As the matriarch of the Forrester fashion dynasty, loyalty and virtue were the center of Stephanie's actions. She was the sharp-tongued, quick-witted "Queen," as Sally nicknamed her, and was always fighting for her husband, her children, and her company.

In 1987, Stephanie had been successful in keeping her marriage to Eric afloat for over 25 years. Beth was one of the caterers whom Stephanie hired at one of the many high society events she hosted. Beth was, in fact, Eric's college sweetheart with whom he'd broken off his relationship years earlier after discovering Stephanie was pregnant with Ridge. Eric's assistant, Margo Lynley, played on Eric's wandering eye, much to Stephanie's dismay. In the midst of this, Stephanie decided that Kristen was too much of a daddy's girl and decided to hire Clarke Garrison to date Kristen.

In 1988, Eric asked Stephanie for a divorce so he could be with Beth. Stephanie reluctantly agreed, but as a last resort, hired Conway Weston to track Stephen Logan down. Stephen regained his family's trust after he had abandoned them in 1980, then Stephanie convinced her friend, Bill Spencer, to give Stephen a job overseas. After Stephen and Beth reunited, the Logans, except for Brooke, left L.A. and relocated to Paris. Stephanie and Eric remained married. After Eric suspected Stephanie of having an affair, she was forced to explain her mysterious weekly visits to another man who resided at a home Stephanie owned in her maiden name. Stephanie revealed to Eric that Angela, their daughter, had not really died at birth, but was born microcephalic. Stephanie had kept her a secret to spare Eric the pain. Angela and her doctor were later exposed as imposters.

In 1990, Eric and Brooke grew closer after Ridge and Caroline got engaged. Soon after, Brooke and Eric were expecting their first child. Stephanie granted Eric a divorce in order to give his new son his name. Stephanie had Sally arrested after mistakenly thinking she was trying to steal Forrester designs when Stephanie found her in Eric's office.

In 1991, a minor stroke left Stephanie with amnesia. After her car broke down in a dangerous area of L.A., Stephanie took to the streets, living as a homeless woman with her newfound friends, Ruthanne Owens and Adam Banks. After regaining her memory and pretending for quite some time that she hadn't, Stephanie hired a handwriting expert to forge a note from Eric, professing his love for Stephanie and desire to divorce Brooke. It didn't work.

Stephanie's feud with Sheila began after Sheila married Eric. Continually trying to undermine her ex-husband's marriage to her rival, Stephanie slowly uncovered Sheila's disturbing past. On the verge of arrest, Sheila held Eric, Stephanie, Ridge, Brooke, and Lauren at gunpoint at the Forrester mansion. Sheila then attempted suicide; however, she survived, but remained institutionalized. Months after her release, Sheila renewed her wrath toward Stephanie, switching Stephanie's calcium pills with mercury tablets.

Stephanie's mental health began to deteriorate, which landed her in a mental institution. Recovering, Stephanie made a play for James, who by that time was married to Sheila. Sheila's diabolical side began to resurface as she made threats against Stephanie and Stephanie's grandson, Thomas. Stephanie had Sheila arrested. Sheila escaped from prison and kidnapped her daughter from James. Making one last stop at Stephanie's home and shooting her, Sheila left town.

In 1999, Stephanie's rivalry with Brooke took a toll on her to the point of madness when she discovered Brooke was engaged to Thorne. Reliving every moment of pain and disaster Brooke had caused to her family, Stephanie tried to stab Brooke at Big Bear. Thorne intervened and calmed his mother. Weeks later, Stephanie suffered a stroke after seeing Brooke and Thorne together. At the hospital, Eric proposed to Stephanie, who accepted. The ceremony was held in her hospital room with Thorne and Macy acting as best man and matron of honor.

For months, Thorne and Brooke, with the help of the rest of the family, kept their relationship a secret to protect Stephanie. Stephanie made progress walking again after her stroke. At Macy's memorial service, an outraged Sally blurted to Stephanie that Brooke and Thorne were still together. Stephanie collapsed after suffering another minor stroke.

