Will Sally Survive on ‘Bold and the Beautiful’? Courtney Hope Speaks Out on Her Diagnosis
Q&A
The Bold and the Beautiful‘s Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) is not having a great 2020! She’s been dumped for a second time by Wyatt (Darin Brooks) and is facing challenges at Forrester Creations in her role as a designer. But these issues are nothing compared to the tragic medical diagnosis she received from Dr. Escobar in the February 10 episode. It’s unclear what Sally has — or if this is a final fate — but viewers know one thing for certain, Sally’s a fighter!
Secrets are hard to keep on soaps, but Sally’s doing her darnedest to keep Wyatt from finding out her news. After all, the last thing she wants is his pity. In the meantime, Sally’s leaning on an unexpected ally — Katie (Heather Tom) — as she attempts to process how to play this lousy hand life has dealt her.
Read on to get insights from Hope, who, off-screen, received some happy news this year when she won Best Acting in a Game at the New York Video Game Awards for her role as Jesse Faden in Control.
What were your thoughts when you learned Sally would receive this diagnosis?
Courtney Hope: As an actor, I thought this is what I live for. I was excited to learn that Sally was going to dig more into who she is and see where that could go. I don’t want anything to happen to Sally because she’s so young and has so many hopes and dreams. I’ve never done a story like this before. I’m excited to see what’s going to transpire.
There was a creative choice on the show’s behalf where Sally heard her diagnosis but the audience did not.
It’s a double-edged sword. I see why [Sally’s specific condition] won’t be named, but I can see both reasons for doing so. Selfishly, I wanted to sink my teeth into something as an artist and to be an advocate for it, but I respect the decision not to do that. You want people to have outlets of hope and positivity. Ultimately, this story is about the fight that Sally is facing. She’s asking herself, “Do you take life by the reins and move on? Or do you just cash in your chips?”
The audience not hearing what Sally actually has leaves things… open.
Absolutely. If you give someone a terminal illness then, by definition, it’s terminal and you can’t come back from that. You’ve already got one foot in the grave.
Katie has been a rock for Sally. How would you describe their relationship prior to this storyline?
They didn’t have much of a relationship before this. We’re both exes of Wyatt’s; that was our dynamic. We’d see each other at holidays or at Forrester, but we never had any major conflicts. Sally knows Katie’s history and Katie knows Sally’s. They are both very strong characters, and I think Katie’s the perfect person to be there for Sally because, medically, she’s been through it all. It’s a blessing that Katie ended up being there when Sally was going through this. I don’t think anyone else could have held her hand the way Katie did.
Sally, I’m guessing, doesn’t want Wyatt to know because A) she doesn’t want him to feel sad, and B) she doesn’t want his pity.
Pity has a huge thing to do with it. Sally’s so strong. But she’s been let down twice now by Wyatt. The last thing she wants is for him to be with her because [he thinks] she’s dying. The feelings wouldn’t be authentic. She doesn’t want Wyatt if he’s only going to be with her because this would be her dying wish. Also, once someone knows you are diagnosed with something it becomes harder for you to block it out because the other person is then talking about, trying to help you. Sally wants to block it out so she can divert her attention to other things in life. She wants to mask her fear.
There are a lot of directions this can go in depending on who finds out — and when.
Yes. Everyone has a secret at some point in their lives. Different circumstances, death especially, awakens people in different ways.
Sally wants to keep this as private as possible, but odds are, unless there’s a padlock put on the door to Eric’s (John McCook) office at Forrester, this news will be overheard!
[Laughs] Everyone [on our show] loves to eavesdrop!
What did you think of Sally recently calling Wyatt “Liam” (Scott Clifton)? You and Scott had something really nice on-screen a while back, but it was cut short.
When I read that I was like, “What’s going on here?” Sally really respects Liam in a lot of ways. She cares for him. He was there for her genuinely at a time she needed a friend. He epitomized what she wanted in a man. She enjoys Liam as a friend. It was an honest slip when Sally called Wyatt by his brother’s name. The fact that she’s not feeling well and her mind is all over the place [contributed to that]. Liam was on her mind. It struck a nerve because of Wyatt’s history with his brother. It was definitely an accident on her part.
