‘The Bold and the Beautiful’: Don Diamont Explains Why Bill Is Protecting Sheila
Q&A
The Bold and the Beautiful promised that Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) would rise like a phoenix after being incarcerated for shooting her son Finn (Tanner Novlan) and daughter-in-law Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) last year. But nobody could have predicted that Don Diamont’s character, Bill Spencer, would use Taylor (Krista Allen) shooting him as leverage to help keep Sheila out of jail.
Of course, Sheila’s not only a free woman but she’s also a “kept” woman. Bill has made it clear that Sheila belongs to him and that she won’t be a threat to Steffy, Finn, their families, or anyone else. Why has Bill given shelter to a woman who’s caused harm to so many? More importantly, why is Bill, this week, going even further by attempting to reunite Sheila with her estranged son?
TV Insider sat down with Diamont about his new storyline. Read on to get his insights.
You and Kimberlin worked together when you played Brad Carlton on The Young and the Restless and she was blackmailing Lauren (Tracey Bregman) with the jigsaw sex puzzle.
Don Diamont: That was many moons ago. I don’t have a lot of memories of that time. There’s been a lot of water under the bridge since there. It’s almost like I’d never worked with her.
Bill giving shelter for Sheila seems so bizarre; then, B&B did an episode flashing back to some of Bill’s more nefarious moments. He had Justin (Aaron D. Spears) dump Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) out of a helicopter. He blew up Spectra Fashions with Liam (Scott Clifton) and Sally (Courtney Hope) still inside! He also gave Liam a shiner.
The difference between the characters has been established. Sheila’s a homicidal maniac. Bill’s a “win at all costs” calculating character. He deals in the highest of high-stakes business. It is in him to win. It defines him. It feeds him. The behavior you’ve seen from Bill [with Sheila] is about that. He’s a complicated person. He’s more the head of a mafia family than he is crazed villain. There’s a difference.
Bill didn’t know anyone was in the building [when he blew up Spectra] and when he did learn, he went to great lengths to help Liam. When Liam was trying to take his company, yes, there was a scene where Bill punched Liam. Nobody does that with Bill, least of all his own son. Bill sees his company as his first born. Nobody else can come after my sons but he can keep them in line. Bill’s a damaged person. I’ve always played it that way. He’s not a crazy person.
All the important people in Bill’s life — Liam, Wyatt [Darin Brooks], Katie [Heather Tom], Steffy, and Brooke [Katherine Kelly Lang] — tried and failed to talk him out of it. Katie was first. Heather was brilliant in those scenes.
Heather was brilliant, as always. Liam and Wyatt didn’t make light of the situation, but at the same time, Wyatt injected some humor as only Darin can.
I agree with that analysis 100 percent. I think what’s so engaging is that when you see the Spencer men as a unit, that kind of interplay, even in heavy moments, works really, really well.
Sonja Flemming/CBS
What exactly is Bill’s motivation is in keeping Sheila safe and out of jail?
I believe it was much deeper than Brooke’s and Katie’s rejection of him. Again, what I’ve played with Bill from the beginning when he was first introduced is that he’s a bastard son and a self-loathing person. He has to win because deep down he doesn’t feel worthy. He’s evolved over the years, but he tends to destroy whatever good comes his way. Nothing could feed the black hole that lives inside him. There’s more at work emotionally than simply Katie and Brooke rejecting him. There is lifelong pain that lives within him.
Bill knows he’s pushed women away with his behavior. He’s in a place where he’s self-punishing. What he deserves is Sheila. What he thinks he’s worthy of is Sheila. She’s the punishment for the mistakes that he’s made. In a way, Bill’s protecting the women in his life from being hurt by him by being with Sheila.
It’s not that he’s being a hero. In some ways, yes, it’s heroic that he’s trying to remove people from his life because all he does is hurt the people he loves, even his kids. This is what’s driving him emotionally. Brad has said to [the other women in his life] that Sheila will not be a threat to them. He’s said, “I give you my word.”
I get the impression that that’s not something that should go unnoticed.
No. It should not. When Sheila and Bill were in the interrogation room, Bill said to her, “I know you. I know who you are.” He’s not unaware of who she is and what she’s capable of. Bill believes he can keep the reins in on her. Given the life he’s offering her, he thinks he can keep her in check. There’s nobody else who can.
Around the time this story began, Bill started wearing his sword necklace again. What does that represent to him?
It’s an extension of who he is. “Take no prisoners and win at all costs.” The sword necklace took on a negative connotation at times as it has represented the worst of him. Maybe it does? The very thing that can create tremendous success in one area of your life can be your downfall in another. It represents winning at all costs.
