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PROFILE

Victoria Rowell

ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE

SOAP STAR STATS

Victoria Rowell (ex-Drucilla, Y&R)

— CBS

Vital Statistics

Birthdate:: May 10
Years on Show:: 1990-98; 2000; 2002-2007
Marital Status:: Divorced
Children:: Maya and Jasper

THE 411

Victoria Rowell's childhood experiences shaped her into the woman she is today. One of six children, her family was split when they were placed in different foster homes. Rowell's foster mother believed greatly in promoting the arts and pushed her to discipline herself. At the age of 8, she received a dance scholarship to the Cambridge School of Ballet.

At the age of 15, Rowell joined the American Ballet Theatre's junior company and toured with them for two years. As the only black dancer, she felt a lot of pressure to be a soloist, something she eventually accomplished. Though she loved to dance, she lacked a feeling of satisfaction. The manager of the market where she worked between teaching dance classes persuaded her to relocate to New York and try acting.

After several unsuccessful auditions, she kick-started her career with a Coca-Cola commercial and eventually wound up with a part on THE COSBY SHOW. Not long after, she landed the role of runaway, rebellious Barber daughter Drucilla, kicking off a major black storyline for the soap.

In 1990, the same year that Rowell began on YOUNG AND RESTLESS, she started a program called the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan. Keeping in mind her now-deceased foster mother who so influenced her, the fund raises enough money to send 11 children a year to dance classes at the Ballet Theatre of Boston.

In 1993, Rowell landed a plum role on DIAGNOSIS MURDER. During the show's eight-year run, she worked double duty on both shows for five of those years. Y&R wrote in the absences by sending Drucilla on modeling promotional tours.

Never one to slow down, Rowell has also filmed movies such as Dumb and Dumber and music videos with soul singer Keith Washington.

Inspired by her foster home experiences, Rowell continues to advocate foster care and was thrilled that daytime was addressing the issue when the Winters family took in troubled youth Devon.

ET CETERA

—Before becoming an actress, Rowell modeled, appearing in the pages of such top mags as Seventeen and Mademoiselle.
—Rowell has been nominated for three Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmys, and has won NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama 10 times between 1994 and 2005.
—After appearing in Leonard Part 6, Bill Cosby was so impressed with Rowell that he signed her for a semi-regular role on THE COSBY SHOW.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

TV Roles
SECRET SINS OF THE FATHER (Yolanda, 1994)
DIAGNOSIS MURDER (Amanda, 1993-2001)
FULL ECLIPSE (Anna, 1993)
THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (Mimi, 1990)
THE COSBY SHOW (Paula, 1990)
Film Roles
A Perfect Fit (Sheila, 2005)
Eve's Bayou (Stevie, 1997)
Dumb and Dumber (Beth, 1994)
The Distinguished Gentleman (Celia, 1992)
Leonard Part 6 (Joan, 1987)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"Ballet is not immediately gratifying. You have to do the work, so my wins in life I've had to wait for and work at. Perfecting a pirouette taught me that I could fit in and get along in the world by merit." — Soap Opera Digest, 5/18/04

"After 18 years as a classical ballet dancer, I earned the title of diva. The meaning of diva in classical terms is quite different. We called each other diva all the time in the ballet world and on Broadway. But unfortunately, it's not so welcome in the world of television and film because it's not translated the same way. But yes, I've earned that title in a respectable way. If its misconstrued ... oh, well." — Digest, 11/12/02

"I was just ecstatic. I really didn't expect to win again, but I was equally elated. I love my job and I've worked really hard. This award gives kids, especially those in foster care, the message that hard work pays off." — on winning a 1993 Image Award, Digest, 8/16/94