| Dr. Taylor Hayes | |||||||||||||
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| Hunter Tylo as Dr. Taylor Hayes (2008) | |||||||||||||
| The Bold and the Beautiful | |||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Hunter Tylo Sherilyn Wolter (1990, temporarily) |
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| Duration | 1990-2002, 2004, 2005— | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | June 6, 1990 | ||||||||||||
| Created by | William J. Bell | ||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||
| Aliases | Taylor Hamilton Taylor Ashford Princess Laila Rashid |
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| Occupation | Psychiatrist Co-Owner of Forrester Creations |
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| Residence | 3197 Holden Drive, Los Angeles, California | ||||||||||||
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Dr. Taylor Hayes (née: Hamilton; formerly Forrester, Marone and Jones) is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, portrayed by actress Hunter Tylo. The character departed In 2002, returning briefly In 2004 and has been a regular since May 9, 2005. She is the Psychiatrist In Los Angeles, intertwined in medical and personal story lines in the serial.
Taylor Hayes (Also known as Taylor Ashford and Hamilton at her inception) was introduced by William J. Bell. She was originally a side character to assist Ridge Forrester and Caroline Spencer during her battle (and death) while fighting Leukemia. However, she developed a relationship with Ridge, and over her years on the show has battled with Brooke Logan for his affections. She married Ridge and together they had three children, a son Thomas Forrester, and twins Steffy Forrester, and Phoebe Forrester (Who died In 2008). They have endured many challenges as a couple, and have been married twice.
The character has endured many obstacles herself. She was assumed dead In the 1990s, and once again In October 2002; and she was revealed to be alive after being shot by Sheila Carter, having been recovering from her wounds during being kidnapped by Omar Rashid. The character's other notable storylines include marriage to Nick Marone and Whip Jones and a relationship with the younger Rick Forrester. She has a close friendship with the show's leading female (her ex mother-in-law) Stephanie Forrester, and has had an almost 2-decade long rivalry with Brooke Logan though the two can be kind and friends to one another at times.
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On the character, William Bell stated "He created psychiatrist Taylor Hayes in 1990, not only as a romantic leading lady, but also as a character who could facilitate social issues".[1] At the beginning of the show, Taylor's maiden name was Ashford, however it was changed to Hamilton (Ashford was surname of her mother). During the series, she is most well known as Taylor Hayes or Forrester. The character has become popular with viewers, garnering two Soap Opera Digest Nominations (Both for "Female Hottie") and was a fan favorite until her 2002 "Death".
William J. Bell created and introduced the character to the show, three years after its inception. Hunter Tylo was hired to play Taylor, with her first air date being June 6, 1990. She had previously had an unlucky streak with Soap Operas, being fired from All My Children In 1988 (on the grounds of dating co-star, Michael Tylo), and Days of Our Lives In 1990[2]. Sherilyn Wolter briefly replaced Tylo for a small amount of time in 1990. Tylo nearly left the series as Taylor in 1996.[3] Later that year, Tylo did leave The Bold and the Beautiful to pursue a place on Melrose Place. She left the show officially in May 1996[4]. However, due to pregnancy, she was fired from the role and sued Aaron Spelling for unfair firing on the grounds of pregnancy. Her role was then taken by another Daytime actress, Lisa Rinna. Tylo won her case.[5] On her return to the Bold and the Beautiful announced in July 1996[4] (just a mere months after her announced exit) Bradley Bell stated "I am certain that Hunter's talent and ability will continue to be an asset to the show",[4] accepting the pregnant Tylo back on set with open arms.
In 2002 it was announced that the character of Taylor were to be killed off; the announcement received a mixed response from the public. Her last air date was October 30, 2002. In March 2004 Tylo made a guest appearance as the ghost Taylor to meet up with her husband Ridge, Brooke and others including Jacqueline Payne Marone[6]. In 2005 the show had confirmed that a character could be "coming back from the great beyond", hinting that two very notable characters could possibly return. It was speculated that either Macy or Taylor would be the characters returning[7]. Tylo was said to be "having fun surprising her cast-mates", with her reappearance on set[7].
Taylor is described as "Though unlucky in love, Taylor is as sophisticated and intelligent as they come, always able to analyze the problems of others and sometimes even her own"[8]. She is also described as "psychiatrist whose life has been intertwined with the lives and loves of the Forrester and the Marone families"[9]. SOAP net describes Taylor as the opposite of Brooke, however outlines where she goes wrong:"Unlike Brooke, Taylor is less likely to use sex for selfish purposes. She's just looking for love in all the wrong places -- and she's certainly suffered for it"[10] and add in her character description "like her rival Brooke, considers Ridge the love of her life. (Unlike Brooke, she's had three kids with the guy)"[10].
