Articles

TV Line
http://www.tvline.com/2012/01/general-hospital-emma-samms-returns-holly/

And the 1980s hits keep on coming!

On the heels of TVLine breaking the news that Tristan Rogers is returningGeneral Hospital this February as Robin’s father, Robert Scorpio, we now can also report that Emma Samms is on her way back to the ABC soap, to reprise her role of Holly Sutton Scorpio. to

Soaps Shocker! OLTL‘s Blair, Todd, John and Starr All Head to General Hospital

Yet while Rogers and Finola Hughes are both returning to GH as part of Kimberly McCullough’s (Robin) exit storyline, Samms will resurface in late February for the purpose of helping Luke and the Spencer clan — including her own son Ethan — deal with the always-scheming, always-present Helena Cassadine.

Of course, on Wednesday of this week it was also announced that four One Life to Live stars would be crossing their Llanview alter egos to GH‘s Port Charles. So there’s a lot of cast-shakin’ going in!

Hot Video: New General Hospital Promo Teases One Life to Live Arrivals

Samms created the role Holly in 1982 (cue skinny-dipping flashback!), and last appeared on GH in June 2009. Her other TV credits include, of course, Dynasty and its spin-off, The Colbys.

************************************************************************
       Don't forget to follow Emma on twitter!!!
                                  @emmasamms1

                              This is Gloucestershire!
            Power of panto pleases punters at hospital
december 29, 2011

THE power of panto lifted spirits when actress Emma Samms visited children at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

The visit of Emma and her fellow cast-members from the Everyman Theatre panto was arranged by the Starlight Children's Foundation, which the Stroud-based star champions.

MAGICAL: Emma Samms (Fairy Twinkletoes) and Daniel Whitley (Sillie Billie), with Josephine Lea, three, of Abbeymead and mum Nadine. Left; six-year-old Karly Marsh, of Stonehouse.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Power-panto-pleases-punters-hospital/story-14267948-detail/story.html

PANTOMIME season is definitely upon us, oh yes it is, and what better way to kickstart the festive season than with the Everyman Theatre’s feel-good family offering.

In the intimate surrounds of this beautiful theatre, Friday night’s audience gave a raucous reception to the launch of this year’s panto, Jack and the Beanstalk.

From the outset this was a show you could not sit back and watch as the energetic cast wanted everyone’s involvement, from the very youngest in the auditorium to grandmothers and granddads. And with such fun and frolics taking place on stage it was impossible not to be drawn in.

With a towering, fully mobile giant, the essential pantomime cow and some fabulously over-the-top costumes, this fun-filled, action-packed show proved it is one not be missed.

Kelli Maybank as Jack and Perry Lambert as love interest Jill provided the voices with numerous power ballads including an impressive rendition of Mariah Carey’s Hero. Zara Ramm as baddie Fleshcreep gave us the perfect amount of cloak-flicking and finger-pointing to get the whole crowd booing and hissing every time she appeared on stage. Her version of Michael Jackson’s Bad was stellar not least for the costumes and dance routine displayed by members of the Corraine Collins Dance Studio.

Dynasty star Emma Samms as the Good Fairy flew on and off stage with the lightest of touches and her rhyming narrative helped keep the infamous story of Jack and the magic beans stay on track, Former Lazytown actor Dan Whiteley almost stole the show as Jack’s hapless brother Silly Billy. His slapstick antics trying to milk Daisy the cow were very funny for kids and adults alike and the energy he brought to the stage every time he appeared lead to a lot of shouting and clapping.

But the biggest applause of the night was rightly reserved for Widow Mrs Trotts (William Elliott) whose Scottish Dame was hilarious from start to finish. Just his ridiculous costumes caused some of the biggest laughter of the night and along with improvised interaction with the audience, plenty of silliness and of course those all-important witty one-liners, Mrs Trotts was a character we all fell in love with.

Jack and the Beanstalk deserved every whoop, cheer and hurray it received on Friday so if you are going be warned, don’t expect to leave without a sore throat.

The panto is on at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham until Sunday, January 8. Call 01242 572573 for tickets.

How's about hat? Star Emma at autumn fair

Actress Emma Samms was among the shoppers at Beaudesert Park School's charity Autumn Fair.

The trade stalls at the Minchinhampton school were helping to raise money for the Starlight Children's Foundation.

The charity, co-founded by former Dynasty star Emma 25 years ago, brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill youngsters.