Last summer, Bill showed a more compassionate side to himself after he cared for Li Finnegan (Naomi Matsuda), who’d been injured in a car accident while fleeing from Sheila.
That was certainly some evolution for Bill. It showed where he was in his life. He can help this person and get nothing in return. Bill’s a very compartmentalized person. That’s how he keeps himself in check. It felt right to help Li, this vulnerable person. He saw a strength in her that he finds relatable.
Some have speculated online that Sheila has some kind of physiological hold over Bill. Thoughts?
That’s not what I’m playing. It’s not how I see it. But…time will tell.
The Bold and the Beautiful, Weekdays, CBS
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Comments are closed on this story.
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R
MAKES NO SENSE TO ME, BUT I CANNOT STAND SEEING BILL AND SHEILA TOGETHER, HORRIBLE
END IT ALREADY!!!!!!
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L
Let's end Sheila and Bill. A little sickening!!!
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P
End the Bill and Shiela story line send her to jail Sheila has shot more people than Taylor has Sheila is a psychopath and needs to pay for her crimes put her is prison for the rest of her life
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B
I thank this storyline needs to come to the end
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P
I stopped watching it. Between the crazy stuff with Thomas and Hope and now Sheila and Bill I couldn't stand to watch it anymore.
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O
Oh my God your story lines are getting worse and worse. Sheila and Bill makes viewers want to can Bold and beautiful soaps it's just not a good soap stories anymore. 👎
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C
Crazy
Don't watch any more
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G
I believe that sheila knows Liam shot Bill. Ridge ask Sheila to kill him, but when she got to bills house she saw Liam not Taylor. Taylor may have come and saw Bill lying there and got really confused. I do believe Liam is guilty that's why Bill never said it was Taylor.
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G
Maybe Sheila shot bill. Wouldn't that wrap it up in a nice bow? She may have convinced Bill that it was Liam to blackmail him.
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G
I think that $1Bill is Kelly's dad, not grandpa. Sheila used to be a nurse and Finn is a doctor, could be she figured it out. So Sheila is holding the blackmail on him...or maybe because they do have things in common, like being used and dumped and not forgiving... just have to wait until the end of Summer to find out 😁
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O
I think it's ridiculous that Sheila's fate was put in the hands of Steffy and Finn! She was in jail already! Stay there! So stupid and Bill looks like a big sissy now that he can't even think for himself...end this unreal crap now....Sheila needs to go for GOOD
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R
I can deal with the most likely “temporary” friendship between Brook and Taylor way better than I can with $ Bill and Sheila.
6 1
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O
I think bill should stop helpingshelia let her get what she deserves she got away with too much already not let her get to see her child n grand child that will be her punish for hurting everyone please
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O
I will stop watching this show, Bill and Sheila and her getting what she wants really after shooting her son and wife give me a break! Bill about to blackmail Finn into seeing her or form some sort of relationship a real joke! This is worse then the Y&R I'm so done.
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S
Me to. I sick of this Bill and Shelia deal, now
This going on with Brooke and Taylor, the show is getting worst all the time. Get Real writers. Is this all t
You got????
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R
I am so disappointed in the storylines lately that I have stopped watching. Honestly I think the writers have lost their minds. I read the articles only in hopes there will be some explanation for this horrible stuff. Maybe Bill has a tumor in his brain or something and that is what’s causing this mess. What I think is B & B is going to lose a lot of viewers if they don’t change the storylines fast!! Oh and joy just this storyline but the Hope/Thomas/Douglas/Steffy debacle too and Taylor/Brooke situation where they are so chummy they are dripping sugar, yuck!!
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C
I think all you negative commenter are so wrong. I love the suspense and wouldn't miss one episode. Also I hope Brook and Taylor don't play a gay role.
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V
I think that when they showed the flashback of Sheila spinning the vials of blood when she was a nurse, she switched the results of the blood test between Liam and Bill and that Kelly really belongs to Bill. So now I believe that she's blackmailing him.
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I think Finn Mother is Lauren from young rest. I hope so. If you remember shelia was a nurse. I believe it was her baby died not Lauren's. If you recall Shelia Mom told the truth before she died. Y and R did episode few months ago on Lauren life
and that when this came up. She even try I believe to burn house up with Lauren and her mother in.it. I believe it was the Jan 23, 2023 episode.
