortly afterward and he decides to remain with Brooke. In 1997, Taylor discovers that she is pregnant with Ridge's child. Mistakenly believing that he wants Brooke, she allows Ridge's half-brother Thorne Forrester (Winsor Harmon) to claim he is the father instead. After Taylor gives birth to Thomas Forrester in 1998, Ridge learns the truth and they remarry. In 1999, Taylor gives birth to twins Steffy and Phoebe Forrester, and suffers from tuberculosis during the pregnancy. Ridge's unstable high school ex Morgan DeWitt (Sarah Buxton) becomes pregnant with his child in 2000, but the baby dies after Morgan falls off a balcony in Taylor's mansion. Morgan kidnaps Steffy during a family vacation and she is presumed dead. The truth is revealed and Morgan is jailed for her crimes, after kidnapping both Steffy and Taylor. In 2002, Taylor discovers that Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) who is criminally insane has broken out of jail. She tries to warn Eric, but instead is shot by Sheila while shielding Brooke. Taylor survives emergency surgery but dies in Ridge's arms due to heart failure. 2004–2014 In 2004, an apparition of Taylor appears to Ridge, Brooke and Jackie Marone (Lesley-Anne Down). In 2005, Taylor re-appears at Bridget Forrester (Ashley Jones) and Nick Marone's (Jack Wagner) wedding ceremony and is soon revealed to be alive. She had been removed from the hospital by Prince Omar after her apparent death and was kept alive in a coma before waking up. As a result, Ridge and Taylor get back together and make it to the altar, but Stephanie confesses the truth, and Ridge reunites with Brooke. Taylor later begins romancing Thorne again, and exerts her power as trustee of Forrester Creations. In 2012, Taylor counsels Brooke's sister Katie Logan Spencer (Heather Tom) who is suffering from postnatal depression. Taylor says goodbye to best friend Stephanie before she dies from lung cancer. In 2013, Thomas loses out on the top position at Forrester Creations to Rick and wants to leave town; Taylor persuades Eric Forrester (John McCook) to help Thomas. Soon, Taylor and Eric become romantically involved and she moves into the Forrester mansion. Taylor discovers that Brooke slept with Katie's husband Bill Spencer Jr. (Don Diamont) which resulted in a pregnancy (and miscarriage). Taylor reveals Brooke's secret at her birthday party in front of everyone, and abruptly leaves town afterward. In 2014, Taylor is now living Paris and has reunited with Thorne. The couple return to Los Angeles, but Aly (Ashlyn Pearce), now a teenager, heavily disapproves. Aly forgives Taylor for Darla's death and Taylor and Thorne return to Paris. After few months, Taylor returns to Los Angeles to visit some patients and tells Eric that she and Thorne broke up. Eric asks her to stay in Los Angeles, telling her that LA is the place where she has to live, but she refuses and returns to Paris. Before her leaving, Eric kisses Taylor on her cheek, still showing some feelings for her. 2018–2019 In April 2018, Taylor returns to Los Angeles, where she confronts Bill for taking advantage of Steffy and accuses him of displaying predatory behaviors. During the confrontation, Taylor confesses to shooting Bill and once again pulls a gun on him in a fit of emotional distress. Bill agrees not to press charges against her for Steffy's sake, and Taylor remains in Los Angeles to seek psychiatric help off-screen. Liam, Hope, Brooke and Ridge soon learn that Taylor was Bill's shooter, with Brooke and Hope reluctantly agreeing to keep the secret. Taylor eventually moves in with Steffy and her granddaughter, Kelly. Taylor leaves town again in 2019, with it later being stated that she is doing missionary work overseas. 2021–2023 Taylor (Krista Allen) returns to Los Angeles after a series of travels overseas to surprise her daughter, Steffy in her residence in December 2021. ==Reception==

Character and portrayal The role of Taylor is considered iconic, In 2004, Soaps in Depth called Taylor "daytime's sexiest shrink". Tommy Garret of Canyon News described Taylor as being the "epitome of grace and dignity". News24 chose Taylor returning from the dead twice as one of its favorite storylines on The Bold and the Beautiful, though TheWraps Jennifer Maas wrote: "Taylor died and came back to life twice and both incidents involved the same Moroccan prince. Look, we get that it's a soap opera, but even that was a bit much." In 2008, Darren Lomas from Daytime Confidential wrote, "The back-from-death version of Taylor is a whole lot more horny than she was back in the day. Is it all because she never got over Ridge, her one true love?" Discussing Tylo's portrayal, Debashine Thangevelo of Independent Online observed, "Having inhabited this role for almost two decades, barring a sabbatical, she has made an indelible impression on viewers." Reacting to Taylor being revealed as Bill's shooter, Canyon News wrote: "Tylo delivered some riveting scenes, as a mother concerned about her daughter’s well-being", stating that her return "causes all types of problems which make for interesting TV". For her portrayal of Taylor, Tylo was nominated twice for Hottest Female Star at the Soap Opera Digest Awards. Tylo also won a Soap Opera Update MVP Award for Best Actress, and a Telvis Award for Foreign Female TV Performer (Finnish: Ulkomainen naisesiintyjä) in 2002 for the role. Following the character's 2019 exit, Maas observed that fans had "been clamoring for Taylor’s return for years, as important moments in her children’s lives went by with their mother noticeably absent — and without a great explanation as to why." In 2021, after the role was recast with Allen, Lynette Rice of Entertainment Weekly described the news as "sweet relief" for Forrester fans, adding that Allen "fills the very big stilettos left behind" by Tylo. In 2022, Charlie Mason from Soaps She Knows placed Taylor at 11th on his ranked list of ''The Bold and the Beautiful's Best of the Best Characters Ever'', commenting that "For decades, we liked Hunter Tylo's shrink as a heroine who always got the short end of the stick. But we've come to love her as the woman scorned who, if she hasn't completely lost her marbles, has certainly misplaced some of 'em!" In 2024, Soap Opera News named Budig's casting as Taylor as their fifth top recast of the year. Michael Fairman named Buding's casting in the role as his "Most Shocking Recast" for his "Best and Worst in Soaps 2024" listing. He pointed out how "perplexed" fans were at the news, while also noting how she "didn't look old enough" to play a mother opposite Wood's Steffy. Ultimately, Fairman complimented Budig's work in the role: "Budig, as she always has done, is doing her best with the material given to her as she works to establish the on-screen relationships with Taylor's romantic and familial ties and past." Romance Widely famed, the triangle between Brooke, Ridge and Taylor is viewed as one of the soap opera genre's biggest storylines. Speaking of Brooke and Taylor's anticipated cake fight in 2018, Soaps.com writer Candace Young stated that viewers "weren't disappointed", calling it "re-energizing to see these two pick up with their rivalry and play off one another." Ridge and Taylor are considered a soap opera supercouple Speaking on the beginning of the relationship, Michael Idato of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote, "Taylor was Caroline's doctor, which made her affair with Ridge, as the bleep bleep machine was flatlining, slightly inappropriate. But then, nothing in daytime soap opera is ever appropriate." Their 1992 wedding was ranked at number 18 by The Huffington Post on a list of the "Top 20 Most Memorable Soap Weddings of All Time". Michael Fairman referred to Taylor and Thorne as "the screwed-over couple of B&B". ==References==