Actor Profile: Rebecca Budig as Greenlee Smyth Lavery, ‘All My Children’
Rebecca Budig Overview
Rebecca Budig plays Greenlee Smyth Lavery on All My Children. The Emmy-nominated actress made her soap debut in 1995 as Michelle Bauer on Guiding Light, but it was the role of feisty, troublemaking Greenlee that put her on the map. When she was offered the part in 1999 it was only a recurring role, but Rebecca brought so much fun and excitement to Pine Valley that she soon became a permanent fixture.
She left the show twice, but to the delight of fans, returned again in December of 2009 to reestablish the popular romance of Greenlee and Ryan.
The Early Years
Born June 26, 1973, Rebecca Budig grew up in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. The youngest of eight children, Rebecca credits her large, loving family – five sisters and two brothers – and strong role models like her mother and grandmother for giving her the courage to follow her dreams.
For Rebecca, the desire to perform came at a young age. She attended high school at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. She took a brief detour from acting to attend Miami University in Ohio, where she majored in zoology. In 1993 Rebecca moved to Los Angeles and began studying with Howard Fine, whose former students included Brad Pitt, Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, and another AMC actress, Kim Delaney. She also studied at the Young Actors Space, which trained stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Hilary Swank.
Rebecca’s first acting job was a blink-and-you-miss-her part in the 1993 Aerosmith music video “Livin’ on the Edge.” That was followed by a cameo role as a teenage girl who shared a kiss with Chris O’Donnell in the 1995 feature film Batman Forever.
In a New York Minute
In 1995, the New York soap world came calling. Rebecca auditioned for the role of Kelsey Jefferson on All My Children. Only two weeks later, before AMC casting director Judy Blye Wilson could bring her in to read for the show’s producers, Rebecca was offered the role of the young and naïve Michelle Bauer on Guiding Light. But Wilson never forgot Rebecca. She stayed in touch with her during her three-year stint on GL, trying to convince her to jump ship from the CBS soap and come over to AMC.
In 1998, Rebecca opted not to renew her contract with GL. She was headed back to L.A., but then AMC made her an offer she couldn’t refuse – a recurring role as spoiled rich girl Greenlee Smyth, a far cry from her goody-two shoes GL character. Having always played the girl-next-door type, Rebecca was excited about delving into the dark side.
Getting Her Greenlee On
In only a few short months, Rebecca had cemented herself in Pine Valley. Her Greenlee was naughty but likeable, manipulative but vulnerable, and fans couldn’t get enough. Rebecca quickly went from recurring status to a three-year contract. Her on-screen romance with Josh Duhamel’s Leo du Pres became one of the most beloved in soap history, and the two went on to be nominated for a Special Fan Award Emmy for America's Favorite Couple in 2002.
When Duhamel left the show in 2002, Rebecca proved she had chemistry with another leading man, Cameron Mathison, who played Ryan Lavery. Greenlee and Ryan also reached supercouple status. In 2005, Rebecca and Cameron were nominated for a Special Fan Award for Irresistible Combination at the 2005 Daytime Emmys.
Rebecca also nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2001 and 2003. Her portrayal of Greenlee also earned her the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress in 2003.
Moving On and Coming Home
In November 2005, Rebecca left AMC to again try her luck in Hollywood. She landed roles in the primetime series Out of Practice, Hope & Faith and CSI, as well as the lead role in the Lifetime TV Movie, The Perfect Child.
In January of 2008, Rebecca returned to AMC and the role of Greenlee. But after less than a year, she announced she would again be leaving the show so she could return to L.A. to spend more time with her then husband, Bob Guiney. When AMC moved its production to Los Angeles in October 2009, ABC happily welcomed her back to the soap for a third time. She began airing in December 2009.
Beyond the Soaps
Rebecca’s other credits include the films Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys, God's Lonely Man, and James Dean: A Race with Destiny, in which she played Natalie Wood. In 2010, she appeared in the critically acclaimed indie-film, Please Give, and had guest-starring television roles in How I Met Your Mother and Castle. She was also the co-host of The Sports Illustrated for Kids Show, and worked for the World Wrestling Federation as an interviewer for a short time on Sunday Night HEAT. Rebecca married The Bachelor’s Bob Guiney in 2004, but the couple divorced in 2010. She became engaged to ABC marketing executive Michael Benson, whom she met on a blind date, on Christmas Day 2010.
Did You Know…
• Rebecca’s next door neighbor is Greg Rikaart (Y&R’s Kevin)
• She loves to knit and can often be found on the AMC set knitting a sweater or a hat for a castmate.
• An avid athlete, she ran the New York Marathon in 3:45:56
• She is good friends with Finola Hughes (ex-Anna, AMC and GH) and Ian Buchanan (ex-Greg, AMC; ex-James, B&B)
• Her closest friends on the AMC set are Alicia Minshew (Kendall) and Cameron Mathison (Ryan), who calls her “Peanut.”