She said: "Starlight grants once-in-a-lifetime wishes and provides entertainment in hospitals and hospices across the UK.

"Every pound raised helps bring fun and laughter to poorly children and their families at a time when they need it most. We are hugely grateful to Beaudesert for staging this fun event for us. I can't wait to find out how much it raised."

The photo below was tweeted by Joan Collins and picked up by the media. It was taken at the BAFTA Awards in London.

Gloucestershire Echo

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Fairytale-role-Dynasty-star-panto/story-12787101-detail/story.html

As Starlight: For The Children (7.30pm, Ch5) follows the work of the charity that grants wishes to seriously and terminally ill children, we look back at the acting career of its co-founder...

Accidental actress: London-born Emma's ambition was to be a ballet dancer, but a hip injury put paid to that when she was 16. A modeling career followed, but at the age of 18, her first audition led to a lead role in the 1979 British fantasy film Arabian Adventure, starring Christopher Lee. By 1980, she was living and working in LA and, by 1983, had landed her first signature role, as Holly Sutton (top left) in supersoap General Hospital. A huge hit with viewers, Emma returned to the role several times after leaving in 1985, most recently in 2009.

Who's that girl?Emma left General Hospital to play Fallon Carrington Colby in primetime soap Dynasty, taking over the role from original actress Pamela Sue Martin in a classic car crash/amnesia storyline. Emma played Fallon (bottom left, with John James as Jeff Colby) in both the parent series and its spin-off , The Colbys, until 1989. She later returned to Britain, married a childhood friend (her third husband), had two children, and turned her hand to scriptwriting.

What's next? More recently, Emma's had roles in BBC medical dramas Doctors (right) and Holby City, while still working in the US. Later this year, she'll be back on the big screen in the British horror Jacob, starring Tim Curry.

Letheringham: Dynasty actress supports farmer’s gruelling challenge

Alastair Kerr, of Letheringham, near Wickham Market, will face the ultimate test of endurance when he takes part in the Marathon des Sables.

He is raising money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, founded by former Dynasty star Emma Samms.

The actress will be heading to Suffolk next month to help Mr Kerr in his fundraising efforts at a charity night at Trinity Park, near Ipswich.

The Marathon des Sables is a six day, 151 mile (243km), challenge that takes place across the Sahara Desert in Morocco at the beginning of April.

It is the equivalent of six marathons in six days and temperatures will soar to a scorching 120F (49C).

Mr Kerr, 38, has been training since September but will have to push himself to the limit to complete the herculean task. He said: “The terrain is uneven, rocky, stony ground, and 15-20% of the distance is over sand dunes.

“In addition you have to carry everything you need for the entire race including all your food, clothing and cooking facilities (apart from water and a tent) on your back.

“It’s the ultimate test. I’m looking forward to it in a weird sort of way.

“I did the Pilgrim Challenge - 66 miles in two days over the North Downs- a few weekends ago and I met lots of people in a similar boat, so that was good. However I think its one of those things that no matter how much you train for it, it will never be enough.”

Starlight grants once-in-a-lifetime wishes for seriously and terminally ill children and also provides entertainment for youngsters in hospitals and hospices throughout the UK.

Mr Kerr said one of the reasons he chose the charity was because of its close links with East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

He said he specifically wanted to raise money to help Starlight fund two new entertainment centres for EACH in Ipswich and Cambridge.

To raise funds he is holding “Starlight Over Suffolk – A Night With The Stars” at Trinity Park on March 19. It will include dinner, an auction and live music.

Emma Samms, Starlight: For The Children

For the past 25 years children’s charity the Starlight Children’s Foundation has been making wishes come true for seriously ill children. Now a 10-part series Starlight: For The Children goes behind the scenes to reveal the charity’s work, and showing some of the children as their wishes come true.
Former Dynasty actress Emma Samms set up Starlight along with her cousin, and tells TV Choice why it’s so close to her heart…

Where did Starlight have its origins?
It really started because when I was a child I had a brother Jamie who died of a disease called aplastic anaemia. As you can imagine my parents were distraught and there was nothing I could do other than make them a cup of tea. I grew up with that immense sadness but also the frustration of not being able to do anything. So when I found myself in a career that I’ve been very lucky with, it gives you the most extraordinary ability to approach people. It’s a platform to get things done and I just thought use it for something very close to my heart. And in a strange way it’s been very therapeutic to me because now I feel if I couldn’t help my family, at least I’m helping other families who are going through something that I’m all too familiar with.

