Leanna Love on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS — Everything You Need To Know
It’s been a while since Leanna Love has been on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS so it’s understandable if newer viewers need a little background on her history in Genoa City. And even longtime fans might appreciate a refresher! The character first appeared back in 1987 and was played by actress Barbara Crampton. After her exit in 1993, she returned for some more appearances from 1998-2002 and again in 2006 and 2007. And now Crampton is reprising her role once more for Y&R’s 50th anniversary.
Leanna Randolphe was a former mental patient of Dr. Steven Lassiter who believed that they were lovers. So naturally, she wasn’t happy when he fell in love with and married Ashley Abbott! Leanna stalked the couple on their honeymoon in Hawaii and attempted to murder Ashley with a poisoned lei! She followed them back to Genoa City where she finally let go of her obsession with Stephen when she became involved with Jack Abbott. He hired her to write a tell-all biography under the pseudonym Nora Randall titled Ruthless: The Victor Newman Story to expose and destroy his rival. However, at the same time, Victor hired her to write an authorized biography of his life!
When Leanna added a chapter to the book exposing Ashley’s affair with Victor and the abortion and subsequent nervous breakdown, Victor was livid. Believing that his wife, Nikki Newman, had been behind the book, he divorced her and whisked Leanna off to Vegas to tie the knot. Their marriage was invalid as Victor and Nikki’s divorce wasn’t finalized, but the couple stayed together anyway.
Leanna landed a job as an advice columnist using the name Leanna Love and feeling bad about what she’d done to Victor, wrote another book about him using her real name. Unfortunately, Victor soon came to realize she’d written Ruthless so he fired her and ended their relationship. Leanna went on to compete with Jill Abbott for Rex Sterling and John Abbott before leaving town to host a nationally syndicated gossip talk show.
In 1998, Victor was in the middle of a bitter divorce battle with Diane Jenkins, so her attorney, Michael Baldwin, arranged for her to appear on THE LEANNA LOVE SHOW to tell her side of the story. Still holding a grudge against Victor, Leanna was happy to help air his dirty laundry on television. Forced to give in to Diane’s demands, Victor took revenge by buying the company that owned Leanna’s show and canceling it! Over the following few years, Leanna continued to show up and try to spoil things for Victor, teaming with Diane to ruin his life whenever possible. Though she eventually went too far and had to make a public apology when she was threatened with a lawsuit!
Leanna, now working as a journalist, returned to Genoa City in 2006 to interview Ashley about the murder of Tom Fisher. She assured Ashley she’d garner sympathy with her story but then made her look guilty as sin! A year later, she resurfaced to interview David Chow about the death of Carmen Mesta. And in 2023, she crashed the Genoa City bicentennial gala on the hunt for more juicy stories. And with this crowd, there were plenty to go around!
Stay tuned to see what trouble Leanna stirs up the next time she comes to town!
