It looks like fans of The Young and the Restless are still not over Tonya William, aka Olivia Winters! Soap fans always get excited when their favorite characters make a comeback after being off-screen for a while. The same goes for Tonya, as people keep asking her if she’ll return to the show. Sadly, her answer is always no. We just wonder why. What could be the reason? Find out.
The Young and the Restless: Is Tonya Williams Ready For A Y&R Return?
The Young and the Restless star told SheKnowsSoaps, “The show is fantastic. I left on great terms. I absolutely love the show.” She clarified that her choice not to continue has nothing to do with the soap. Tonya explained, “Have you ever dated someone for a long time and don’t want to date them anymore?” So, it’s the same for the Y&R alum—she quit the soap a long time ago and doesn’t want to come back.
Williams compared her choice to a broken relationship, asking, “Would you go back with that guy?” She believes she’s a different person now who has moved on from that phase. The soap star first popped into the CBS soap in 1990 and stayed until 2005. She captivated audiences with her remarkable portrayal of Olivia Barber Winters and even earned two Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Also Read: Everything that is happening on The Young and the Restless next week
Furthermore, the Young and the Restless star made a few returns starting in 2007, with her last appearance in February 2012. Remember her last appearance during Lily and Cane’s wedding? Also, Williams revealed that the soap has reached out to her for their 50th anniversary. However, “It would have been lovely to do, but I could not imagine doing the role,” she added.
Tonya went on to explain that acting requires a lot from her, as it’s not just about showing up and reading lines. “I trained as an actor. I go through a lot of process into who that character is.” On top of this, Olivia is someone from 20 years ago, and Williams didn’t want to do a disservice to the character! She continued, “I really feel I left Olivia on a high note, and everybody has a great memory.”
Subsequently, the thought of needing weeks to shut down everything else she’s doing to focus on Olivia would stress her out. She just doesn’t feel she has the skills or desire for it anymore. The Young and the Restless alum is running the Reelworld Film Festival to promote talent from diverse backgrounds. Tonya even received the Changemaker Award at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards.
Tonya joked that she’s the boss who calls the shots, and people follow her lead. The soap veteran can’t imagine returning to taking orders, as that’s not who she is anymore! Although we all miss her on the soap, it’s great to know she found her calling and doing something about it, right? Kudos to her! Meanwhile, don’t miss out on more The Young and the Restless celeb updates over at Soap Opera Daily!
