January 1988: Robin Wright is filming ‘Denial’, her third movie
Robin Wright does not appear on soap opera Santa Barbara from episode 867 (January 13, 1988) to episode 885 (February 9, 1988) because she was filming the movie ‘Denial’ directed by Erin Dignam.
Robin is the female lead in this film starring Jason Patric, Christine Harnos, Rae Dawn Chong, Rosalind Chao and David Duchovny.
The shooting of ‘Denial’ began on December 14, 1987 and ended in January 1988.
January 18, 1988: Robin Wright wins the Soap Opera Digest Award
In 1986, Robin Wright and Marcy Walker were nominated in the Soap Opera Digest awards as Outstanding Young Leading Actress on a Daytime Serial, but the winner was Ellen Wheeler for ‘Another World’.
But this year Robin received a second nomination in the category of Outstanding Heroine: Daytime and this time she won.
The other nominees were Eileen Davidson (The Young and the Restless), Debrah Farentino (Capitol), Erika Slezak (One Life to Live) and Hillary B. Smith (As the World Turns).
Sadly, Robin Wright couldn’t attend the ceremony because she was on location filming her third movie: ‘DENIAL’ with Jason Patric and Rae Dawn Chong
The Fourth Annual Soap Opera Digest Awards were on January 18, 1988, but these awards & nominations are from the episodes of 1987. These are the wins and nominations for ‘Santa Barbara’:
4 WINNERS:
Outstanding Hero Daytime: A MARTINEZ
Outstanding Heroine Daytime: ROBIN WRIGHT
Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role Daytime: NICOLAS COSTER
Outstanding Villain Daytime: JUSTIN DEAS
6 NOMINATIONS:
Outstanding Daytime Serial
Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role Daytime: LANE DAVIES
Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actress Daytime: ROBIN MATTSON
Outstanding Newcomer Daytime: STACY EDWARDS & JANE SIBBETT
Favorite Super Couple Daytime: MARCY WALKER & A MARTINEZ
January 1988: Robin Wright covers TeleSéries
Robin Wright is on the cover of the French magazine Tele Séries.
January 26, 1988: Robin Wright Out and About
Robin Wright was seen out in Santa Monica, California, spending a fun and relaxed evening in the company of close friends.
March 7, 1988: Robin Wright covers TéléPoche
Robin Wright is on the cover of the French magazine TéléPoche.
1988: Robin Wright about Justin Deas
Daytime TV magazine asked some of Santa Barbara’s top stars if they could switch roles with any other characters on the show (male or female) who they’d pick and why. This was Robin Wright’s response:
Robin Wright (Kelly): Keith Timmons (Justin Deas). There’s so much freedom in that character. He’s like the Jack Nicholson of soaps and I just love him.
April 23, 1988: Robin Wright and Ross Kettle on the cover of Télé 7 Jours
Robin Wright and Ross Kettle play husband and wife Kelly and Jeffrey on ‘Santa Barbara’.
This month both are on the cover of French magazine Télé 7 Jours.
June 23, 1988: Robin Wright leaves ‘Santa Barbara’ forever
June 23, 1988 is the release date of “Santa Barbara” episode 982 which is the last episode of Robin Wright as Kelly Capwell. She was on the show since the first episode which premiered on July 30, 1984.
Marcy Walker talked about Robin Wright’s departure from the show. Marcy admitted that it would be really hard adjusting to her new on-screen sister played by Kimberly McArthur. She says: “Robin is a really special person. We were so close. We had our times…, times when we misunderstood each other and times when we’d walk away from a scene together and know that we really loved one another. We were like family…, like sisters in a way. Robin and I worked together from the beginning of this show. I saw her grow up. She saw me grow up. We had such a history together. To look at someone else and have to play that same kind of relationship is going to be really hard.”
June 29, 1988: Third Daytime Emmy nomination for Robin Wright
The 15th Daytime Emmy Awards were held on June 29, 1988. Robin Wright received her third nomination in a row for Santa Barbara.
