Heather Tom has been wowing soap audiences since she first started as a teenager on The Young and the Restless over 35 years ago. And the Emmy winner still never ceases to amaze, as evidenced by the tour de force performances she turned in this month as B&B’s nouveau fashionista Katie Logan.
The youngest Logan sister ran the emotional gamut as she had to put her foot down with Brooke, counsel the increasingly erratic Will, and face the wrath of the Forresters after Will accidentally flattened Eric! Read on to see why Tom deserves this Soap Opera News accolade.
Key Takeaways
- Heather Tom is Soap Opera News’ Performer of the Month for July.
- Katie stood up to Brooke after refusing to back down over Hope’s choices.
- Tom balanced Katie’s strength and vulnerability throughout the month.
- Katie’s painful rejection by the Forresters capped off an emotional month.
Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves
Katie grew up feeling like she was stuck in older sister Brooke’s shadow, and Tom never lets viewers forget that Katie still harbors those feelings. That was on full display as Brooke went off about Katie “stealing” Hope from Forrester, a completely unreasonable accusation considering Hope is an adult and can make her own decisions. Tom showed Katie trying to walk the tightrope between preserving her family and standing up for herself when Katie’s pleas to come together fell on deaf ears, and the fledgling fashion house head had to tell Brooke to get with the program…or else.
“I’m done apologizing!” Katie declared, standing firm and seeming like the older sister herself instead of Brooke as she combatted Brooke’s petulance with the stark reminder that she had forgiven her for sleeping with Bill!
Then, Tom gave us Katie’s maternal side as she came to the aid of Will, who had just been dumped by Electra…again…because Will kept quiet about Hope’s defection? No wonder Will was flustered, and Katie understood, but she adopted some tough love after learning that Will had popped R.J. in the mouth yet another time. Tom made Katie loving but stern as she counseled her only child that he needed to learn to control his volatile emotions.
How’s About A Nice Hawaiian Punch?
But Tom’s finest moments this month came after Eric did some popping off of his own, complaining to a reporter that she was basically Satan in high heels because she produced his designs and pilfered Hope from the company. Though Bill delighted in turning Eric’s online rant into memeworthy publicity, Katie was sad – she had seen Eric as a mentor and a father figure, and Tom let us see Katie’s deep hurt that Eric had turned against her…and that he had such bad things to say about the brief period they had worked together at Logan.
Things got worse when R.J. and Will got into a fresh argument over the patriarch’s smack-talking. Will was ready to defend his mother’s honor, and of course R.J. couldn’t help goading his cousin with some strategically placed verbal jabs. Unfortunately, Will took his response jab to a physical level and clocked Eric, who was trying to break up the altercation, by mistake!
Tom did not hold back Katie’s anger at her son upon finding out about the fisticuffs that laid out the senior Forrester. Katie had had enough of Will’s aggressive behavior, and she let him know it! But while Will was cowed by his mother’s dressing down, the dressmakers of Forrester Creations did not want to hear any apologies from Katie, who had rushed over to the mansion to take responsibility for her boy.
We Are (Not) Family…
Katie’s horror was right on the surface thanks to Tom, who allowed Katie to be vulnerable as she expressed deep regret over what Will had done. We could feel Katie’s heart sinking into her shoes as Donna, of all people, the middle sister who usually finds herself in the middle, took Brooke’s side. Donna did not appreciate her husband being manhandled, and Katie felt helpless during the scolding.
Tom flailed as Katie tried to get her extended fam to understand that things had just gotten out of control, and none of it had been intentional. But the shock on the actor’s face was unmistakable as Brooke announced that Katie wasn’t a part of that family anymore. The desperation clear; Katie begged Eric to tell everyone how he had promised to stand at the end of her runway in victory – however, Eric would only reply with silence. “That’s right! Walk away like you did last time!” Katie yelped, anger washing over her disbelief.
Could you really blame her? Eric was acting like he didn’t defect from Forrester himself and design a whole line meant to be presented at Logan! Katie didn’t have time to be confused, though, because Brooke ordered her out of the Forrester compound, and Donna equated the rift Katie was being blamed for with the desertion by their father when they were girls. This cut Katie to the bone, and Tom let Katie fall apart once she managed to walk out of Eric’s house with what little dignity she could muster. Katie’s portrayer had to ride a roller coaster of emotions in these aforementioned scenes, and Tom’s skill in doing so makes her the top pick here for July.
Heather Tom is a Star
Heather Tom began on Y&R as the SORASed Victoria Newman in 1990 and remained there until 2003, with a brief break in 1997. She replaced Nancy Sloan in the role of Katie Logan in 2007 after a two-year stint on One Life to Live, which included a crossover onto All My Children.
What did you think of Heather Tom’s performances this month? Do you feel Katie is getting her just desserts, or are you of the opinion that she is being done dirty? Share your thoughts in the comments below — and don’t forget to watch B&B weekdays on CBS.
Photo Credit: JPI Studios.
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