A few of Stephanie's many devious manipulations were suing her niece Jessica's boyfriend for statutory rape, throwing Sally into the Forrester pool -- twice, encouraging Eric's decision to have a vasectomy while married to Sheila, and arranging for Ridge and Taylor to be trapped in an elevator together. The dating scene for Stephanie was kept to a minimum. She shared a brief romance with Jack Hamilton. Years before, when her children had been teens, Stephanie had made arrangements for Morgan to have an abortion after Morgan became pregnant with Ridge's baby. She gave Morgan a comfy payoff, which Stephanie thought solved the problem.

In 2001, Morgan fulfilled her plan to have Ridge's baby after pulling a few manipulative tricks of her own with work colleague, Ridge, and best friend, Taylor. Stephanie made no secret of her distrust of Morgan from the moment Brooke hired her to design at Forrester Creations. Morgan's baby died, and she was unsuccessful at stealing Ridge from Taylor. Morgan swore vengeance by going to the woman who had started the pain that had filled most of her life -- Stephanie. A heated and very physical confrontation almost led to Stephanie being drowned, until Eric arrived and saved the day. Morgan was arrested.

Some headway was made between old rivals when Stephanie chose to walk Brooke down the aisle at Brooke's wedding to Thorne. They went to counseling together and went on a getaway trip together at Big Bear. Despite the cold and cutting barbs thrown by Stephanie, Brooke was determined for Stephanie to accept her, presenting her with a photo album paying tribute to Stephanie's life. Stephanie cried. The short-lived mother/daughter-in-law relationship ended almost as quickly as Brooke and Thorne's marriage did.

Old college flame, Massimo Marone, returned and began making passes at Stephanie. When Ridge was in an accident, the doctor found incompatibility with Eric's blood type. A shocked Stephanie realized that Massimo, not Eric, was Ridge's father. Stephanie did not want Eric or Ridge to ever find out the truth that Massimo was Ridge's biological father, and begged Massimo to keep Ridge's paternity a secret. Massimo agreed, as long as Stephanie moved in with him, which she did.

Things died down between Massimo and Stephanie when Massimo offered to take Stephanie on a cruise, and she opted to stay in L.A. and help Brooke take care of her new baby. When Taylor died a few weeks later, Stephanie was devastated. The tragedy helped push Eric and Stephanie closer together again. It also put Stephanie back on the defensive to try to keep Brooke and Ridge apart.

Stephanie could never quite give up her vendetta against Brooke, but when Brooke became interested in Nick Marone, she pretended to be Brooke's friend, pushing Brooke toward Nick and becoming even more adamant when Brooke became pregnant with what they thought was Nick's baby. It was only later that Brooke learned how much Stephanie still truly hated her. When the baby turned out to be Ridge's, and Ridge and Brooke remarried, Stephanie was furious, and nearly blew her chance with Ridge and her grandchildren with her hatred for Brooke.

Stephanie formed an uneasy truce with Brooke, but that flew out the window when Taylor returned from the dead. Willing to do anything to reunite Ridge and Taylor, Stephanie faked a heart attack and paid Dr. Mark MacClaine one million dollars to ensure his complicity. After her family found out she had faked the heart attack, she was ostracized, and Eric turned his back on her, using Jonathan Young, who had Stephanie's power of attorney, to obtain a speedy divorce.

Just when Stephanie thought her life had hit rock bottom and she was preparing to leave Los Angeles, she found documents in Eric's safe that gave her total control of Forrester Creations. Stephanie was horrified to learn, with the help of Kay Chancellor, that Eric had known all along that the company truly belonged to her and had never said a word. With Massimo by her side, Stephanie took over control of Forrester, firing both Brooke and Eric, and reinstating Thorne as Forrester president, with Taylor as the Face of Forrester.

Eventually, Stephanie relented enough to rehire Brooke and Eric, but relegated them to an office in the basement. The turmoil at Forrester was barely finished when Felicia returned to Los Angeles. Stephanie was shocked but pleased to learn that Felicia had a baby son, Dominick, but devastated to learn that Felicia's cancer was back, and there was nothing that they could do. Felicia's dying wish was to see Stephanie and Eric remarry, so they did, with the understanding that as soon as Felicia passed away, they would obtain a speedy annulment.