The nominees in the category of Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series were Tichina Arnold (Ryan’s Hope), Lauren Holly (All My Children), Andrea Evans (One Life to Live), Robin Wright (Santa Barbara) and Julianne Moore who won the award for ‘As the World Turns’.
Sadly, Robin Wright didn’t attend the ceremony.
‘Santa Barbara’ received many other nominations:
Outstanding Drama Series (Santa Barbara won this award for the first time)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: JUSTIN DEAS (he won the award for his role as Keith Timmons)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: A MARTINEZ
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: MARCY WALKER
Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series: ROBIN WRIGHT
Outstanding Younger Leading Man in a Drama Series: ROSS KETTLE
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: NICOLAS COSTER
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: ROBIN MATTSON
Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team
July 30, 1988: Robin Wright attends the Santa Barbara 4th anniversary party
Robin Wright left the soap opera on early June 1988, but in late July she attended the Santa Barbara 4th anniversary party.
In the garden of the old villa of the actor Don Ameche, seen in the movie ‘Cocoon’, in full center of Encino, in the suburbs of Los Angeles, Robin Wright attended the party and she met Kimberly McArthur who played Kelly Capwell 2.
Robin Wright made a point of being there. She said: “I am happy to find all my friends, with whom I spent four marvelous years. I do not regret having given up the role of Kelly Capwell. I totally launched out in cinema and I am very happy.” She however refuses to evoke her projects. “I am here to celebrate the success of Santa Barbara, not mine. But, say to the televiewers, who continue to write to me, that I do not forget them and that they will see me again on the big screens very soon.”
In this photo Robin Wright poses with Isabelle Caron who works for the French Magazine Télé 7 Jours. We can also see Marcy Walker, A Martinez, Todd McKee, Nancy Lee Grahn, Ross Kettle and the new Kelly Kimberly McArthur.
August 1988: First Saturn Award Nomination for Robin Wright
The 15th Saturn Awards, honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror film in 1987, were held on August 23, 1988.
‘The Princess Bride’ won for Best Fantasy Film and Best Costumes. It was also nominated for Best Actress (Robin Wright) and Best Writing.
In the category of Best Actress these were the nominees: Nancy Allen (RoboCop), Melinda Dillon (Harry and the Hendersons), Lorraine Gary (Jaws: The Revenge) Susan Sarandon (The Witches of Eastwick) Robin Wright (The Princess Bride) and Jessica Tandy who won the award for the movie ‘Batteries not included’.
September 1988: Robin Wright Turns Down ‘Born on the Fourth of July’
Before Kyra Sedgwick landed the role of Donna in Oliver Stone’s acclaimed 1989 film ‘Born on the Fourth of July’, the part had first been offered to rising star Robin Wright.
Fresh off the success of ‘The Princess Bride’, Wright was gaining momentum in Hollywood, and Oliver Stone considered her a strong contender to star opposite Tom Cruise.
However, their initial meeting did not go as planned. The conversation between Wright and Stone took a negative turn, leaving the actress feeling uncomfortable and disrespected by the director’s demeanor.
Despite the prestige of the project, Wright made the bold decision to walk away from the role. She left the meeting with a sharp parting remark: “You have a problem with women. Sayonara!”
November 12, 1988: Robin Wright covers Télé Star Magazine
Robin Wright is on the cover of French magazine Télé Star.
I remember being heartbroken as a kid when Robin Wright left Santa Barbara. Kelly Capwell was everything to me and none of the other actresses who played her ever came close.
But now as a longtime fan, I totally understand. Robin was never meant to stay in a soap opera forever. She was destined for something much bigger.
She’s the only one from Santa Barbara who truly made it. While most of the cast slowly disappeared from the spotlight, Robin became a major star.
She went on to have an amazing film career and gave powerhouse performances in critically acclaimed series like House of Cards. Her career just kept soaring.
40 years later she’s respected as one of the finest actresses of her generation. Honestly she’s the only real star to come out of that show and I couldn’t be prouder to be her fan.