In your mind, have you chosen more specifically what Sally’s illness is, even though it’s not being named?
Yes. I have done that. I want to authentically portray [Sally’s condition] and have it progress. I talked to Brad [Bell, executive producer/head writer] about possible symptoms and what they could be. That’s what’s been in the back of my mind and it’s what I’ve been playing. It gives me something to move towards. I want to be able to track something and look it up. I love researching! That was something I did on my own to have in my back pocket.
Congratulations on your recent award for playing Jesse Faden in the video game Control. Are soap fans and video game show audiences similar?
Thank you. Yes, the fans are equally devoted. Some fans of the game industry actually watch B&B. They’ve said to me, “You’re on my show!” It’s the same with [B&B fans]. Some will say that their husband or son plays Control. They both have such loyal and devoted audiences. When you’re on a soap opera, you’re in people’s homes every day or every week. They’re spending time with you. It’s similar with a video game. A lot of fans can spend hours on a game, depending on sequels. I love both of these worlds and I’d love to see them collide.
Did you ever watch the late great Darlene Conley (ex-Sally), who played your character’s great aunt?
Oh, yes. I did that especially before I first worked on the show. The producers had sent me stuff and I looked online for some of my own research. I wanted to do that because I play her great niece. There are bloodlines there and characteristics and traits in her that I wanted to see. I wanted to draw on those and see how they transformed into what I can create. Sally came on a lot more naïve than she is now. [Darlene’s Sally] was larger than life and [Darlene] seemed like a really wonderful person. I know that she was a great actress.
Bold and the Beautiful, Weekdays, CBS
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Comments are closed on this story.
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We all love Sally Spectra and don't want her to leave Bold and Beautiful. That Shawna and her daughter both make me sick to my stomach. Get rid of them, but Sally holds a long history as her aunt will never be forgotten. Don't get rid of someone so promising.
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VERY interesting!!!
Me, personally, Flo is my favorite character...while Shawna is my second favorite!!??!!
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Love Shawna, can't stand Flo.
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Please save Sally! I like her much more than Flo!
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Don't let Sally die. Love her character. Get rid of Flo and Shawna.
Windyhill
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Have had some thoughts. Sally accidentally ran into Katie at her initial appointment, and Katie was so supportive. Maybe, just maybe, Sally got her results earlier than we saw, and it was something manageable with a drug treatment. Then… stay with me here… Sally, who still won’t accept Wyatt’s decision, hires a “fake doctor” to give her the “devastating” results. She knows Katie will want to accompany her, and that word will get back to Wyatt. They marry, she’s miraculously cured, and no one finds out the truth until she’s pregnant! Hey, stranger things have happened on this show! I love Sally and don’t want to see her do something this dark, but I don’t want her to die! Taking it a step further, once the truth comes out, Bill, instead of being furious, is so impressed, he gives her the design house he previously promised her, and she spends the next few decades in a revived Spectra vs Forrester battle. You’re welcome.
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INTERESTING plot twist...but...but...but...you may be confusing B&B with Days of Our Lives...
It's on DOOL that NOBODY ever dies...because Dr. Rolf injects them with a life-reviving serum or implants a different-personality brain chip or etc...etc...(and etc.)...
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I keep thinking about your "scheme" as I've been watching the recent B&B's...but...when Sally's hand shakes while she's drawing or she has a dizzy episode...while in her office ALL ALONE...I have to believe her "disease" is real...
(Unless she knows there are Surveillance Cameras in the Forrester offices, of course.)
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Right, it was a lot of wishful thinking on my part... I just love the beautiful Courtney's character and pray they keep her! I guess it would have been unusual for a doctor in whites that no one else on the floor knows to be walking around a hospital and not get questioned. Maybe we could start a GoFundMe for a cure? 😉
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I'd rather contribute to a GoFundMe for Wyatt and Flo's honeymoon...
(And then...6 months later...[as is usual for B&B]…[AND...as is often usual in "real life"]…contribute to a GoFundMe for their Divorce.)
