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Martha Byrne

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Martha Byrne
Byrne in 2012
Born
Mary Martha Byrne

(1969-12-23) December 23, 1969 (age 54)
Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, television writer
Years active1982–present
Spouse
Michael McMahon
​
(m. 1994)​
Children3
Websitemarthabyrne.net

Mary Martha Byrne[1] (born December 23, 1969)[1] is an American actress, singer and television writer. She played the role of Lily Walsh Snyder on the soap opera As the World Turns from 1985 to 1989, then again from 1993 to 2008; as well as, from 2000 to 2003, Lily's twin sister, Rose D'Angelo. Byrne has also appeared in other stage, television and movie roles, including the title role in the 1983 film Anna to the Infinite Power. She is currently executive producer of the digital drama series Anacostia, where she has played the role of Alexis Jordan since 2011. Byrne has won three Daytime Emmy Awards for acting.

Early life

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Byrne was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, the daughter of Terrence Joseph and Mary Adele (née TuMulty) Byrne.[1]

Career

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Byrne began acting at a young age when she joined the cast of the Broadway musical Annie, where she played the role of July.

She was a featured actor on a number of prime time episodic television programs, including Kate and Allie; Murder, She Wrote; Parker Lewis Can't Lose; Jake and the Fatman; In the Heat of the Night; and Hearts are Wild. Byrne also appeared in several television movies, with featured roles in When the Cradle Falls and Pink Lightning.

Byrne's best known film role was as the title character in the 1983 film Anna to the Infinite Power. In 2010 she provided the commentary for the film's DVD release.

Daytime television

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Byrne is best known for portraying Lily Walsh Snyder on the CBS Daytime soap opera As the World Turns. She started in May 1985 at age 15, taking over from another teenage actress. Byrne soon became part of a "supercouple" when then-head writer Douglas Marland paired "poor little rich girl" Lily with hard-luck farmhand Holden Snyder, played by Jon Hensley. The show attracted controversy in 1987 when Byrne—months shy of her 18th birthday—and equally underage actor Brian Bloom played out a storyline in which they lost their virginity to each other.[citation needed]

Byrne won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in 1987. She left As the World Turns in 1989, and returned in April 1993. From 2000 until 2003, Byrne also played a second role, Lily's long-lost twin, Rose D'Angelo. She won another Daytime Emmy in 2001, this time as Outstanding Lead Actress.

Byrne left As the World Turns again in April 2008. The show's executive producer Christopher Goutman stated, "We made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain a valuable member of the ATWT cast. Unfortunately, Martha has decided to leave despite our best efforts to keep her."[2] Byrne later asserted that the contract negotiations fell through because the show refused to guarantee her the same number of episodes of work she had previously been guaranteed. She added that a casting call was made for her successor during her contract negotiations, which fueled her drive to leave.[citation needed] Byrne's last airdate on the show was April 22, 2008; her successor, Noelle Beck, appeared in the role of Lily from May 2008 until the series' end in 2010.

Byrne was hired as a script writer by Bradley Bell for The Bold and the Beautiful in early 2009. From June 17 though September 9, 2009, she portrayed Andrea Floyd on the ABC soap opera General Hospital.

Byrne began portraying Alexis Jordan (née Joanne Edwards) on the soap opera web series Anacostia in 2011,[3] winning a 2012 Indie Series Award for Best Guest Appearance (Drama),[4] and a 2015 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series.[5] The entire cast won a 2015 Indie Series Award for Best Ensemble (Drama).[4][6] Byrne served as a co-executive producer, director and writer for the series from 2012-2016, and was promoted to Executive Producer in the show's 2017 fifth season. As a producer, Byrne was also nominated for the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series in 2015.[7][8]

Music

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Byrne is also a singer. She contributed a Christmas medley to the 1994 RCA release, A Soap Opera Christmas. She released her self-titled album Martha Byrne in 1996.

She has also released a second album, Woman Thing Music. Byrne again was the subject of controversy, as the sponsor of the second album was Philip Morris. The CD could only be purchased in conjunction with the purchase of cigarettes, or at one of the "Woman Music Thing" concerts that Philip Morris sponsored. Byrne eventually withdrew endorsement from the music label, as she did not want to be associated with a product that could encourage underage smoking.

In 2006 Byrne released a third album, The Other Side.

