Exclusive: Bold & Beautiful’s Ashley Jones Recalls Her ‘Very Daunting’ Days at Young & Restless
Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
The CBS soap vet looks back on her teenage years in daytime.
Before Ashley Jones arrived on the scene at The Bold and the Beautiful as Bridget in 2004, she landed her first daytime role as Megan Dennison on The Young and the Restless. In fact, the actress is going to be attending the soap’s 50th anniversary party and during our interview with the actress, she thought about her time on daytime’s number one drama and how she felt compared to the others in the cast.
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“I was so young when I started on Young & Restless,” Jones told Soaps.com before recalling how Bill Bell guided her every step of the way. “It was very daunting, and I thought everyone was so much cooler than me!”
At the time, Jones was in school and would make her way to the set at the end of the day after her studies. “Everyone seemed so much more glamorous than me!” she stated. “The whole thing seemed glamorous.” However, there was something much bigger that she realized in the beginning…
“Little did I know that first day just how much work was involved,” Jones admitted. “It was so daunting. I mean, here I was this kid in high school and there was Eric Braeden, a literal daytime icon!” And speaking of the portrayer of the great and powerful Victor Newman, she revealed, “Honestly, I still find him to be a bigger-than-life presence. I’m a grown woman now, but I can sometimes still feel that way because he’s… well, he’s Eric Braeden!”
Jones gave her Instagram followers a treat when she posted photos of her time playing Genoa City’s “sweet Megan,” a character that garnered her two Daytime Emmy nominations. Even though she didn’t win a golden statuette, for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series, she lost to two of her castmates, “the amazing Cameron Grimes” (ex-Cassie) in 1999 and the “immensely-talented Heather Tom” (ex-Victoria) in 2000.
More: Meet daytime’s cutest little newcomers
“I’ve always said Bill Bell changed my life… Many of us could say that, actually,” Jones expressed before crediting soap fans for being “the best” and promising to take lots of behind-the-scenes photos at the anniversary party next week.
In anticipation of the soap’s big milestone, look through our photo gallery below of Young & Restless’ 50th-anniversay cast portraits.
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Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Abby always looks fabulous, even slogging at Society, as does her portrayer, Melissa Ordway, who dazzles in a cold shoulder sequined gown in blush. Plus, we can’t get over those earrings — <em>so</em> cute!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>The black sheep of the Newman clan, Adam actor Mark Grossman cuts a dashing figure in a tailored suit of the same hue.</p>
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<p>Kelsey Wang, in a swath of pink silk looks every bit the part she plays — the newest member of the illustrous Abbott family.</p>
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<p><em>Young & Restless’s</em> Hilary <em>and</em> Amanda, Michele Morgan is perfection is this baby pink sequined peekaboo gown.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Pretty in purple and bejeweled drop earrings, Davidson is the picture of elegance. We love the saucy expression — it’s giving Ashley’s confident vibe.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Can’t get enough of this yummy blue hue <em>or</em> the va-va-voom look Silver is dropping in this smoulder-y photo. More Audra please!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Like a fine wine… that’s the color of Thompson’s velvet suit and it looks fantastic on him!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Purple plaid?! Don’t mind if we do. We’d love to see Floyd’s Chance Chancellor decked out like this onscreen!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Strappy and sexy is the look for Melissa Claire Egan’s 50th anniversary portrait. Dazzling!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Wow. Just wow. We’d almost forgotten how sultry Hendrickson can look given her character has been working and mom-ing so long!</p>
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<p>Bell is giving movie star glam in this breathtakingly beautiful pink number. Imagine if Danny saw Cricket wearing this!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Daniel is such a casual character that we rarely get to see him dressed up to the nines like this — so, thanks <em>Y&R</em> 50, for giving us a glimpse of gussied up Graz!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Midnight blue and black are just the absolute perfect colors for this man. What a suit! What a sharp look!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Susan Walters stuns in this cold shoulder metallic gown. The earrings really complete the look. Maybe Diane can borrow it to head out on the town on Jack’s arm!</p>
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<p>Feminine and fabulous! Sarpy looks phenomenal in this blush gown that shows just a peep of her gorgeous gams.</p>
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<p>Esther’s portrayer left the feather duster behind to pose in this glamorous golden gown. La Linder!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Things certainly aren’t black and white in Jack’s world right now, but the color combo just pops on Bergman, who is beyond dapper in his photo.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Walton is <em>Young & Restless</em> royalty, which explains the vibe she’s giving in this glam gown in navy blue. Flair!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>We don’t see Kevin nearly as often as we’d like what with Rikaart doing double-duty between <em>Young & Restless</em> and <em>Days</em>, but the busy actor looks flawless in his velvet jacket and patterned bow tie.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Hip and handsome, Kyle’s portrayer Michael Mealor is a walking swoon-alert in this ensemble.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>The lady of the hour, Bregman just celebrated 40 years playing Lauren Fenmore on <em>Young & Restless</em>. As usual, she’s nothing short of a smoke show in her portrait marking the show’s 50th.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Khalil’s dusky pink gown showed off her fabulous figure to its best advantage. Deep V, elegant drop earrings… what’s not to love?!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Grimes is giving ‘goddess’ in this dazzling gown that may be the perfect hue to offset her red hair. Oh, the style!</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Distinguished as all get out, LeBlanc threw a smoulder-y look in the camera’s direction as he posed for his 50th anniversary portrait.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Perched on a prop and looking casually <em>amazing</em>, Dominic shows us just why the ladies sit up and pay attention when Nate walks into a room.</p>
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<p>This exquisite black suit shows off Morrow’s great physique, and brings out his blue eyes. So. Freakin’. Handsome.</p>
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<p>Scott looks ready for one of Nikki’s glamorous galas in this golden gown that just happens to match the lowlights in her lovely locks. Exquisite.</p>
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<p>It’s no wonder everyone’s flocking to the Glam Club — just look at the dishy proprietor!</p>
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<p>Just as her character Phyllis stands out from the crowd, so does her portrayer. Stafford lights up the shoot in her two-tone gown with a twist.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>We’re not sure what to call this color — eggplant? sepia? purplish brown? — all that matters is that it looks absolutely stunning on Courtney Hope.</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>We’re not sure which is more breathtaking — Sharon Case or the gold off-the-shoulder gown. Kidding. Of course, it’s Case, but the dress is a show-stopper too. Just goes to show our girl should be out of the coffee shop more</p>
Image: Sonja Flemming/CBS
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<p>Lovely Lanier is giving Grecian goddess in her gown and curls. So very pretty!</p>
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<p>Fairbanks is off the charts gorgeous in this slinky black gown. Wowza!</p>
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<p>The heart of <em>Young & Restless</em>, Maitland looks just beautiful in her 50th anniversary portrait!</p>
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<p>St. John is debonair as all get out in this black ensemble. Tucker could never.</p>
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<p>In a tux fit for the soap’s king, <em>Young & Restless’s</em> Braeden gave his best signature Victor Newman glare in one shot, and softened for the next. Love it.</p>
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