Rosanna Cabot is a fictional character on the American daytime soap opera, As the World Turns. The character was originated by Yvonne Perry, who portrayed her from 1992 to 1999. In 2002, Daytime Emmy-winner Cady McClain took over the role and was consequently nominated twice for "Outstanding Supporting Actress" in 2003 and 2004, winning the award in the later year. She portrayed the role until 2005, before returning three times from 2007 to 2010.
Casting and creation The role of Rosanna was originated by actress Yvonne Perry. In 1993, she won the Soap Opera Digest award for Outstanding Female Newcomer, which was the show's first win in that category. During Perry's tenure on the show, Rosanna had love stories with the characters Hutch Hutchinson (Judson Mills), Evan Walsh (Greg Watkins) and Scott Eldridge. But it was the love story between Mike Kasnoff (Shawn Christian) and Rosanna Cabot (then played by Perry) that made the character so popular. She last appeared in the role in 1999.
In 2002, it was announced that actress Cady McClain, most known for her portrayal of Dixie Cooney on ABC's soap opera, All My Children, had been cast in the role of Rosanna.
In a letter on her official site, McClain spoke about why she chose to take the role of Rosanna. She stated:
Personally, after Sept 11th, I started to reevaluate my life, as many of us have. I realized I was tired, creatively and physically, and I needed...something. A break, a change, something different to wake up my insides. It is hard work being an actor; it takes a lot of constant revitalization to give as much energy as we do. Originally, I had no real "plan." I just wanted to leave contract status and "keep the door open," as we say, so that Dixie could come back here and there. I still feel that way. She is pregnant, in Europe, and with a delicate physical condition, so...anything could happen in any amount of time. The powers that be were kind enough to leave me with this exit, and I am so very grateful to them. I never have taken their kindnesses for granted, nor do I intend to. It is just too important to me for that.
When I was approached a few weeks after I shot my last day at AMC with the idea of coming to ATWT for a little stint to try out an old character that they were working on, I felt very flattered and interested to join the cast and try something new. I don't think you know this, but I have been a huge fan of ATWT. I know almost the characters, and who they've been involved with. I even feel a little star struck around certain actors who shall remain nameless!
McClain continued to portray the role, earning two nominations for "Outstanding Supporting Actress" during the 2003 and 2004 Daytime Emmys, the latter of which she won. In 2004, it was heavily rumored that McClain had been let go from the series due to budget cuts. However, executive producer quickly debunked such rumors, stating, "As far as the show is concerned, Cady McClain is and will continue to be a valued cast member of As The World Turns. Cady has brought her incredible talent to her portrayal of Rosanna, as witnessed by last year's [Outstanding Supporting Actress] Emmy nomination. Cady and her character are definitely part of future story plans.".
In early 2005, McClain announced her decision to depart the series, which sparked the interest of the actress returning to her All My Children counterpart, Dixie. McClain returned to the role of Dixie following her World Turns exit. McClain's last airdate as Rosanna aired on July 29, 2005. McClain then returned to All My Children later that year.
Following McClain's departure, rumors began to fuel a possible recast of the character. However, this was not the case. In May 2007, it was announced that McClain would once again resurrect the character of Rosanna, following her firing from All My Children. She returned to the role on July 30, 2007 McClain's return was cut short, the actress announced her decision decided to leave the show once again, due to the upset she had over the loss of dignity the character once had. She last aired on January 28, 2008.
Following her As the World Turns departure, it was rumored that McClain would join the cast of "Guiding Light" in the role of Harley Cooper. However, those rumors were debunked when McClain stated she had no intentions of joining the soap and later announced that she had agreed to once again return to As the World Turns. However, it was stated that her stint would not be permanent. She appeared from May 2009 to December 18, 2009. McClain then returned again in September 2010 for the finale of the series.
Development Actress Cady McClain was upset with the direction Rosanna's character went during her return in 2007. When asked how her exit was in an interview with Soap Opera Weekly, she said, "Let’s put it this way: As the person who plays this character, it was an emotional hysterectomy. Rosanna’s womb, adopted child, and business exited stage left. Apparently, there was nothing left to take but her dignity." She later added, "I don’t know. I cannot understand why in a medium that caters to women, intelligent female characters have to be set up to be stupid and emotionally impulsive… 'punished' for actions they would never have taken without a gun to their head… and left begging and pathetic. As an actress, it was not romantic. It was embarrassing. Almost as bad as the pancakes, and that’s saying something. I have to wonder what the hell is going on these days. Are strong, smart women so threatening that they have to be vilified? I think they should be celebrated, but what do I know? Maybe I need a boob job."
