Michelle Stafford, Karla Mosley, Roger Howarth & More Share Daytime Emmy Reactions
Exclusive
For every nominee of the 2026 Daytime Emmys, the announcement brings a mix of excitement, gratitude, and disbelief.
With this year’s nominations now unveiled, TV Insider spoke with several of this year’s nominees about earning one of daytime television’s highest honors. Stars from The Young and the Restless, Beyond the Gates, Days of Our Lives, and The Bold and the Beautiful shared the moments that made them proudest, and what they’re looking forward to as the October 30 ceremony approaches.
2026 Daytime Emmy Awards, Friday, October 30, Streaming live on the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and via The Emmys app
Christian Jules LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin, The Young and the Restless)
Christian LeBlanc, who already has three Daytime Emmy wins, celebrated his nomination alongside fellow Lead Actor nominee Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), as they submitted the exact same scenes for their reels. “I called Eric right away, and I said, ‘We had to do the same ones, didn’t we?’” LeBlanc muses. “But Michael and Victor break up more than most romantic couples on the show, so it was a particularly good episode, and I couldn’t be happier.”
While this marks his 13th nomination, LeBlanc says the honor never loses its meaning. “I was probably in my 30s when I got on the show, and I don’t know if there’s ever a lack of amazement and surprise and loving every minute of it,” he says. “Whatever you think of awards, and whether it’s any accurate reflection of talent or the best of anything, if you miss a chance to celebrate something you love with the people who love doing it with you, it’s a sin. It’s always great to have a touchstone that reminds you of who you are and how far you’ve come.”
Trisha Mann-Grant (Leslie Thomas, Beyond the Gates)
Trisha Mann-Grant had just wrapped for the day when she found out that she was nominated as a Supporting Actress. “I was in the lobby area of the studio, and I was speaking with one of the crew members, and I heard all this noise down the hall in the hair and makeup,” she says. “So, I passed Tamara Tunie [Anita Dupree] and I’m nosy, so I said, ‘What’s going on?’ And she said, ‘Congratulations! We just got a nomination, and congratulations to you!’ I said, ‘To me?’ And I get in the room, and everybody’s jumping up and down. I just started jumping up and down because they were.”
Mann-Grant says the nomination carries a special significance. “I’m just really grateful,” she says. “And if you knew my journey, you’d understand my tears. I’m so happy for everyone. I’m happy that we got 15 nominations. I’m happy that Emmys have acknowledged such a brand-new baby, and that we’ve made history. I’m just absolutely blessed.”
Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless)
Beth Maitland recently celebrated 44 years in Genoa City, making her third Daytime Emmy nomination especially meaningful. “I was doing all the math, and the only Emmy I’ve ever won was in 1985 for the ’84-’85 season,” she says. “I got a nomination in 2019, 34 years later, and I think I held a record at that point, and now here we are at 41 years later. This is just hilarious. It sort of speaks to the longevity and tenacity of the daytime community. Four decades on, for this acknowledgement to drop from heaven, I have to admit, it’s a little bit of a surprise, and I am just blown away and so grateful and appreciative.”
Though Maitland’s appearances on the soap are not always frequent, she says she embraces every opportunity. “It is my daily challenge to bring my personal best to wherever they put me,” she explains. “And it’s easy. It’s all there — the history, the personal relationships — even with people that haven’t been on the show for very long. We’re so fortunate that we work with a bunch of people that all want to be there and want to do their best.”
Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless)
Lead Actress nominee Michelle Stafford is celebrating her 14th Daytime Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Phyllis, adding to an awards history that includes three wins. “They all feel different,” she reflects. “They really do because you’re at a different place in your life. In 1996 [her first nomination], that was a complete shock; I felt like I hadn’t been on the show long enough to have earned that. And every single time, I’m never expecting it, so it’s just a different kind of shock now.”
Stafford says she appreciates the chance to connect with her fellow leading ladies’ at their annual lunch. “Everybody gets to know each other at this lunch, and really find a commonality,” she explains. “It gets rid of any competitive edge because you become friends.”
As for her ceremony guest, Stafford is still deciding. “Honestly, my family seems to be bad luck for me,” she confides. “I’m not gonna lie. Every time I brought a family member, I lost. Two years ago, I came alone and won, and the two other years I won, I had my boyfriend with me, so we’ll see.”