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G
Sheila tried to kidnap Scottie, Lauren 's son with Scott. Lauren got him back and he is mentioned every now and then on the show, so Finn cannot possibly be Lauren's son.
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S
Im.getting sick of Y&R and what they doing with this show. They are ruining this showing watched for years. This crap with Bill and Shelia is behond sickness. Then here they got Taylor and Brooke acting like lovers, if they do this. I'm done I want watch such crap....
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C
Shelia's reign of terror is tiresome and she needs to be put away in jail or killed off during one of plots. She has caused issues in Y&R and now once again in B&B.
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O
I think Bill is with Sheila to keep everyone he loves safe. Including Lee, which is the one for him.
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G
Thou I don't like Bill and Shelia together. I know how far Bill will go to keep his family safe. Thought maybe he thinks that if the police can't even keep her locked up . Then maybe if he get her out of jail and in to his custody and his house. Then perhaps he can keep her from causing harm to all the people he truly Loves. Hate to think that Shelia's really in control. The Bill I remember would NEVER let that happen. Or at least I hope not. Hoping he's just protecting his family. When Brook and Katie talked to him. He's like I know she bad. I know she's ...... But the his tears were because he doesn't like having his family see him with her like this. But maybe he thinks it's the only way to keep them all safe. Unless Shelia really is in charge. Then I don't like this story anymore. Or maybe he's protecting Liam. Wish they would give us some sorta sign of what going on.
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P
Sheila is in charge. And if that's what Bill is doing to protect his family, then this storyline is worse than I thought. I read thinking finally, there would be some kind of explanation to put some viewers minds into more positive thinking on the Bill/ Sheila bull. But now I regret what I read and wish I had not read it and just think what I was previously thinking. Now I can't unthinkable what I just read. One thing the storylines have showed me In not as patient as I thought I was and I need to find a better way to spend my time. The other storylines on B&B are just as bad. I can't watch any more of Taylor/Brooke, Sheila/Bill. Thomas and anybody, Hope/Steffy/Liam or Paris and anything. Tired of the same old cast. I miss the other people that were on the show.
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R
Yes Bill should not be with Sheila
2 1
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G
This show is stupid now. Don't watch it. I sadly gave up it
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O
I don't like where anyone in this show is going. Bill has so much to offer when he's a nice guy. If he could stay that way. When he & Brooke travelled the world together it was exciting. He has zero chemistry with Sheila. Now that Katy is with Carter I hope for Brill again & the potential is there. Please let Sheila go to prison.
1
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O
Stop watching....stupid stupid stupid...ive watched from day one but this is the stupidest story line ever...
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O
Writers don't know what to write about! Get off of Bill and Sheila! It's nauseating.Bill better be up to something,to get rid of Sheila.
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P
I think Bill & Sheila need to end. There is no chemistry between them and they have no in depth conversations, only how he saved her. She needs to go to jail, and be gone. I also think Hope is better suited with Thomas, and Steffy belongs with Liam. Brooke should go back with Deacon and Taylor belongs with Ridge.
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R
The stories are unrealistic...you can't have someone realeasd from jail with all the time Sheila was a threat attempted murdered...you can not pay to get her out with the story line previous stories..Thomas story over and over ..repeat repeat and repeat Unrealistic
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G
Brooke and Taylor are definitely falling in love with each other and applaud this bold and beautiful storyline. It speaks truth and power in the evolution of the show.A natural direction has been plotted and will benefit even Ridge and his new lady going forward.I hope and predict, Braylor will be the wise sages of this series, going forward .
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G
Bill will do his best to give Shelia everything she desires and try to force Finn to play nice and have a relationship with his both monster. Bill do this by blackmailing Finn again to put Li in jail or have her banned from practicing medicine. It may work in the short term but Shelia and Decon won't be able to contain their passion for each other and Bill will find out and a reign of fire will come down on them both.
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R
No t good story line of Bill and Shiela. I can't watch.
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J
Where did one life to live disappear to? Anyone??
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O
They took One Life to Live off the air about a year or two ago.
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B
Seeing the complex side of Bill Spencer and softer side of Sheila is an interesting change versus the usual Brooke vs Katie vying for Bill's affection scenario.
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O
Let me know what you guys think.
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G
I agree..Bold & Beautiful has gone to far ! Putting Bill & Sheila together...you have lost me as A viewer..This storyline is not good..
1
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O
It would be more interesting if Lauren turned out to be Finns biological mother then maybe Lauren could stop Sheila once and for all
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V
I believe that Taylor and Brooke are going to be lovers with the way that they act with other.
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