Calysta Jeffries is the hottest black actress in daytime and the diva of the soap opera world, known for her role as Ruby Stargazer on television’s most popular soap opera, "The Rich and the Ruthless."
After fifteen years, three returns from the dead, two failed pregnancies, one alien abduction, and overcoming retrograde amnesia, Calysta still hasn’t managed to snag the biggest award in daytime drama: the Sudsy. Now is supposed to be her moment. But Calysta’s onscreen/offscreen rival Emmy Abernathy wins the award for the fourth time. The drama begins when journalist Mitch Morelli asks Calysta for a quote after the award show and her true feelings for her costar slip out.
Ripped from the headlines of Soap Opera Digest and straight off of the television screen, Secrets of a Soap OperaDiva will give readers plenty to talk about as they try to guess where the real world ends and Rowell’s imagination begins.
Victoria Rowell is an advocate, mother, former foster child, versatile actress, and bestselling author. Known as the feisty Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless, she has been nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy and awarded twelve NAACP Image awards. Victoria also costarred with Dick Van Dyke on Diagnosis Murder for eight seasons.
Product Details
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Atria Books; Original edition (May 4, 2010)
An actress, advocate, mother, a former foster child and now a New York Times Bestselling author, Victoria Rowell is currently on a national whistle-stop book tour for the release of her new memoir, "The Women Who Raised Me," published by William Morrow/An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The memoir received The African American Literary Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations in the literary category, and she walked away with a statuette for Outstanding Literary Work/Debut Author.
"The Women Who Raised Me," is a New York Times Bestseller. It also landed on the best sellers list of the Boston Globe and Essence magazine. Also, Amazon.com gives "The Women Who Raised Me" (five stars).
The memoir is a tribute not only to the amazing women who cared for Rowell when her birth mother could not, but also to the foster care system that brought them into her life. "I was never meant to be raised by one mother, but my many," says Rowell.
In conjunction with the release of her memoir, Rowell also highlights these amazing women in her new documentary, "The Mentor," which has been making its rounds in the film festival circuit. "The Mentor" was chosen as official selections in the Pan African Film Festival, the Roxbury Film Festival, the Turks and Caicos Film Festival. It can be seen in March at The Miami International Film Festival and The Miami International Women's Film Festival where Rowell is The Distinguished Guest of 2008.
A versatile actress of theatre, primetime, daytime and feature films, Rowell is known around the world for her various roles. She is an icon in daytime television as the feisty Drucilla Winters on CBS's highly-rated daytime series, "The Young and the Restless." She has been nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy and awarded 12 NAACP Image Awards. She also co-starred in the CBS hit primetime television series "Diagnosis Murder" with Dick Van Dyke for eight seasons while simultaneously continuing her role in daytime.
"FAME: I Want to Live Forever" Born in Portland, Maine, Rowell was raised in foster care for 18 years. At the age of eight, Rowell received the Ford Foundation scholarship to the Cambridge School of Ballet under the auspices of the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. After eight years of training, she flourished as a dancer, garnering scholarships to both the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theater by the age of 16.
After dancing professionally with various companies - that is, the American Ballet Theater II Company, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Contemporary Ballet, Twyla Tharp Workshop and the Julliard School of Music Dance Extension Program with Anthony Tudor - Rowell accepted guest-artist teaching posts in New England.
While teaching, the opportunity presented itself for her to pursue a career in modeling. Soon, she began gracing the pages of various magazines, including Seventeen and Mademoiselle before auditioning for her first television role.
Rowell's Big Break Rowell auditioned and landed a role on the highly-rated NBC sitcom, "The Cosby Show." In fact, Bill Cosby was so impressed by the young actress's poise and talent that he cast her as his daughter in the feature film "Leonard 6." He also gave her a recurring role on "The Cosby Show" as the character of Paula, the biological mother of Olivia Kendall, portrayed by Raven-Simone.
Once the acting bug bit her, she decided to pack up and move to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of acting. She began working with some of Hollywood's award-winning leading men, including Beau Bridges, Jim Carrey, Dick Van Dyke, Mario Van Peebles, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy and Samuel L. Jackson
Finally, fate lent a helping hand and Rowell landed the role of Drucilla Winters on CBS's highest-rated daytime drama, "The Young and the Restless." At Rowell's suggestion, Sony Television supported a foster care and adoption storyline on the number one daytime drama, which reaches an audience of millions weekly - that is, domestically and internationally. In addition, the storyline has been praised for its portrayal of the foster care system, receiving local and national honors, including congressional recognition.
Primetime and the Big Screen Calls On the big screen, Rowell has worked with some of Hollywood's award-winning leading men, including Beau Bridges, Jim Carrey, Dick Van Dyke, Mario Van Peoples, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy and Samuel L. Jackson.
Rowell burst onto the silver screen, appearing in feature films such as THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN with Eddie Murphy, DUMB AND DUMBER with Jim Carrey and EVE'S BAYOU, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Diahann Carroll.
Recently, she returned to the big screen, opposite Samuel L. Jackson and rapper 50 Cent in the war drama, HOME OF THE BRAVE. The film is directed by Academy-award ® winning producer Irwin Winkler (ROCKY BALBOA, DE-LOVELY, THE SHIPPING NEWS, and the ROCKY series). Because of her strong performance, MGM, submitted Rowell for Oscar, Golden Globes, and SAG consideration.