Sean Dominic (Nate Hastings, The Young and the Restless)
Seven years into his soap run, Sean Dominic is celebrating his first Daytime Emmy nomination as a Supporting Actor, and it’s been a whirlwind since he got the news. “I don’t know how people are when this happens for the first time, but I have to stop myself from shutting down,” he admits. “Everyone’s been hitting you up at the same time, but it’s so nice to be thought of, and it’s gratifying to have other actors appreciate your work.”
Especially since Dominic’s journey to daytime success wasn’t a straight path. “Something happened in life where I lost a job I was making good money at,” he recalls. “And it made me realize, ‘I don’t want to do this forever. I’ve always wanted to be an actor.’ Losing that job just put life in perspective for me, and from that day, I set up all the websites and casting networks, and just submitted myself daily. I didn’t have an agent, didn’t have a manager, just did all these small projects, web series, student films, and classes, and things were coming that showed me people were liking my work.”
Linsey Godfrey (Sarah Horton, Days of Our Lives)
Linsey Godfrey is in the running for Outstanding Supporting Actress, her seventh Daytime Emmy nomination. “I’m just really flattered,” she says. “I’d love to have a trophy, but I keep making the joke that I’m going to be Susan Lucci [Erica Kane, All My Children] at this point. Don’t you dare give me one till I get to 20! [Laughs] But I’m always honored. It’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘Well, I might be respected in this genre. People might think I’m pretty good.’ It’s an accomplishment for sure.”
Looking ahead to Emmy night, Godfrey says the best part is celebrating with the daytime community. “The awards are amazing, the recognition is amazing, but our genre doesn’t get the credit that it deserves,” she points out. “We don’t get the credit that we deserve. We do all this acting on hard mode. Most of the Emmy reels are done in one take. And to get together and get to honor each other and respect each other is my favorite part.”
Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree, Beyond the Gates)
Karla Mosley is celebrating her first-ever Emmy nomination for her starring role on daytime’s newest soap. “It’s a whirlwind; it’s so surreal,” she enthuses. “It’s been wonderful to hear from people who I love, and then also people who I haven’t spoken to in years. I feel like I can’t believe it yet.”
The recognition means even more knowing the impact the show has already made. “We take a lot of care and pride in what we do,” she says. “So, this just feels like a really lovely reflection that the work that we’re doing is landing on people and making an impact, which is what we set out to do from the beginning.”
After nearly 20 years in daytime, Mosley adds the nomination feels like a career milestone. “I can’t believe that it’s been almost 20 years since I started my journey in daytime,” she marvels. “And now to be included on a ballot with such iconic soap stars like they are my peers now, it feels like stepping into another phase of my career. It feels like I’m firmly planted in who I am as an actor and to be lucky enough to have been working for this long. It feels like my younger self would be really, really proud. “
Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless)
It’s been 32 years since Roger Howarth received his first Daytime Emmy nomination, but the recognition still feels special. “I was excited then, and I’m excited now,” he says. “And I guess I must be doing something right if I’m this many years in and I’m still a person who gets excited at all. I feel happy for the whole cast, I’m happy for the show, I’m happy for my coworkers and for myself. I’m in a really good situation right now, and to feel like there’s some affirmation and a reason for me to feel so enthusiastic, that’s great. I love what I do.”
Looking ahead to the October 30 ceremony, Howarth is eager to celebrate alongside his castmates. “I’d like to be together with the cast and feel like I’m part of the team,” Howarth notes. “That sounds really fun. I’m looking forward to a night out, and my wife and I get to buy some nice clothes.”
Howarth already has someone in mind to help keep the night entertaining. “I might ask Jeff Kober [Cyrus Renault, General Hospital] to make some kind of mischief,” he shares. “He seems like somebody who is down for a prank. I love that guy. He’s a good friend, and he’s somebody who has helped me a great deal in my life, and I’m really grateful I met him. He’s pretty special.”
Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter Walton, The Bold and the Beautiful)
Lawrence Saint-Victor was dropping his son off at summer camp when he got the call that he received two Daytime Emmy nominations — one for Supporting Actor and the other as part of the writing team.
“It feels amazing,” he says. “I’ve been doing daytime for quite some time, 20 years, and it just feels wonderful to be trusted with the material that would garner recognition. I believed I had the ability, but it’s just always waiting for that storyline, and then I was gifted wonderful material with the Forrester Creations takeover to showcase how I see Carter and how I want the world to see Carter. It feels awesome to be recognized, but also, it’s a testament to Brad’s [Bell, executive producer and head writer] trust in me.”