• In 2010, she won the ABC reality competition Skating with the Stars.
Rebecca Budig plays Greenlee Smyth Lavery on All My Children. The Emmy-nominated actress made her soap debut in 1995 as Michelle Bauer on Guiding Light, but it was the role of feisty, troublemaking Greenlee that put her on the map. When she was offered the part in 1999 it was only a recurring role, but Rebecca brought so much fun and excitement to Pine Valley that she soon became a permanent fixture.
She left the show twice, but to the delight of fans, returned again in December of 2009 to reestablish the popular romance of Greenlee and Ryan.
The Early Years
Born June 26, 1973, Rebecca Budig grew up in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. The youngest of eight children, Rebecca credits her large, loving family – five sisters and two brothers – and strong role models like her mother and grandmother for giving her the courage to follow her dreams.
For Rebecca, the desire to perform came at a young age. She attended high school at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. She took a brief detour from acting to attend Miami University in Ohio, where she majored in zoology. In 1993 Rebecca moved to Los Angeles and began studying with Howard Fine, whose former students included Brad Pitt, Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly, and another AMC actress, Kim Delaney. She also studied at the Young Actors Space, which trained stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Hilary Swank.
Rebecca’s first acting job was a blink-and-you-miss-her part in the 1993 Aerosmith music video “Livin’ on the Edge.” That was followed by a cameo role as a teenage girl who shared a kiss with Chris O’Donnell in the 1995 feature film Batman Forever.
In a New York Minute
In 1995, the New York soap world came calling. Rebecca auditioned for the role of Kelsey Jefferson on All My Children. Only two weeks later, before AMC casting director Judy Blye Wilson could bring her in to read for the show’s producers, Rebecca was offered the role of the young and naïve Michelle Bauer on Guiding Light. But Wilson never forgot Rebecca. She stayed in touch with her during her three-year stint on GL, trying to convince her to jump ship from the CBS soap and come over to AMC.
In 1998, Rebecca opted not to renew her contract with GL. She was headed back to L.A., but then AMC made her an offer she couldn’t refuse – a recurring role as spoiled rich girl Greenlee Smyth, a far cry from her goody-two shoes GL character. Having always played the girl-next-door type, Rebecca was excited about delving into the dark side.
Getting Her Greenlee On
In only a few short months, Rebecca had cemented herself in Pine Valley. Her Greenlee was naughty but likeable, manipulative but vulnerable, and fans couldn’t get enough. Rebecca quickly went from recurring status to a three-year contract. Her on-screen romance with Josh Duhamel’s Leo du Pres became one of the most beloved in soap history, and the two went on to be nominated for a Special Fan Award Emmy for America's Favorite Couple in 2002.
When Duhamel left the show in 2002, Rebecca proved she had chemistry with another leading man, Cameron Mathison, who played Ryan Lavery. Greenlee and Ryan also reached supercouple status. In 2005, Rebecca and Cameron were nominated for a Special Fan Award for Irresistible Combination at the 2005 Daytime Emmys.
Rebecca also nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2001 and 2003. Her portrayal of Greenlee also earned her the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress in 2003.
Moving On and Coming Home
In November 2005, Rebecca left AMC to again try her luck in Hollywood. She landed roles in the primetime series Out of Practice, Hope & Faith and CSI, as well as the lead role in the Lifetime TV Movie, The Perfect Child.
In January of 2008, Rebecca returned to AMC and the role of Greenlee. But after less than a year, she announced she would again be leaving the show so she could return to L.A. to spend more time with her then husband, Bob Guiney. When AMC moved its production to Los Angeles in October 2009, ABC happily welcomed her back to the soap for a third time. She began airing in December 2009.
Beyond the Soaps
Rebecca’s other credits include the films Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys, God's Lonely Man, and James Dean: A Race with Destiny, in which she played Natalie Wood. In 2010, she appeared in the critically acclaimed indie-film, Please Give, and had guest-starring television roles in How I Met Your Mother and Castle. She was also the co-host of The Sports Illustrated for Kids Show, and worked for the World Wrestling Federation as an interviewer for a short time on Sunday Night HEAT. Rebecca married The Bachelor’s Bob Guiney in 2004, but the couple divorced in 2010. She became engaged to ABC marketing executive Michael Benson, whom she met on a blind date, on Christmas Day 2010.
Did You Know…
• Rebecca’s next door neighbor is Greg Rikaart (Y&R’s Kevin)
• She loves to knit and can often be found on the AMC set knitting a sweater or a hat for a castmate.
• An avid athlete, she ran the New York Marathon in 3:45:56
• She is good friends with Finola Hughes (ex-Anna, AMC and GH) and Ian Buchanan (ex-Greg, AMC; ex-James, B&B)
• Her closest friends on the AMC set are Alicia Minshew (Kendall) and Cameron Mathison (Ryan), who calls her “Peanut.”
• In 2010, she won the ABC reality competition Skating with the Stars.
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