Susan Lucci Discusses Life After ‘All My Children’

Susan Lucci played the role of Erica Kane on All My Children for more than 40 years. Although the soap opera’s 2011 cancellation was devastating, the 67-year-old actress said she is doing great. With her new Lifetime series Devious Maids, Lucci has realized continued success in a new forum.

The iconic actress said she was stunned when All My Children was cancelled and she wondered if she would “ever work again.” Lucci said she and the rest of the cast had no idea it was coming:

“I found out just minutes before the public found out… I was blindsided… I think I went through all the different phases of mourning… there was denial. There was anger. I was shaken to the core, professionally… “

The popular and long-running daytime drama centered around Lucci’s character Erica Kane and her life in the fictional suburb of Pine Valley. As her career was largely dominated by the role, Lucci was concerned that she would have trouble find work in other genres.

Huffington Post reports she admits she went through a period of uncertainty, the talented actress soon moved on to other projects. Susan Lucci made several appearances on Hot in Cleveland and Army Wives before landing a permanent role on Devious Maids.

The Lifetime series, which began in 2013, is currently in its second season. The comedy drama follows the exploits of five maids, who clean homes in Beverly Hills. As explained by Lifetime.com, the maids are “bonded together by their jobs, life struggles and the melodramatic universe that engulfs their employers.”

Lucci said she has “been having the best time” playing the role of Genevieve Delatour, an emotional and very wealthy resident of the prominent community. Although her character shares some similarities with Erica Kane, including a long line of ex-husbands, filming a weekly series is a big change from daytime TV. Despite the differences, Lucci said she loves the new show.

A native of Garden City, New York, Lucci said she always wanted to perform. As a teen, she took lessons in singing, dancing, and theater. Her interest in performing carried on through college, as she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Marymount College.

Lucci worked as an understudy in several Off-Broadway productions and soap operas. However, she got her big break with an audition for All My Children. Lucci was granted the role of Erica Kane, which she maintained from the debut in 1970 until the program was cancelled in 2011.

Although it was a difficult change, Susan Lucci’s career is still going strong.