In 2009, McClain took part in an interview with soapcentral.com owner Dan J. Kroll. During the interview, McClain stated that she did not think anyone in daytime would hire her again and that she would not apologize for being honest.
Storylines 1992–99 Rosanna is the only child of the married Alexander Cabot and Sheila Washburn. She arrives in Oakdale in 1992, wanting to have a small-town experience like her recently deceased mother. She goes on to live at the Snyder farm and becomes very close to Emma Snyder (Kathleen Widdoes). Despite trying to pass herself off as an average girl, Evan Walsh eventually discovers that Rosanna is an heiress and is worth millions. Rosanna dates farm boy Hutch Hutchison, but their relationship is ruined due to his fling with Debbie Simon. She then dates Evan briefly. Rosanna's father Alexander marries Evan's snobbish mother Edwina, who she does not get on with.
Rosanna meets mechanic Mike Kasnoff, who she goes on to date. They are one of the show's supercouples, but they clash due to her wealth and his status as an ex-convict. Rosanna's father disapproves of Mike and during an argument, Alexander dies of a heart attack and leaves Rosanna all of his money. Although Rosanna wants nothing to do with the money or power her father has bestowed upon her, and Mike very much wants her to rid herself of the money, Rosanna's relationship with Mike collapses before she can give away her fortune.
In 1995, Carly Tenney plots to worm her way into Rosanna's life, knowing she is also Sheila's daughter. Sheila had abandoned her daughter and marriage to Ray Tenney to run off with Alexander when Carly was a child and the latter swore she would receive a slice of the good life as well. Carly secretly has sex with Mike Kasnoff, Rosanna's fiancé, and becomes pregnant. She interrupts Mike and Rosanna's wedding with her bombshell. After the truth is revealed, Carly and Rosanna are constantly at each other's throats and though she eventually reconciles with Mike, she becomes addicted to gambling. When they try to elope in Atlantic City, Rosanna becomes so busy playing the slot machines that she barely remembers she is there for a wedding, and the couple do not go through with the ceremony. Tragedy strikes during an argument the sisters are having. Rosanna, who has had enough, turns to walk away when Carly grabbed her hand to stop her. When Rosanna jerks her hand away, Carly fell and goes into premature labor, giving birth to a stillborn child, Nora, named after Mike's late mother. When Mike hesitates to assure Rosanna that the baby's death was not her fault, Rosanna knows the relationship is over and leaves for Europe with a message for Carly: she will receive $50 million if she gives birth to a child in wedlock, provided the man is not Mike Kasnoff. Later, she adds a deadline to the deal, with Carly having to give birth by December 31, 1998. Carly makes the deadline when she gives birth to Parker Munson, but she had committed fraud in the process, nullifying her claim to the money. Rosanna takes back the $50 million from her sister but sets up a trust fund for her nephew.
2002–05 When Rosanna returns from Europe in 2002, she is given temporary custody of Parker. This makes her the town pariah, who believe that she had obtained the child simply to hurt Carly, who is incapable of caring for her son at the time. She shares an emotional reunion with Mike in August 2002. She also strikes a friendship with Craig Montgomery, who is infatuated with her sister. This later turns into romance and the duo marry in a low-key ceremony. Carly and Rosanna also finally put aside their differences when Carly gives birth to Sage Snyder. Sage's birth leads Rosanna to want a child of her own but having undergone a hysterectomy, she chooses to adopt. Craig, having lost his son, Bryant, does not want another child but appeases Rosanna by agreeing. Later, she finds out he has been sabotaging their adoption process and is prepared to leave him before Craig shows up with a child at their home. Rosanna loves her new son, whom they name Cabot, and revels in motherhood and a newfound friendship with Paul Ryan. Her happiness is short-lived when she learns that Cabot had been illegally adopted, which devastates Rosanna completely when she has to relinquish her rights to him and give him up to his Canadian birth mother. She leaves Oakdale to pull herself back together and serves Craig with divorce papers upon her return. Though he attempts to fight her, she reminds him that she can take everything from him and is letting him keep his money and Metro Court. She also consequently ends her friendship with Paul, who had turned Craig in to the police, causing them to lose Cabot. In secret, however, Rosanna is concocting a plan with Carly to marry new BRO employee, Jordan Sinclair, and worm her way into his life. When Jordan learns of her true intentions, he is enraged, which prompts Rosanna to confess that Cabot's birth mother had promised her that if she married Jordan, her son would be returned to her. Not knowing why he was singled out and not appreciating having been used, Jordan refuses to enter a marriage of convenience but changes his mind when Rosanna consequently has a breakdown upon his departure.