Awards and recognition

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Byrne is a ten-time Daytime Emmy Award-nominee as actress and producer, winning Outstanding Younger Actress in 1987, Outstanding Lead Actress in 2001, and Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series in 2015.

Personal life

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Byrne married Michael McMahon, a former undercover officer in the New York City Police Department, on November 12, 1994.[9] She grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey[10] and lives in nearby Ridgewood.[11]

Their first child, Michael Terrence McMahon, was born on May 29, 1998. An episode of the TLC series A Baby Story chronicled her second pregnancy and the birth of her son, Maxwell Vincent McMahon, on September 3, 2002. Their third child and first daughter, Annmarie, was born June 12, 2006.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Eyes of the Amaryllis Jenny Reade
Drop-Out Father Elizabeth McCall
1983 Anna to the Infinite Power Anna Hart
The Hamptons Miranda 1 episode
1984 He's Fired, She's Hired Emily Grier
1985 As the World Turns Lily Walsh Snyder 1985–1989, 1993–2008
The Beniker Gang Molly Stamwick aka Dear Lola, or How to Start Your Own Family
Kate & Allie Carter Lowe 1 episode
1986 As the World Turns: 30th Anniversary Lily
1989 In the Heat of the Night Lizbeth Hagen
1990 Jake and the Fatman Melanie Wilkerson
The Young Riders Vera Collins 2 episode
Doogie Howser, M.D. Sasha Larkin 1 episode
Over My Dead Body Julie Talmadge 1 episode
1991 Bob Hope & Friends: Making New Memories Herself
Murder, She Wrote Sarah Lapp 1 episode
Silk Stalkings Erica Dietz 1 episode
Pink Lightning Jill
1992 Parker Lewis Can't Lose Erin
1997 The Marksmen Alison Wells
When the Cradle Falls Donna McDermott
2001 The 28th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Herself
Mergers & Acquisitions Iowa
2004 Living It Up! With Ali and Jack Herself March 17, 2004
2006 SoapTalk Herself May 8, 2006, April 5, 2006
Life After Tomorrow Herself
2009 General Hospital Andrea Floyd June 17–September 9, 2009[12]
2011–present Anacostia Alexis Jordan
2014 Crisis Marie Wirth 1 episode[13]

Writer

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Bold and the Beautiful script writer 3 episodes

Producer

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 Bye Bye Sally executive producer

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Martha Byrne Biography (1969-)". FilmReference.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  2. ^ Logan, Michael (February 29, 2008). "Martha Byrne Exits As the World Turns". TV Guide. Archived from the original on April 26, 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  3. ^ "Exclusive! Elizabeth Hubbard Joins Anacostia". Soap Opera Digest. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Indie Series Awards History and Archive of Past Winners". Indie Series Awards. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "CBS, PBS and The Bold and the Beautiful Lead Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Winners". Variety. April 25, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "6th Annual Indie Series Awards: Complete List of Winners". Indie Series Awards. April 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  7. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 31, 2015). "General Hospital, Ellen DeGeneres, CBS Lead Daytime Emmy Nominations". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  8. ^ Rodriguez, Briana (March 31, 2015). "General Hospital Leads 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations". Backstage. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  9. ^ Smith-Brady, Lois (November 27, 1994). "Vows; Martha Byrne and Michael McMahon". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Rohan, Virginia. "In Paramus, a showbiz boot camp", The Record (Bergen County), March 5, 2011. Accessed December 20, 2013. "It was a different world in 1977, when a 9-year-old from Waldwick named Martha Byrne embarked on a big adventure in New York City. One of 700 hopefuls who went to an open call for the Broadway musical "Annie," Byrne landed the part of an orphan — and went on to a successful showbiz career."
  11. ^ Staff. "'Empire’s Got Talent': Bergen native Martha Byrne holds one night only event"[permanent dead link], Bergen.com, November 8, 2011. Accessed December 20, 2013. "Waldwick native and Ridgewood resident Martha Byrne held an 'Empire’s Got Talent' event last night in New York City."
  12. ^ "General Hospital Comings & Goings. (NEW.) - General Hospital Comings & Goings". Soaps.com. Archived from the original on 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  13. ^ Newcomb, Roger. "NEWS: Deidre Hall Stresses Vision Care; Martha Byrne Joins CRISIS; Howard Overby to B&B; Joyce Jacobs & Jon Mercedes Have Passed Away". We Love Soaps. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
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