In 2000, while Ridge was being conned into a relationship with Morgan DeWitt, when asked about how Taylor is going to finally manage to figure out the truth about the pregnancy, Tylo said "I just wish that Taylor would get a clue, period! I wish that her psychiatric expertise would kick in already. I mean, she's retarded!", pointing out that the character can be absentminded for a psychiatrist.[11] In the same interview, Tylo went on to say "I think she got her degree out of a Cracker Jack box or something. Because, you know - I keep saying to the producer and the directors, you know, she is a psychiatrist, don't you think maybe she has a clue?"[11].
In 2008, (during the storyline which saw Taylor get involved with the much younger Rick Forrester), when asked in an interview "In your current “B&B” storyline, Taylor is involved in her first younger man/older woman romance with Rick Forrester. How do you feel about the subject? And how did you feel about tackling this type of relationship on-screen?", Tylo stated "You could be 30 and dating 20-year-olds, as long as you are over 18, that’s what is important", also said "Kyle (Kyle Lowder) is adorable!" and she enjoyed working with him on the storyline.[12]
During an interview in 2011, Hunter commented on her character and where she would like her character's storylines to go in the upcoming year. She stated, "I would like to see Taylor finally have had it with Brooke and Hope and that whole thing, and step up and put Thorne in the CEO seat and take over and let him come up with his own line. Then, let everyone discover that he [Thorne] is more talented than everybody!".[13]. Tylo has stated her favorite scene to shoot was a mud fight with Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) that occurred In 2009[14]. Taylor appeared on the Herald-Journal in an article for "Stars with 9 Lives: Death Is not forever in Soaps" after her plane crash in 1994; resulting in her assumed death however returned later to find out her husband Ridge had married his former flame (Brooke).[15]
The character's history has not been heavily focused on. She was known to have a play-relationship which went no where with Storm Logan when they were attending high school together, as seen in one of Taylor's first episodes when they met up in a café/restaurant after years apart. They showed small interest in each other, however Taylor was more involved with Ridge. Taylor's father (who has appeared in several episodes of the show included after Taylor's return In 2005) is Jack Hamilton (Chris Robinson), he was first seen at her 1992 wedding to Ridge[16]. He is very protective of his daughter. Her mother is Sharon Ashford Hamilton. Little is known of her. Tylo expressed that she wanted to have a story line involving her mother, however was never a possibility due to the unseen character's death. Taylor was also in an abusive relationship with Blake Hayes (played by Peter Brown when he made an appearance between 1991–92).
Taylor begins counseling Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss) and Caroline Spencer Forrester (Joanna Johnson), after Caroline is diagnosed (and dies) with Leukemia. Shortly after her death, instead of going back to Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang), his on and off lover, he takes interest in Taylor. Taylor briefly dated Storm Logan (Brian Patrick Clarke), an old school mate. Storm proposed to Taylor[17] In Christmas 1990, however she turned him down. Taylor initially turned down Ridge, however they committed themselves to a relationship. Taylor begins a close friendship with Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery), Ridge's protective mother. Their relationship faces minor problems such as her ex-husband Blake Hayes (Peter Brown) attempts to win back Taylor. The two part ways when Taylor believes all Ridge wants is Brooke. She leaves town to go to St. Thomas Island. Ridge tracks her down, and manages to romance her again and they engage and marry shortly after, despite thinking then that Ridge had fathered Brooke's daughter Bridget Forrester (Agnes Bruckner), this was later revealed as false.
While trapped and fighting for their survival against hypothermia, Taylor sleeps with her virgin mentor from medical school James Warwick (Ian Buchanan). To prevent living with guilt, Taylor wrote a note to Ridge detailing her infidelity before leaving on a trip overseas for work. Her Plane crashed and Taylor was presumed dead by everyone. Stephanie disposed of the note when she found it so no one would know Taylor's secret. Ridge goes back to Brooke after her supposed death. Taylor is revealed to be alive and suffering from amnesia, having been rescued by Prince Omar Rashid (Kabir Bedi) in Morocco. Taylor regains memory and returns to California. She initially leaves, but returns when her father has a heart attack. Her friends and family learn she is alive, and Ridge, now married to Brooke, must choose between the two women. Taylor also breifly had a small love affair with Ridge's father Eric Forrester (John McCook), but ended it due to her friendship with Stephanie.
