| Christine Blair | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauralee Bell as Christine Blair | |||||||||||||||||
| The Young and the Restless The Bold and the Beautiful |
|||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Lauralee Bell | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1983–2001, 2002, 2003–2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | July 1983 (on The Young and the Restless) June 12, 2007 (on The Bold and the Beautiful) |
||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | June 21, 2007 (on The Bold and the Beautiful) November 9, 2011 (on The Young and the Restless) |
||||||||||||||||
| Cause/reason | Works and lives in Washington, D.C. | ||||||||||||||||
| Created by | William J. Bell | ||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Cricket Chris |
||||||||||||||||
| Aliases | Kelly Simmons | ||||||||||||||||
| Gender | Female | ||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Current
|
||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Washington D.C. | ||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
Christine Marie Ellen "Cricket" Blair (formerly Romalotti and Williams) is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, portrayed since July 1983 by Lauralee Bell (daughter of the series' co-creators William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell). In June 2007, the character appeared on The Young and the Restless' "sister soap", The Bold and the Beautiful, which is written and produced by Lauralee Bell's brother, Bradley.
Originally conceived as a bit role, the character eventually was expanded – so much to the point that Terry Lester, who portrayed Jack Abbott, quit the show in 1989, complaining that Bell had been given excessive airtime at the expense of himself and other actors.
The character was introduced as a teenager, and initially referred to primarily by her nickname, Cricket. However, after she entered law school, most characters (starting with attorney Michael Baldwin) began calling her by her given name. The transition from "Cricket" to "Christine" serves as a metaphor for her growth from teenage heroine to highly respected attorney.
Lauralee left and rejoined The Young and the Restless various times, on both recurring and contract status. She joined the show in 1983 and left 18 years later, on January 24, 2001.[1] She reappeared on recurring status several times during 2001: from April 25[2] to June 8,[3] July 23–25,[4] November 29[5] to December 7.[6] She finally returned in 2002 on contract, from April 16[7] to November 7.[8] She returned on contract, again, on January 23, 2003[9] and her contract ended on January 24, 2005.[10] The actress agreed to continue appearing on recurring status: from March 9, 2005[11] to January 4, 2006,[12] on March 15, 2006,[13] May 26 and May 31, 2006,[14][15] August 23, 25 and 28, 2006.[16][17] The character was last seen on The Bold and the Beautiful defending Ridge Forrester from June 12[18] to June 21, 2007.[19]
On July 15, 2010, Bell returned as Christine and was involved in the resolution of the baby that was stolen from her friend Nina Webster so many years ago. She ended her run on September 13, 2010. Lauralee Bell eventually returned for another stint on January 13, 2011. In October 2011, it was confirmed that Bell would reprise her role as Christine in November.
Cricket Blair, the teenage cousin of Jabot Cosmetics employee Joe Blair, was introduced as a model for Jabot Cosmetics, and made her way into Genoa City in 1983. She befriended a young Nina Webster (Tricia Cast) and was engaged to Phillip Chancellor III (Thom Bierdz), before she discovered them in bed together. Christine found love again in Scott Grainger Sr. (Peter Barton), but it didn't last when she found out she was related to him. She was forced to grow and toughen up after being raped by Derek Stuart (Ken Olandt), and she slowly turned from a model to a lawyer. While working at the Whitman, Walker, and Wilson firm, she was sexually harassed by fellow lawyer Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc). She taped their conversations and got him fired, which only pushed Michael to stalk her and eventually kidnap her, then hold her captive for days before she was rescued by Paul Williams (Doug Davidson) and Nathan Hastings (Randy Brooks). Michael was put in prison. In 1990, Christine married her longtime friend Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian), but their marriage ended when Danny cheated on her with a fan of his, Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford), who became pregnant (Years later, it was discovered that the baby -- Daniel Romalotti, Jr. -- was not Danny's biological son. Also, it was learned that Phyllis drugged Danny and made him think they had slept together). Her business life, on the other hand, was quite successful. She defended many residents of the town and accompanied Paul on various adventures. The two fell in love and planned to get married, but were prevented by Phyllis, who ran them over, leaving Paul in bad health. Once Paul recovered, their relationship was in danger because Christine had slept with Danny, but at the end she chose Paul over Danny. The two planned to have children, but were having tough time concentrating on personal life and were not able to conceive.