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Sick of Flo, Thomas, and Hope. It is hard for me to believe, in this day and age, that Hope, for whatever reason, doesn't get it with Thomas, especially after what he did to her.
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GET RID of BROOKE KEEP SALLY
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Why get rid of Brooke? I like both of them
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I found it to be somewhat preposterous that the Doctor called Sally to come in to review the test results...BEFORE the Doctor had even received them...
If the results had been NORMAL...(very likely given her ridiculously benign and nonspecific symptoms)...it would have been a COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME for both of them...
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Sally Spencer was the reason I started. Watching BOLD love her fashion flair! Keep her on the show!
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GET RID OF FLO!!!! SHE’S BORING AND HER CHARACTER IS BORING!!!!
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I believe that Sally will move in with Wyatt, they will start having sex, she will get better (Dr. was mistaken about what she had). Now what does Wyatt and Flo do? Wyatt can't leave Sally a 3rd time for Flo!! Especially with Sally being preggers!!
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Hope it's a missed diagnosis, and is Not malignant. Id like to see her and Wyatt make it.
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Definitely keep Sally! I'd suggest losing Thomas - have him get caught in his egregious acts and sent to a psych ward for mental health help. And, get rid of this stupid co-parenting idea - it sucks. It's crazy to show Douglas going through so many ups and downs with his 'dad' and Hope. Crazy! I'd like to see Vinnie tell all to either Liam or Brooke about what he knows Thomas is doing. And, let Zoe wake up and smell the lies that Thomas is sprinkling all over everyone he's near. Let's get Brooke and Ridge back together after Ridge finally sees the games Thomas has been playing on everyone. The guy's nuts! Depraved! And, once again, keep Sally - she's great.
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C'mon...it's a SOAP...
Without a VILLAIN (Thomas)...it would just be HOURS of Hope repeatedly whining about Steffy's kiss with Liam, diseased Sally over and over telling everybody "Don't tell anybody!" and Flo telling Liam to reunite with Sally (so that Sally can be discovered to be pregnant after a miraculous cure is found)...
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So tired of whiny Hope
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THWs...(Typical Hope Whines):
"Boo Hoo Hoo...Steffy kissed my Boyfriend...(who I just refused to get Engaged to)!!!...
"Boo Hoo Hoo...I WANT to be Douglas' MOTHER!!!"...
"Boo Hoo Hoo...Thomas is f*cking Zoe!!!"
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she is not dying she is faking it i hope she get what she deserve
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I realize this Reply is about 2 MONTHS after your Comment...(I returned here because the SpotIM Bell thingy had a RED number in it)...but...it, now, certainly appears that you were 100% correct about Sally lining up a fake Doctor => telling gullible Katie => getting Wyatt to take the bait...
GOOD CALL!!!
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Honestly, I'm stunned that Bell hasn't called and offered me a writing job. Kidding! Not my forte, and I really love working at a big orange box, especially now... since it's essential...
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Honestly, I'm stunned that Bell hasn't called and offered me a writing job. Kidding! Not my forte, and I really love working at a big orange box, especially now... since it's essential...
Sorry, wasn't logged in.
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Hey eyecare...what's a "big orange box"???
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Home Depot 🙂
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Oops, eyecaredeeply- I had same thought as you did. Great minds think alike! (except for Sally being deceptive-she wouldn't do that to Forrester's or her rep as a designer)
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Sally is a manipulator, get rid of her put her in jail , I love flo she got caught in with someone she thought she could trust that's all and she should be given a second chance things like happen all the time in real life she has a good heart.
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Brooke is uttering exhaustingly BORING! OMG, get rid of that loser, love, love, love Catie & the entire cast except Sally who is tediously boring too!
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I've been counting...
Yesterday was the millionth time that Katie said to Sally..."You gotta' see a DIFFERENT Doctor, you gotta' get MORE tests, you gotta' tell Wyatt"...
(And Sally continues to sit there crying...and sulking)...
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I’m so bored with Sally, please just let her die off.
A brave, dignified end would be a great way to write her off. No offense, she’s just very tiresome to watch!
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