Taylor discovers she is pregnant with Ridge's child, but mistakenly believing that Ridge wants to be with Brooke, allows Ridge's half-brother Thorne Forrester to claim that he is the father instead. When Taylor gives birth to Thomas Forrester (Winsor Harmon), Ridge discovers the truth, and he and Taylor marry once again. In the following year, Taylor becomes pregnant with twins, but the pregnancy is threatened when she is exposed to tuberculosis. As antibiotics could adversely affect the babies, she declines treatment, and gives birth to Steffy and Phoebe before recovering. Later, Ridge's ex Morgan DeWitt (Sarah Buxton) interfered with the happy family's life by getting herself impregnated with Ridge's child (She had previously dated Ridge in high school and got pregnant, however Stephanie forced her into an abortion and she wanted solace by recreating the child with Ridge). During a fight with Taylor, Morgan fell off a balcony at their Bel Air Mansion and the baby dies. During a family vacation, Steffy is kidnapped by Morgan. Seeking revenge, she changed Steffy's name to Stacy and led the Forresters to believe that Steffy had died during the vacation. The truth came out; she was jailed for her crimes, (after kidnapping both Steffy and Taylor).
In 2002, Taylor befriends her sister-in-law Amber Forrester (Adrienne Frantz). Taylor moves Amber into her home and helps her fight an addiction to pain medication. Previously incarcerated Sheila Carter, by now criminally insane, kidnaps Amber who had foiled one of her many plots against the Forrester family. When Taylor discovers that Shelia is free, she attempts to warn Eric, and during a struggle Taylor is shot by Sheila while shielding Brooke. After surviving emergency surgery, Taylor succumbs to her wounds and dies in Ridge's arms.
In May 2005, during the first marriage ceremony for Bridget Forrester (Ashley Jones) and Nick Marone (Jack Wagner), Taylor shows up and later is revealed to be alive. She was kidnapped by Prince Omar once again to recover from her wounds. She learns that Brooke and Ridge are married and have a child as well. Ridge is torn between the two women, and picks to be with Taylor after Stephanie fakes a heart attack and convinces Taylor and Ridge to marry. The truth comes out about Stephanie's lie, and Taylor begins doubting her marriage and while Ridge is away she kisses a fireman Hector Ramirez (Lorenzo Lamas. Taylor decides to come clean about all of her mistakes, and tells Ridge about the kiss and she also tells Ridge about her sleeping with James years ago, they're marriage ends. Taylor becomes an alcoholic, drowning in her depression. Later attempting to save her stranded daughter (who was stuck on Pacific Coast Highway with a flat tire), she accidentally runs over Thorne's wife Darla Forrester (Schae Harrison) who was helping Phoebe. Darla dies from her injuries. Taylor begins to bond with Thorne and his daughter Alexandria and she begins a relationship with him. When Taylor tells Thorne the truth she is arrested however freed later on the grounds of Darla's accidental death.
Taylor gets close to sailor Nick Marone. The couple fall in love, are married, and explore IVF. Using a donor's eggs, Taylor falls pregnant and gives birth prematurely. When bone marrow is needed to save the child, Bridget reveals that Brooke (also Nick's ex-wife) is the biological mother of Taylor's baby due to medical mix up. Taylor hands Jack over to Brooke, unable to care for Brooke's biological child. The much younger Rick Forrester (Kyle Lowder) and Taylor begin a relationship. They are engaged, but Taylor leaves him, still in love with Ridge. Rick attacks Ridge, and during their fight Rick falls off the roof of Forrester Creations. Taylor's daughter Phoebe returns to town. She is angered by Rick and Taylor's relationship. While arguing with Rick, Phoebe gets into a car accident and dies. Taylor blames herself, and later Steffy (now played by Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) takes interest in Rick, and they engage. Once Brooke (Rick's mother) accepted this, Ridge left town with Taylor and took Steffy with them to be protected against danger, as attempts were being made on Ricks life (Later revealed to be Thomas). Ridge and Taylor later have sex after Ridge takes pills for his anxiety (which Taylor gave to him however he overdosed himself). He leaves Brooke and marries Taylor, however shortly afterwards returns to Brooke. Taylor starts a relationship with Whip Jones (Rick Hearst) and they are married.
