Mia And Iman's Live Auditions
The Early Show "Soap Star Screen Tests" continues with two more students competing for roles on CBS' top-rated daytime drama, "The Young and the Restless."
Performing all this week with the hopefuls are stars from the hit show. Wednesday's turn is one of daytime's most popular leading ladies, Melody Thomas Scott, who plays Nikki Reed Newman.
It is a role Thomas Scott has been portraying for 25 years with "The Young and the Restless." She started out as an exotic dancer and today she is queen of the manor.
"She married well over the years," Thomas Scott tells co-anchor Julie Chen about her character. She has been married nine times, four of which have been to the same man, Victor Newman.
Asked if over the years she has seen daytime-drama change dramatically, Thomas Scott says, "Not really so much on our show. We stick pretty much to the basics with romance and things that are universal, romance, relationships with family. And that's really, I think, the key to the success, not getting off into these strange story lines where there's another world living in a cave. We don't get out there. We stick right with the basic emotions."
Thomas Scott has been 45 years in show business. She began her acting career at that age of 3 and made her film debut at age 8 in Alfred Hitchcock's "Marnie." As a child and teenager, she acted opposite some of the best in the business including: John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Kirk Douglas, and Tippy Hedren.
In real life, she is married to Ed Scott, supervising producer on "Y&R." He has been with The Early Show, coaching the students before their live appearance.
Wednesday's student hopefuls acted as young children, stopped, and started up again as adults. First to audition was 24 year-old Mia Simon, a first-year student at University of California at Berkeley.
"Go bears!" Simon and Thomas Scott said in unison giving each other the high five. Thomas Scott has a daughter attending the same university, where Simon is studying industrial society and law.
Performing next was Iman Nazemzadeh who graduated from Southern Methodist University just last week. He just did a pilot, which he said got picked up. In case his audition doesn't lead to a role on "Y&R" he plans to move to Los Angeles.
About his dramatic audition, a very pleased Thomas Scott said with tears in her eyes, "He made me cry." She pointed out both Simon and Nazemzadeh were "fantastic."
Well, you be the judge. Review the live dramatic performances plus school auditions by clicking on the interactive at right. And after Friday's show, you will be able to vote for your favorite male and female performer.
The winners will be announced on Monday with each receiving a role on "The Young And The Restless."
The Screen Tests continue Thursday with Keith Hamilton Cobb, who plays Damon Porter on "Y&R."