Marlena’s Guide to Soaps’ Most Attractive Men

Last week I did a round-up of Soaps’ Most Beautiful women and I was disappointed by the lack of response. My dear old fan friend Vince figured it out immediately. “Marlena, what you have to do is a column about soap’s most attractive men. Can I send you a list?” Which he did.

Between Vince and I we came up with so many. Since soaps have always been thought primarily a woman’s medium, of course for decades our shows have been very smart in coming up with delicious guys for our daily edification. From the days of the chiseled Steven Frame on “Another World” (the late George Reinholt) and the stunningly handsome late Joel Crothers (Julian on “Somerset,” Miles on “Edge of Night”) to the alluring Max Holden, played by the great James De Paiva, on “One Life Live,” our shows  have literally rained men daily for all of our enjoyment. Here’s a look at current offerings.

Rory Gibson (Michael Corinthos, “General Hospital”). Definitely our soap man of the moment. Gibson has woven magic since he took over the role of Michael from Chad Duell earlier this year. His Michael is both dreamy and cerebral and as Marlena always says, the best actors are those you can see thinking as they perform. Continuously tortured by his loony ex-wife Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), Rory’s Michael is always struggling to make sense of all around him, including keeping the world safe for his and Willow’s children. That Gibson has created such a sensation right now is particularly interesting because when he previously played Noah Newman on “The Young and the Restless,” no one much noticed him. I persist in saying that Gibson looks just like the late movie star Gregory Peck.

Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford, “GH”). Marlena loves him because he makes his character solid and serious. He’s another of those actors you can see thinking. Turner shone as a loving, supportive son to his schizophrenic father Marshall (Robert Gossett), husband to unfaithful wife Portia (Brooke Kerr), and lover of Jordan (Tanisha Harper). Whatever befalls Curtis, you can always see the actor crafting a smart response.

Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill Hamilton, “Beyond the Gates”). As the ex-husband of the animated Dani Dupree (Karla Mosely) and the current hubby of the crafty Hayley Lawson Hamilton (Marquita Goings), this solid, stocky actor with the very deep voice certainly puts in a hard day’s work every day at “Gates”’ Fairmount Crest. Both women are difficult in different ways and Bill’s deft handling of both of them is always fun to watch.

Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase, “GH”). Newly demoted from his character’s position of detective in the Port Charles Police Department, Swickard really makes us feel for this disappointed but highly principled professional. Chase and his wife Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) are currently daytime’s most solidly believable couple. Both actors are really good at portraying something rare on daytime: emotional honesty.

Joshua Morrow (Nicholas Newman,“Y&R”). Of course, Nicholas has been a key character of “Y&R” since 1994, as both the son of mighty Victor (Eric Braeden) and husband of Sharon (Sharon Case). In both roles the actor has always been a solid presence. But lately, with the return of the supervillain Matt Clark, Nick’s sworn enemy, now played by the almighty Roger Howarth, we’ve seen Morrow as Nick deliver some very smart and most fierce acting. Too, how interesting it has been to see the debut of Morrow’s lookalike actor son Crew, who is now strongly playing prodigal son Will Spencer on “The Bold and the Beautiful.”    Like his dad, Crew very interestingly has “it.” We want to root for him. That’s what we look for in a soap opera hero.

Billy Flynn (Cane Ashby, “Y&R,” formerly Chad di Mera on “Days of Our Lives”). Who is literally the hottest couple on daytime right now? It’s Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) and Flynn, whose sex scenes of late have been positively incendiary   It takes a lot of keep up with La Stafford. but Flynn with his very expressive big blue eyes gives our fiery gal quite a run. To describe his performances as very true and authentic is to put it mildly. Hope “Y&R” doesn’t burn out this on and off couple too fast!

Giovanni Mazza (Gio, “GH”). Marlena has swooned so many times over young Mr. Mazza since he made his “GH” last debut year, it’s downright embarrassing. But our young leading man/master violinist is just so enchanting! So glad that the show found him the perfect young leading lady in Braedyn Bruner’s Emma Scorpio. The characters’ recent very, very beautiful first-time love/sex scene literally gave us what we need: Hope for tomorrow. Hey, wasn’t there a soap long ago almost named that?

Marlena says: Boys and girls, now do you see what I’m talking about? Do send me your picks for daytime’s most attractive actors and watch for the responses here!