Victoria Rowell Reflects on Daytime Drama, Diversity Advocacy, and On-Set Friction During 'The Young and the Restless' Run
Actress Victoria Rowell recently revisited her iconic 17-year tenure on 'The Young and the Restless' during an interview with producer Carlos King. Rowell discussed her experiences advocating for diversity behind the scenes, alleged mistreatment by co-stars, and how her career continued across the entertainment industry after leaving daytime television.
Former daytime television star Victoria Rowell recently addressed her multi-decade career, industry challenges, and her historic 17-year run as Drucilla Winters on CBS's 'The Young and the Restless,' according to a report by Atlanta Black Star. Speaking during an Oct. 6 interview with television producer Carlos King, the 67-year-old actress reflected on her time on the long-running soap opera, her push for equity behind the scenes, and the interpersonal conflicts that surfaced during her tenure.
Rowell recalled how the series co-creator, William J. Bell, championed her casting back in 1990. According to Rowell, Bell's explicit appreciation for her talent supported her pursuit of outside acting projects, including roles alongside Eddie Murphy and Jim Carrey, as well as a co-starring role opposite Dick Van Dyke on CBS's 'Diagnosis: Murder.' However, Rowell stated during the interview that this backing created resentment among some of her colleagues on set.
Among the incidents discussed was a 2015 accusation in which Rowell alleged that co-star Michelle Stafford spat on her during filming. Atlanta Black Star noted that Stafford previously denied intentionally spitting on Rowell, characterizing the event as an accidental water spit take during a comedic scene. In her discussion with King, Rowell revealed that prior to that conflict, she had actively helped Stafford secure an acting role outside of the soap opera.
Throughout her time on the show, Rowell frequently advocated for increased racial diversity behind the camera. According to her interview with King, Rowell often felt compelled to rewrite her character's dialogue because the production lacked Black writers. She expressed pride in her advocacy work, which she noted contributed to the eventual hiring of writer Susan Dansby after what Rowell described as a 37-year absence of Black writers on the production team.
Rowell ultimately departed 'The Young and the Restless' in 2007 after being denied opportunities to expand her role into writing, directing, and producing. She admitted to King that she did not want to leave the show at that time. In 2015, Rowell filed a lawsuit against CBS and the show's producers, alleging retaliation for her advocacy regarding diversity. The defendants denied any wrongdoing, and the legal dispute was subsequently resolved through a settlement.
When King asked Rowell whether she felt blackballing had impacted her career, she emphasized that she has continuously worked across the broader entertainment industry, though she acknowledged the specific constraints of the daytime soap genre. When questioned on why she has not returned to 'The Young and the Restless,' Rowell gave a playful response, asking, 'Well, how do you know I haven't?' Rowell was also recently invited to audition for CBS's new soap opera 'Beyond the Gates,' a role that ultimately went to Tamara Tunie.
Atlanta Black Star noted that Rowell questioned whether speaking out on behalf of others affected her path in daytime television, asking during the podcast if she had been censored to a degree for her advocacy. The report also referenced other prominent Black actresses, such as comedian Mo'Nique, who have publicly spoken out about workplace dynamics and industry pushback.