Radio and Television

MARC'S FRIEND, MELODY THOMAS SCOTT

Melody Thomas Scott, who stars as Nikki Newman on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, recently celebrated 30 years in the role, having joined the cast in February, 1979. Scott's character has matured from the girl from the wrong side of the tracks to the serial's luminous and resourceful heroine. She recently reunited with the love of her life Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). 

After garnering a Daytime Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Lead Actress" in 1999, she went on to win in the same category for the Digest Award in 2001. She also received four Update Awards for "Outstanding Lead Actress" (1992, 1993, 1995 and 1996) for her portrayal of Nikki, the ultimate survivor. 

Scott made her motion picture debut at age eight when she was cast by Alfred Hitchcock as the young Tippi Hedren in the thriller "Marnie." At age 13, she co-starred with Clint Eastwood and Geraldine Page in "The Beguiled." While still a teenager, she played ingenue roles opposite such stars as John Wayne in "The Shootist," again with Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry," in "Posse," opposite Kirk Douglas, who also directed her, and in Brian DePalma's "The Fury." Scott's other film appearances include roles in "The Car" and "Piranha." 

Scott recently celebrated 50 years in show business. She began her career at age three under the tutelage of renowned coach Ethel Meglin, who launched the careers of Shirley Temple and Judy Garland. She studied singing, tap dancing, ballet and jazz and became one of the world-famous "Meglin Kiddies," performing in USO shows as she started booking national commercials and guest spots on such series as "Wagon Train," "My Three Sons," "Ironside" and a recurring role on "The Waltons." 

Scott starred in "The Paradise Virus" in February, 2003, adding to her numerous television credits which include the miniseries "Studs Lonigan" and "Moviola: The Scarlett O'Hara War" and the telefilm "Secrets." Scott guest starred in television series including "Charlie's Angels," "Hotel" and "The Rockford Files," and appeared as herself on such series as "The Nanny," "Diagnosis: Murder" and "The King of Queens." She was also the subject of Lifetime Television's "Intimate Portrait." 

On stage, Scott starred in the critically acclaimed Los Angeles productions of "The Vagina Monologues," Jane Martin's "Talking With..." and "Love Letters." A Los Angeles native, she attended the University of Southern California as a piano major. 

As a life-long fan of "I Love Lucy," Scott serves as a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, N.Y., which is committed to preserving the legacy of the great comedienne. Currently, Scott spearheads a national awareness and informational campaign for Interstitial Cystitis, a bladder inflammation condition, which she was afflicted with in 1999 but from which she is pain-free today. 

Married since 1985 to Edward Scott, the couple celebrated their 20th Anniversary with an "Entertainment Tonight" "Celebrity Weddings Unveiled" special which won its timeslot on its July 7, 2005 airdate. The couple has three daughters, Jennifer, Alexandra and Elizabeth