Rowell landed a part in OF BOYS & MEN, directed by Carl Seaton (COLUMBIA COLLEGE and ONE WEEK), co-starring writer/director/actor Robert Townsend and Oscar-nominee Angela Bassett. The film is produced by Pemon Rami. Rowell portrays the sister, comforting her brother who's wife is killed in a senseless auto accident. The film had its world premiere at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival this February.
On the small screen, Rowell portrayed matriarch Josette Metoyer, opposite Forest Whitaker in Showtime's acclaimed mini-series, "Feast of All Saints." The series is based on the novel by author Anne Rice. Directed by the incomparable Peter Medak, "Feast of All Saints" featured an all-star cast and allowed Rowell to explore the depths of her acting ability as an elderly Haitian plantation owner.
In her role as pathologist and county medical examiner Dr. Amanda Bentley on the Viacom/CBS series "Diagnosis Murder," Rowell co-starred with the legendary Dick Van Dyke for eight seasons while simultaneously continuing her role on the "Young and the Restless." She was also invited to write for the series, and was recognized by the Los Angeles Times for her literary contribution to the show. Also, while on "Diagnosis Murder," Rowell opened the doors for Los Angeles foster youth to be employed by Viacom as production assistants.
Giving Back Having spent eighteen years in foster care, Rowell became a passionate voice for children like herself. In 1990, she founded the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan (RFCPP), which enriches foster children through artistic and athletic expression. In addition to facilitating job opportunities with Viacom television productions, she assisted youths in getting jobs with other companies, including BMG and Oxygen. For more information about her charity, visit www.rowellfosterchildren.org.
RFCPP partners with many other philanthropists, charities, foundations and businesses, including Sony, CBS Television, the "Dr. Phil Show," the Magic Johnson Foundation, the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Cedric The Entertainer, Lorna Kyles, Sharon Stone, Camp to Belong, the California Endowment, and many others.
Rowell is an active contributor and or supporter of Americans for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, American Ballet Theater, School of American Ballet, the Urban League, the NAACP, the Administration of Children's Services, NYC, New Yorkers for Children, the Alliance for Children's Rights, the Children's Defense Fund, Hope WorldWide and the Department of Children and Family Services in various states.
For years, Rowell has been the national spokesperson for Casey Family Services -- an arm of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In part, United Parcel Service visionary, Jim Casey, founded the foundation.
Rowell has been recognized for her contributions in educating and supporting foster children. She has received the Harvard Mentoring Project Certificate from the Center for Health/Harvard School of Public Health, the first National Arts Award from the National Association of Counties and the United Nations Association Award for her continuous efforts with foster care and adoption as well as her work on human rights and world peace. Recently, Rowell received honorary doctorate's degrees from the University of Southern Maine and Wheelock College in Boston. In addition, Rowell has been honored as a National Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
She uses her celebrity status to bring a heightened awareness and understanding about foster care to a national audience. She has been featured on various news programs and talk television shows, including CNN, CBN and BET as well as guest appearances on "The View," the "Today Show," the "CBS Morning Show," the "Dr. Phil Show" and the "Montel Williams Show" for her work on foster care. She has also shared her story with millions of readers of People, Glamour, Essence, Jet, and Black Enterprise magazines - just to name a few.
Final Notes Very few actors embody the talent, determination and perseverance it takes to flourish in the entertainment world while understanding the importance of sharing it with the world. Victoria Rowell is that special persona. A true Renaissance woman.
Rowell's sizzling novel "Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva" to be released by Simon & Schuster/Atria, May 4, 2010
Visit additional information please visit www.victoriarowell.com www.thewomenwhoraisedme.com www.rowellfosterchildren.org
This review is from: Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva: A Novel (Paperback)
I love Victoria Rowell so when I heard about this book I wanted to love it as well--and I did. Her writing is as snappy as she is. The story, although fiction delves into the fictional soap opera and her alter ego. As a fan of Y&R for many years I do not want to believe the race card was played as written in this novel. All in all, Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva is exactly what you would expect and hope for--A fun read...
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This review is from: Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva: A Novel (Paperback)
"Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva" is the perfect summer read and will be a delight not only for those who enjoyed Victoria Rowell playing Drucilla on Young and the Restless, but for anyone who loves their "stories". :-)
I liked Victoria's writing style as it came across in the characters, specifically Calysta. The novel reads like a soap opera with the suspense, scandal, and dramatic flair that one would expect. Victoria gives you the story in first person through Calysta but she also gives you breaking celebrity news a la US Weekly-type reveals. I also liked how the novel deals with Calysta's life before she became a soap star and by placing her grandmother as a strong supporting character you never forget her background. I will admit that the plot moves around a lot and it can be hard to keep up with the numerous colorful characters, but the book is based on a soap opera which has many characters. Some characters you care about and never miss their scenes and some you don't care as much so you don't invest as much in their plot line.
If I may address some of the previous reviewers' opinions that the racism dealt with in this book is unnecessary, I ask them to take a look at the programming that comes on their television sets. Please tally the percentage of African-Americans in starring roles or on shows where they are not the minority and then apply that same tally to White actors. Are the numbers just a tad different? That's what I thought. Until those numbers change, addressing racism will remain relevant in a book that is focusing on television characters. It would be misleading and unrealistic to have an African-American female as the central character in this book and ignore that fact.
I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for an escape. Although I think the storyline with Calysta's real father and deceased mother was spread a little thin, I expect that the sequel will come stronger. I definitely look forward to it.
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This review is from: Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva: A Novel (Paperback)
Victoria Rowell is not only a awesome actress She cn a really write a Soap Opera novel. If you Watch Y&R this book isa must read for you. You will reconize so many Characters in the story.
Cant wait for the Sequel
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