When Michael Baldwin returned in her life, Christine was convinced that he was a changed man and she testified for him in court. She even joined a law firm with the man, and once again her personal life was put aside, leaving her marriage in ruins. Christine convinced Paul to go to Hong Kong with her to make her business even more successful, but ended up leaving on her own. After a few months, Christine returned home prepared to try to work out her marriage, but was shocked to find Paul in the arms of Isabella Braña (Eva Longoria). She took a job in Australia and left. When she finally returned to Genoa City months later, Christine contemplated a relationship with Michael, but was not able to get past his shady history and the fact that she still had feelings for Paul.
Michael proudly announced to Paul that he got engaged to Christine, which angered Paul into forcing himself on Christine, although Chris never said no to him. Paul was, at the time, married to Isabella. The following morning, Christine went to see Paul in L.A. and made love to him, then disappeared for a few weeks, leaving Michael and Paul wondering what's going on. Paul's marriage with Isabella was over when he admitted the truth to her. Christine returned after a short absence disguised as Kelly Simmons, keen on finding out more about Isabella. Paul knew the truth and decided to stick with Isabella, while Christine went back to Michael. The two were going to get married, but Michael admitted the truth about plotting with Isabella, so Christine rushed to Paul's side and made love to him on the beach. Isabella plotted revenge against the couple and made it look like Christine had murdered her, then went to attack Chris in a bathtub, but Paul saved Chris, and then they were both saved by Michael.
Christine and Paul moved in together, but decided to part ways when Chris didn't accept Paul's proposal. Chris decided to concentrate on her new job, being a prosecutor, but several months later realized that she didn't like the job. Christine started dating Danny again, but he left town before anything more serious could happen. Since then, Christine was only seen working on cases, mainly defending people in trouble, including Daniel Romalotti, Jr. (Michael Graziadei) when he was accused of manslaughter, and she was also seen defending Ridge Forrester (Ron Moss) in Los Angeles.
Christine returned to Genoa City in July 2010, now isn't sure whether she wants to stay or go back to Washington, D.C. Her ex-husband Paul Williams might have something to do with her confusion as they recently made love when they both realized that they couldn't deny the feelings that they still had for each other even though Paul is now dating Christine's best friend Nina Chancellor.
When Nina finds out that Christine knew that Ronan Malloy, who is accused of killing her son Chance, was actually the son who was stolen from her at birth by Rose DeVille, she is furious because Christine had kept Ronan's paternity a secret from her even though Christine did intend to tell Nina at some point. She then tells Christine that she wishes she could love Ronan because he is her son but can't because she hates him for what he did to Chance. Nina then tells Christine to leave and never come back. A crying Christine is deeply hurt as she watches everyone, including Paul, console Nina over Chance's death as well as give her their love and support. Christine, still crying and still heartbroken over what Nina had said to her, walks away.
On September 17, it is revealed that Chance faked his death. Only Nina, Phillip, Ronan and Christine, must know that he is still "alive" as he is going into the witness protection program. Christine returned to Washington, D.C. after saying goodbye to Nina. On January 13 2011 Cricket returns with no call or anything to Ronan Malloy office and then to the Chancellor mansion to talk to Nina and where she also learns Ronan is sick. On February 4, 2011 following the tragic "death" of Cane who Jill loved as a son, Nina spilt some wine on Jill so Jill goes to her room to change which is where she finds Chance.
Christine returns in November 2011 for a visit, in which she and Paul talk about his son Ricky, and also recollect his psychotic mother, Isabella. Chance reveals to her that he will be working at The Pentagon and that he will be closer to her. Christine, Nina and Paul decide to confront Ronan and ask him why he refuses to talk to them. He never really gives them a straight answer, but after a one-on-one with Christine, he feels badly about the way he has acted. Christine returns to Washington D.C. on November 9, 2011.