Mindy Lewis

Melinda "Mindy" Sue Bauer (née Lewis; formerly Spaulding and Corday) is a fictional character in the town of Springfield on the CBS daytime drama, Guiding Light, who was originated and notably played by actress Krista Tesreau.

Mindy Lewis, lovingly called "Princess" by her father, Billy Lewis, grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mindy, whose mother died when she was five years old, grew up spoiled and rich. Mindy came to Springfield in June 1983, with her daddy following very soon after. Mindy was instrumental in convincing Billy to marry Vanessa Chamberlain, whom she adored. Mindy was first married to Phillip Spaulding, after seducing him and becoming pregnant. The entire marriage, Phillip was still in love with his soulmate, Beth Raines, Mindy's best friend. After a miscarriage ended the pregnancy, the marriage quickly dissolved. They divorced, but remained close friends. Melinda Sue married Kurt Corday in a "prince/princess" themed wedding in 1985. Kurt was killed off-screen in an explosion during the fall of 1986, leaving Mindy a widow. She later dated Rusty Shayne, brother of Reva Shayne Lewis, in 1987. In 1989, Mindy ran off with and married mysterious psychiatrist Will Jeffries. She returned to Springfield in July 1989 for Reva and her Uncle Josh's wedding. After it was discovered that her husband Will was in fact a murderer, he attempted to kidnap and kill Mindy, but Rusty and Josh Lewis rescued her as Will fell to his death. In July 1990, Reva was presumed dead after driving over a bridge in Florida, which left Mindy devastated. Receiving less attention from her father than usual because of his drinking hurt Mindy, and she nearly gave up when Billy spent her trust fund and gambled it away, leading her to have an affair with Roger Thorpe, while he was married to Alexandra Spaulding, and she was dating Rick Bauer. However, in 1991, Mindy would then fall in love with Lujack [Brandon Luvonacek] Spaulding's twin brother, Nick McHenry. At the time, even though Nick looked just like Alex's son Lujack, everyone, except for Alex, was convinced that Nick was not her son. Then Mindy found a photo that revealed that the woman thought to be Nick's mother was definitely NOT pregnant just one month before Nick's birth. After this, Mindy switched the DNA tests that would've proved Alexandra was his mother, afraid of what this prospect would do to Nick and their upcoming marriage. In the summer of 1992, Alexandra and Roger schemed to split the two apart by bringing Nick's ex, Dr. Eve Gurthie to Springfield. Mindy would leave Nick at the altar in June 1992 after Alexandra convinced her that Nick had discovered her duplicity and the fact that she'd switched the DNA test results and wanted nothing to do with Mindy. She left town, leaving Nick devastated because he wanted to work things out. Nick and Eve eventually reunite.During this time Alexandra Spaulding left town. However, Mindy returned to town in January 1993, eventually leading to Nick and Mindy to discovering that they still have feelings for each other. Nick's girlfriend Eve, realizing Nick still loved Mindy and suffering from PTSD from her time in war-torn Cambrai, began having violent episodes and doing strange things, while trying to make it look like Mindy had done them.

At first, Nick believed Eve, but soon enough realized Eve was unbalanced and stopped Eve the night she attacked Mindy with a pair of scissors. So after this Nick would leave Eve and eventually reunite with Mindy, leaving Eve furious, though she soon realized that Nick would never love her like he loves Mindy, and moved on with her life by falling in love with Ed Bauer in early 1994. However, Nick and Mindy's troubles were far from over. Alexandra Spaulding was revealed to be alive and well in 1993, so she eventually returned to town and was shocked to learn that Mindy and Nick had rekindled their romance! From the summer of 1993 until the Spring of 1994, Alexandra did everything in her power to break up the couple until finally Nick gave her an ultimatum, so Alexandra back-offed and let Mindy and Nick marry in March 1994. In early 1995, Mindy and Nick began to grow further and further apart, and decided to get a divorce and go their separate ways after Nick began acting more and more like a ruthless Spaulding and less like the man Mindy had fallen in love with. The divorce was to Alexandra's delight. So, on May 25, 1995, Mindy had a tearful goodbye with Josh and Annie, (who was dealing with Reva's recent return from dead), and the entire Lewis Family, and made peace with Nick, and happily left Springfield for Paris. Mindy would later return briefly to Springfield for HB Lewis's funeral in September 1997. Mindy would later return to Springfield again in June 2002 briefly. However, by the fall of 2002, Mindy would later become a back-burner character, and decided to return to Paris permanently and left Springfield on-screen on October 18, 2002. However, Mindy would return for a visit in November 2004.

In 2009 Mindy returned to Springfield for her high school reunion. By this point, Phillip had returned to town and was back to his old self. At the reunion, Mindy announced that they were going to recreate a moment from their class and had Philip and Beth crowned King and Queen of the Prom. Though both Rick and Mindy wondered if Phillip was truly alright, they continued to treat him as a friend—something that Phillip noticed and thanked them for. Mindy would stay in town for a little longer. In September 2009 on the final episode of Guiding Light, it was revealed that Mindy decided to stay in Springfield permanently and will marry Dr. Rick Bauer, who she had a previous relationship with in 1990.

Actor history

• Krista Tesreau (May 26 to May 27, 1983; June 6, 1983 to April 1989; June 7 to June 11, 2002; October 17 to October 18, 2002; November 16 to November 18, 2004; March 6, 2009 to September 18, 2009)
• Kimberley Simms (July 13 to July 19, 1989; August 25, 1989 to June 26, 1992; September 11 and September 18, 1997)
• Ann Hamilton (January 12, 1993 to April 19, 1993)
• Barbara Crampton (April 27, 1993 to May 25, 1995)

Sources

• Mindy Lewis - Soapcentral.com