So in a sense, is Starlight an enduring legacy for your brother Jamie?
It is and that’s the most fantastically pleasing thing. He only lived eight years but his effect on this world is greater than any of us will have. His eight years really made so much happen and affected so many people in a positive way. I think that it’s my tribute to him because he was the most extraordinary little boy — unbelievably smart and kind, as well as being very beautiful. Now people are still talking about him and I love that.

It sounds clichéd, but is Starlight: For The Children a rollercoaster of emotions?
It’s true though. It’s very watchable. For example, if anybody likes The Secret Millionaire, they will love this show. If anybody loves children, they will love this show. If anybody likes celebrities, they will love this show. It’s got everything really.

Was it difficult to choose which stories should feature in Starlight: For The Children?
The most important thing was that the families were entirely comfortable with being part of it. The same with the celebrities who were granting wishes, because we have many celebrities and public figures who participate and wouldn’t want to be filmed doing it. The families and wishes were chosen very carefully so that it would enhance their experience to be on television.

When you see and meet the children that Starlight helps, how difficult is it to keep your emotions in check?
Oh, I’m rubbish, especially since I’ve had my own children. I can’t help it but put myself in the place of the parents, and it’s heart-breaking. It’s unimaginable what the whole family is going through, but when you can actually do something, then it’s bearable. And that is I guess what Starlight’s all about.

Is there one story or child that stands out for you over the years?
There are so many. There’s the poignancy of a little boy who had been in hospital so long that his imagination could only make him wish to go outside. There was a little boy who wanted to see the latest Harry Potter film that was only in cinemas. He was so ill he had days left. We managed to organise Warner Bros to get us a DVD for his hospital room and bless him he watched it three or four times in the two days he had left and it gave him just that little bit of pleasure.

We have a lot of wishes for Disneyland, and for computers. We have wishes that are quite challenging, like a little girl who wanted to see a rainbow. We racked our brains and then sent her to Niagra Falls because on a sunny day there are rainbows all over the place. She sat and counted them bless her. The imagination of children is extraordinary and we do our best to make them happen.

Is Starlight what you are proudest of?
My two children number one, and Starlight number two. It’s just very satisfying to know that my very lucky career has been useful.

You’re best known for playing Fallon in Dynasty. What was that like?
There is not one country I’ve travelled to, and I’ve travelled a lot, where people have not recognised me from Dynasty, including the Galapagos Islands, where I believe only one of the islands is inhabited and there are only about three televisions! That was a big shock. Dynasty was a huge show and my children have no clue as to the size of it.

It must be great that CBS Drama is repeating Dynasty, which shows its appeal.
Well, it’s great and it isn’t great because how embarrassing is that when you’re flicking through the channels and there’s you in some ridiculous outfit with some ridiculous hair do staring back at you?! I hate watching myself. I’ve got DVDs on my shelf that I haven’t watched yet because I just don’t like to watch myself. It’s very off putting.

What do your children make of it when they see you on TV?
They are not really interested and that’s perfect. My career is a very minute, fractional part of their life and that’s how I intended it to be. It’s why I haven’t worked much since I’ve had them. It’s embarrassing enough to be the mother of your children anyway, let alone if you are out in the public eye. That’s mortifying to them.

How do you look back on your time on Dynasty?
I’m not the slightest bit embarrassed about having been on Dynasty. I’m very proud of it. Yes, it was pretty camp stuff but it really captured the Eighties perfectly. Who would have thought it would become as iconic as it has? We really entertained people for many years and that’s something to be proud of. We weren’t finding the cure for cancer, but there’s room in the world for entertaining and distracting people as well.

What other work is next?
I did an American movie in Bulgaria just before Christmas. It’s a horror film with a chap who is the star of Warehouse 13. I play a police chief and there are many murders. And I’m going to have an exhibition of my art work later this year, as long as I get the drawings finished. I do very detailed pen and ink drawings of animals and birds. I’ve been very lucky and sold my work in Britain and America. I sold one to Sir Philip Green who has it up in his office. Every time I go to his office I make sure it’s still there! But do you know what the best thing about my career as an artist is? I can do it at home in my pyjamas!

To refer a child for a Starlight wish or to make a donation, go to www.starlight.org.uk or telephone 020 7262 2881