Grateful and Honored: Susan Lucci Reflects on Daytime Emmys’ Lifetime Achievement Award
Soap opera icon Susan Lucci will be honored at the 2023 Daytime Emmys with the Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a remarkable 24 years since her unforgettable first Emmys victory Don't miss this humbling moment for the beloved actress
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Susan Lucci’s career is coming full circle with her 2023 Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Award.
Shemar Moore will be honoring the 76-year-old actress with the award on December 15, 24 years after he first presented Lucci with her outstanding lead actress win at the 1999 Daytime Emmys. Lucci expressed her amazement and humility at receiving the honor, stating "It's really amazing. I'm so humbled by this Lifetime Achievement award. My first thought is, 'Oh, my goodness. Have I achieved enough in my lifetime to be worthy of the achievement?'... I mean, I'm not Meryl Streep. You know what I'm saying? So, suddenly, 'Oh, OK. That's fantastic. I'm so honored.'"
Lucci gained fame for her portrayal of Erica Kane on the soap opera All My Children, a role she played from 1970 to 2011. She received 21 Daytime Emmy nominations for her work and finally won in 1999, prompting a prolonged standing ovation. Reflecting on the upcoming awards ceremony, Lucci humorously remarked that she has no expectations of the same reaction but is simply delighted to be present.
In the audience for her historic win was Lucci’s former All My Children costar Kelly Ripa, who portrayed Hayley Vaughan on the soap. Rumors of a possible reboot have swirled online for years, and according to Lucci, the show is “still alive” and in the works. “I would be in the very best hands with Kelly and Mark [Consuelos] producing,” she shared on GMA. (Ripa, 53, and Consuelos, 52, wed after falling in love as Hayley and Mateo on the show.)
Susan Lucci proudly clutches her Emmy award at the 1999 Daytime Emmy Awards. With five decades of experience in her career, Lucci shared with Spencer, 54, that she would advise her younger self to ignore anyone who says she can't succeed because of her physical appearance.
After her role on All My Children, Lucci appeared in a number of shows and movies, such as Army Wives, Hot in Cleveland, Joy, Devious Maids, and Difficult People. Her other credits include The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Lady Mobster, Dallas, French Silk, and Ebbie.
In June, Lucci and Maury Povich were announced as recipients of the 2023 Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Award. "I am truly honored to receive this prestigious award from the Academy," she said in a statement. "Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with exceptional talents and supported by my fans every step of the way."
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She added, "Receiving this honor is not only a recognition of my personal journey, but also a tribute to the everlasting impact of storytelling and the strong bond we are fortunate to create with audiences worldwide through television." The 2023 Daytime Emmy Awards is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS on Friday, December 15th at 9 p.m. ET.