Taylor signs over her shares of the Forrester Creations company to Steffy, who has been fired from Forrester Creations. Later on, Taylor is furious when her son kisses Brooke on a fashion runway. Brooke and Thomas are caught in a Jet Crash and end up stranded, but return home safely. To give Ridge and Taylor another chance at Love, Stephanie convinces Thomas to tell everyone that he and Brooke had sex on the island (which meant Ridge would leave Brooke, and return to Taylor immediately). They went ahead with a lie, and Ridge came back to Taylor because of this, however before they could marry the inescapable truth was revealed. Taylor later begins romancing Thorne.
For her portrayal of Taylor, Hunter Tylo was nominated for "Favorite Hottest Female Star" at the 1995 Soap Opera Digest Awards, however Kristina Wagner of General Hospital won[18] . Tylo was nominated again for the same award the 1999 Soap Opera Digest Awards (Days Of Our Lives star Kristian Alfonso won that year)[19]. Tylo won a Telvis Award "Foreign Female TV Performer (Finnish:Ulkomainen naisesiintyjä)" (a finish television award) for her work on the show In 2002 [20], the same year she departed. Over the years, Taylor and Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) have battled for Ridge's affections. Taylor and Ridge's 1992 wedding was ranked 18 (out of 20) on "Top 20 Most Memorable Soap Weddings of All Time" (However Ridge's marriage to Brooke In 1994 was ranked 6).[21] Taylor and Ridge's relationship and marriages over the years have gained a following, often naming them Tridge as a super-couple, (as in Taylor and ridge). This name are used often on Internet Message Boards and Online Forums. The Love triangle between Taylor, Ridge and Brooke is widely famous and from the early nineties has been considered one of Soaps' Great Love Triangles[22]. However, despite the early positive reception, the ongoing love triangle has been criticized for spanning over too long and not being fresh enough for audiences.
John N.Goudas from The Gadsden Times said in the 20 July 1991 paper "Take this summer's love triangle between Ridge, Brooke and Dr. Taylor Hayes. Is Ridge just playing with Taylor, or does he mean it when he tells Brooke that he and Taylor will be married?"[23], unaware of the two-decade long upcoming love triangle between the characters that would be created from that year on. He went on to say "newcomer Hunter Tylo, new since June 90' as Dr Taylor Hayes, Is the odd women out in the bunch, bucking a close knit trio. Taylor is a beauty and strong enough to make her own demands on Ridge. There is no doubt she is hooked by Ridge, But Taylor won't marry unless he promises to never leave her for Brooke. That kind of promise is for the birds, but Taylor wants insurance." Goudas also said out that Tylo was too beautiful to play the part of the upfront Taylor with Brains and Discipline, which was aimed to be the polar opposite qualities to that of Brooke, the other half of the love triangle. "We Don't see Dr Taylor Hayes do much practicing, or ever making hospital rounds. Air time means time with Ridge or ex Husband Blake," he said on the then fairly new character[23].
During the 2007-08 Nick, Taylor, and Brooke scenario; Taylor found out that her baby Jack was, in fact, Brooke's biological child after a donor's eggs were mixed up with Brooke's, resulting (who had submitted her eggs solely for medical research for her daughter, Bridget Marone) in Brooke having to save the baby's life via Bone Marrow after its birth. Taylor feared after this her baby would be drawn to Brooke growing up[24]. The story line received mostly negative reviews. Darren Lomas from Daytime Confidential said "As any fan of The Bold and the Beautiful knows, the Taylor (Hunter Tylo) and Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) wars have lasted for nearly two decades. Even when Taylor was taking a dirt nap, fan message boards still buzzed with Taylor and Brooke fans taking swipes at each other[25]". After a mini poll was held with 4 Options (Taylor ends up with Rick Forrester, Taylor ends up with Ridge and Nick with Brooke, and others), the option of "Taylor ends up with Ridge. Nick and Brooke reunite and raise Jack", won with 48% votes (over 100)[25].
Over the years, the rivalry between Brooke and Taylor hasn't stopped. In 2010, Brooke and Taylor recreated the 1983 Lily pond cat fight between Krystle Carrington and Alexis Colby from television series Dynasty, and shot a Pool cat fight in the CBS Studio TV City koi pond.[26]. They were seen as "Queens of Soap Opera Catfights"[26]. Unlike the original 1983 Dynasty Pond Cat fight between Krystle and Alexis, Tylo and Lang filmed all of the scenes themselves[26]. The fight scene was well received for its humorous outlook.