Chloe Mitchell is a fictional character from The Young and the Restless, an American soap opera on the CBS network. Introduced by former executive producer Edward J. Scott as the daughter of trusty Chancellor family maid, Esther Valentine (Kate Linder), the character was born onscreen on July 27, 1990. Portrayed by twins, Darla and Sandra Greer, until 1991, upon her brief return in 1994, child actress, Danielle Ryah, portrayed the role. On February 6, 2008, executive producer/head writer Josh Griffith introduced a new character, Chloe Mitchell, played by former All My Children actress, Elizabeth Hendrickson. That August, a change in storyline revealed Chloe was Kate, having legally changed her name while offscreen, when the character was away in boarding school. Upgraded from recurring to contract status, Hendrickson became an integral part of the cast.
Immediately upon her arrival on the show, Chloe was characterized as a manipulative "bad girl" by Soap Opera Digest. Hendrickson expressed pleasure in portraying a vixen, stating that it was her idea to make the character "edgy and funny" instead of "some girl who was putting on fancy clothes". Chloe is first hired as a fashion consultant at Jabot Cosmetics by Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard), whom she develops an attraction for. She breaks up Cane's relationship with his girlfriend, Lily Winters, (Christel Khalil) by announcing that she is pregnant with his child. Upon the birth of her daughter Cordelia "Delia" Abbott (Sophie Pollono) the truth is revealed: Billy Abbott (Billy Miller) fathered the child, not Cane. After brief marriages to Cane and then Billy, Chloe begins an unsuccessful streak of relationships with men including Chance Chancellor (John Driscoll), Ronan Malloy (Jeff Branson), and most recently Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart). Other storylines the character encountered included Delia facing leukemia in 2011, and later when she was killed in a hit and run accident in 2013.
Despite temporarily breaking up the popular pairing of Lily and Cane, Chloe was met with popularity among viewers and critics. Soap Opera Weekly described the character as "complex" and her storyline "meaty". Nelson Branco of TV Guide hailed Chloe as "one of the most legendary bitches in soap history", crediting her for rejuvenating the "dying breed" of soap opera vixens. The character's various relationships have been met with mixed reviews. While the pairing of Chloe and Billy has been popular, Sara Bibel of Xfinity heavily criticized the romance between Chloe and Chance for mellowing the character out, wanting the "sassy" Chloe back. While Chloe and Kevin were initially met with favorable reviews, Zap2it placed them on a list of "Worst Soap Opera Couples" and said that the soap opera "needs to put a fork in this relationship". Hendrickson's performance has been met with critical acclaim, having garnered her four Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018. After six years in the role, Hendrickson chose to leave The Young and the Restless in 2014, returning for two brief guest stints thereafter. She later returned as a series regular from 2016 to 2017. Hendrickson briefly reprised the role in June 2019 and permanently since August 23, 2019.
Casting Katherine Tina Valentine was introduced by former executive producer Edward J. Scott, born onscreen during the episode that aired July 27, 1990. She was portrayed by twins Darla and Sandra Greer from 1990 to 1991, with child actress Danielle Ryah taking over the role briefly in 1994. Upon the character's re-introduction as an adult by executive producer Josh Griffith on February 6, 2008, actress Elizabeth Hendrickson assumed the role. Hendrickson was previously known for her role as Maggie Stone on All My Children, one half of the iconic Bianca Montgomery and Maggie Stone lesbian supercouple. Having been offered the part in 2007 as a ten-episode guest stint, she was soon promoted to a contract status. Reflecting on her casting, Hendrickson described the process as a "lovely surprise" and said, "I used to always watch Y&R when I was on AMC. I always liked the look and feel of the show, so I’ve always been a big fan. Chloe wasn’t even on the page when I came in for a chemistry audition." As a result of the character's positive response, co-executive producer and head writer Maria Arena Bell decided to write Chloe's backstory which revealed her to be the daughter of long-running character Esther Valentine (Kate Linder) while also providing her with additional storyline. "Everyone is so pleasant here and it's such a great, warm environment and it just feels really right. If they ask me to stay that would be a blessing," Hendrickson said, before being offered a contract. In March 2014, following increased speculation, Hendrickson confirmed her exit from the series, stating: "I need to stretch my wings and fly into the unknown. The one thing that remains true and what I will hold close to my heart as I embark on this new adventure is that I will ALWAYS have you." She made her last appearance on May 27, 2014. Hendrickson reprised the role for one episode on October 14, 2014 to commemorate the passing of Chloe's daughter, Delia. In October 2015, Hendrickson also reprised the role of Chloe from October 12 to 28.