The writing nomination is another milestone. “This is all surreal,” he marvels. “I think writing on a soap opera is one of the biggest mysteries, even for people within the genre. So, to be part of this really cool group of people who are tackling the genre in a way that you only know from being within it, it’s a privilege, and it’s a lot of fun.”
Mike Manning (Bradley “Smitty” Smith, Beyond the Gates)
Mike Manning was at work when he learned he was nominated for Supporting Actor. “I was walking in the hallway, and I got a text message from a friend that had seen the list about 10 seconds before I walked into the hair and makeup room,” he relays. “And the hair and makeup team was also nominated, so everybody is screaming. I didn’t have any time to process, and then it was a big party, and we all celebrated. But I was shocked. I truly did not expect this nomination.”
Having previously won Daytime Emmys through his work with The Bay, Manning is excited to share this moment with his new cast. “I just love the character I’m playing,” he says. “I think that Smitty is breaking barriers, and it feels like I’m a part of a community here. I feel like I’m not celebrating just for myself; I’m celebrating for everything that this show stands for and everything that Smitty stands for.”
Alice Halsey (ex-Rachel Black, Days of our Lives)
Alice Halsey was filming Little House on the Prairie, where she stars as Laura Ingalls, when she learned she was nominated in the Emerging Talent category. “I was really, really excited,” she enthuses. “I’ve never been nominated for anything before, and I’m just really grateful for it. I feel really glad that the fans and my fellow actors appreciated my work.”
Halsey says her time on Days helped prepare her for her new role. “Deidre Hall [Marlena Evans] taught me how to find my light; that’s definitely a big thing,” she shares. “Getting to act with those actors in general taught me a lot in itself. Eric Martsolf [Brady Black] is such a good actor, and I was fortunate enough to be able to act with him a lot, since he plays Rachel’s dad. Rachel Boyd [Sophia Choi] is an insanely good actress. She’s one of the best people that I’ve ever worked with. They welcomed me so much on my first day. I really appreciate all of them. They taught me a lot.”
Arielle Prepetit (Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne, Beyond the Gates)
Arielle Prepetit never expected to see her name among the Emerging Talent nominees. “I was truly, with my whole being, so shocked,” she reports. “I looked online so I could congratulate my cast, and I’m reading through like, ‘Oh, this person got nominated, this person got nominated,’ and then I see my name is last in that category and I literally just gasped out loud. I couldn’t move. I was shaking, and I was like, ‘Oh, this must be wrong.’ I really did not see it coming.”
Sharing the experience with her Beyond the Gates family makes it even more special, especially Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree) and Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), who play her grandmother and mother. “I looked up to Tamara for so long, because I watched her on TV every day and I couldn’t believe that I get to play her granddaughter; that really is a dream,” Prepetit adds. “And Karla, I used to watch her on Bold and Beautiful [as Maya Avant] with my grandmother, and she’s such a legend in daytime, and she’s going to be even more of a legend now. I cannot believe that I get to be nominated with these two women. They’re so incredible, they’re so strong, and they’re so talented. I’ve learned so much from them, and I’m grateful that I get to share the screen with them.”
Christopher Sean (Paul Narita, Days of our Lives)
Christopher Sean returned as Paul Narita in 2025 for a story that honored John Black, Paul’s father. For Sean, his real-life bond with John’s portrayer, the late Drake Hogestyn, helped the performance that earned him a nomination in the Guest Performance category. “Drake is everything to me,” says Sean. “He was a dad to me on and off camera. We spent hours together, and I would not be here without him. There’s not one person who has anything negative to say about Drake Hogestyn. I have his photo on my wall, and I’m looking right at it. It says, ‘Prioritize what is right.’ I love Drake, always will, and without him, I would not be where I am in my life.”
For Sean, his first Daytime Emmy nomination is a deeply personal achievement. “The most rewarding part is overcoming all of the obstacles and never allowing rejection to hold me down,” he shares. “Who I was when I first started never would be in this position. I always felt like I wasn’t Asian enough or white enough, but I realized I’m me and I’m enough in any world. So, after dealing with insecurities and impostor syndrome, it was because of having the opportunity to step into this show, this huge role, that I was able to find myself in life as well.”
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