In May 2016, Daytime Confidential revealed that Hendrickson will reprise the role of Chloe as a series regular. She returned on July 14, 2016. In March 2017, the website reported that Hendrickson had been taken off contract and the character was to be written out. However, it was said that Hendrickson could stick around on a recurring basis. In May 2017, Hendrickson announced she was leaving the serial. Hendrickson last aired on July 18, 2017, alongside Greg Rikaart's Kevin Fisher.
In May 2019, it was reported that Hendrickson would reprise the role once again; she returned for a two-episode guest stint on June 27 and 28, and on recurring status beginning August 23.
Character development
Characterization Chloe is characterized as a "dynamic fashion guru" by Global BC and a "bad girl" by Soap Opera Digest. Hendrickson expressed her happiness in playing a "manipulative" character who takes advantage of people. She said, "I get to play, not only this edgy, spicy kind of character, but she's actually pretty funny too, so it's nice to bring some humor into it as well." Chloe is a "bitchy" stylist who is hired at Jabot Cosmetics as a fashion consultant. Explaining her initial portrayal of Chloe, Hendrickson stated, "I was the one who wanted to make her edgy and funny. Most of the people I know who are in the fashion business are a little bitchy. I wanted to make Chloe interesting, instead of just playing her like some girl who was putting on fancy clothes. There was no conflict there. The writers definitely gave me that in the writing, and I tweaked it a little. They seemed to enjoy it. Each day, Chloe kept getting funnier and bitchier." She first works with young model Lily Winters (Christel Khalil), the new face of Jabot whom she treats harshly. According to Hendrickson, Chloe "takes her job very seriously. [She] is used to working with more professional models and is very hard on Lily regarding, you know, keeping up some sort of appearance if you will, regarding the fashion industry, which is weight. So [Chloe] starts to give [Lily] a little weight complex because she is constantly throwing in her face that either she doesn't fit into things or they have to make things larger for her, etc."
Chloe is Kate
As her story progresses following her constant manipulative behavior, Chloe reveals her true identity: Kate Valentine, the daughter of the Chancellor maid Esther Valentine (Kate Linder). The storyline was dubbed "Chloe is Kate". Hendrickson was pleased that the writers decided to give Chloe a backstory, saying, "I was so excited when I found out Chloe was going to have some family ties. I knew it would give me, as an actor, a chance to finally explain to viewers why Chloe is the way she is." The actress felt that her family reveal proved that she's not "this bitch who likes to destroy people's lives", attesting her behavior to not being raised by parents; "She never had anyone tell her wrong from right," Hendrickson stated. Her backstory revealed that Chloe hadn't seen her mother or her employer Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) and Jill Abbott (Jess Walton) since she "was young and overweight with braces". Kate Linder was also pleased with the writing direction, describing it as an "honor" to work with Hendrickson. She said, "When they decided to bring [Chloe] back, I was stunned and pleasantly surprised. Maria Bell called me and told me that it was top secret. It was a great reveal." Chloe initially gives Esther the cold shoulder. Of her reasoning behind this, Hendrickson said, "Chloe is very young and immature — as well, hurt and ashamed about her upbringing. She’s not going to let her mother forget it easily." She described their initial relationship as "realistic" and similar to "a lot of mother-and-daughter relationships".
Relationships
Chloe's first romantic relationship is with the man believed to be the millionaire son of Jill Abbott, Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard). In July 2009, it is revealed that Cane Ashby is not the son of Jill Abbott. Hendrickson compared their relationship, which ensued as a result of Chloe practically "threatening him", to the psychological thriller film Fatal Attraction (1987); "I've definitely channeled my inner Glenn Close at times. But I'm trying really hard not to make Chloe go down the crazy path. I don't think she's crazy. She just desperately wants to be loved," she said. While Cane is drunk, Chloe sleeps with him and becomes pregnant. Hendrickson described Chloe's actions as "definitely plotting" but, in reference to Chloe's backstory, said it was "not because of who he is. She just wanted him". Prior to the revelation that she is Kate Valentine, Chloe marries Cane, angering the Chancellors. According to the actress, Chloe's "defense" is, "I came here to start fresh and I wanted to do it on my own. I didn't tell Cane because I was afraid he would think I was going after him for his money. There was no plotting." Chloe disrupts the pairing of Cane and Lily Winters (Christel Khalil), creating a "bitchy" rivalry between the female characters. Ultimately, Chloe gives birth to a daughter named Cordelia "Delia" Abbott (Sophie Pollono). In a dramatic love rectangle storyline, it is revealed that Delia's father is actually Jill's son, Billy Abbott (Billy Miller); this revelation ends Chloe's manipulations of Cane, despite his excitement at the prospect of being a father.