Eric and Stephanie's marriage turned out to be stronger than either of them thought, and it even weathered the storm when Eric and Stephanie were forced to hand Forrester Creations over to Nick Marone after Stephanie accidentally pushed Jackie Marone over the balcony in an argument. Stephanie went into counseling with Taylor, determined to find out why she did the things that she did, and her therapy sessions revealed that, as a child, she had been beaten by her father, which her mother had never tried to stop. Stephanie went to Chicago to confront her mother, Ann, whom she had pretended was dead for the previous thirty years. Ann initially denied everything, even though Stephanie's sister, Pam, who looked after Ann, tried to get her to see the truth. Stephanie returned to Los Angeles with every intention of writing her mother off entirely, but when Ann arrived for Christmas and little Alexandria reached out to her, Stephanie finally forgave her mother.

Infuriated by Nick's refusal to sell the Forresters back their company, Stephanie declared war on Nick by joining forces with Ridge. Using their knowledge of Jackie's past, they flew one of Jackie's old "clients," Captain Kramer, into Los Angeles. At the Forrester Fashion show, Captain Kramer walked Donna down the runway, and Stephanie announced to the public just who Captain Kramer was -- and that Jackie had been a prostitute. Eric was enraged at Stephanie and encouraged her to go out of town to visit her mother.

Before leaving, Stephanie warned Jackie to stay away from Eric, but Jackie didn't. Pam, who was becoming closer to Eric herself, found Jackie soaking in the master bedroom tub, waiting for him. Stephanie returned to Eric, who wanted to work on their marriage to make it closer and more loving. He also asked Ann and Pam to stay in L.A. without consulting Stephanie, which angered Stephanie, but eventually she agreed.

In 2007, Stephanie, Eric, Ridge, and Brooke spent the weekend together at the cabin in Big Bear. Eric and Stephanie shared a passionate night together, and Stephanie and Brooke had a tender moment. Brooke told Stephanie that she knew that Stephanie really loved her; they hugged and all anger was put aside for the moment. On her return home, Stephanie found out that Rick and Phoebe were dating, and became irate. She approached Brooke for help in breaking them apart. Brooke refused to help, fueling Stephanie's pent-up, ongoing anger towards her.

After working on company business in Australia, Brooke went directly to Nick's. Taylor discovered Brooke mounting Nick and telephoned Stephanie. Realizing that if Brooke were with Nick, it would keep her away from Ridge, Stephanie asked Bridget to intervene with her mother in order to allow Taylor to be happy with Nick. Stephanie pleaded with Nick to realize that he loved Brooke and shouldn't hurt Taylor.

Ridge began asking Ashley out. Stephanie supported that relationship, and one night when Ridge and Ashley were supposed to have a date, Stephanie saw Ridge acting strangely. She discovered his attempt to cover up Shane's suicide and assisted him in getting rid of the body. She understood that Ridge was frightened that he wouldn't be believed because of his past covering for Rick's killing Grant.

When he was arrested, Nick accused Stephanie of setting him up for Shane's murder. Brooke found out the truth, so Stephanie kidnapped her and took her to Big Bear. Stephanie aggressively attempted to make Brooke keep silent about what she knew by pointing a gun at her and attempting to strangle her with a telephone cord. Brooke got control of the situation and ultimately persuaded Ridge to turn himself in. Stephanie was thrilled when Ashley and Ridge became engaged, although Brooke wasn't and became determined to have Ridge back.

Stephanie hosted the family Fourth of July party, where Brooke watched Ridge and Ashley enjoying themselves, and became despondent. An exhausted, depressed Brooke pulled her car to the side of the road to rest for a moment and fell asleep. Donna, who was watching Brooke's kids, mistakenly thought she had returned home, and left, leaving the children alone. When they called 9-1-1, Stephanie, as the children's grandmother, was contacted, and she sought out help from a CPS worker, Dorothy, who she had met before.

Stephanie saw Brooke's failing as an opportunity to finally rid herself and her family of Brooke. While out to dinner, Brooke met an attorney, Andy Johnson, whom she found to be pleasant and attractive. Stephanie recognized Andy's name when she met him at Cafe Russe and thought that setting him up with Brooke might get Brooke's mind off her children and Ridge, and focused on a new relationship. Andy Johnson pursued Brooke and broke into her house, where he raped her. Although Stephanie didn't know or plan what Andy did to Brooke, others blamed her. When her involvement in the rape came out, Stephanie was devastated. She wrote Brooke a letter of apology and left town.

Donna was furious at Stephanie for her role in the rape and for all the years her family had suffered due to Stephanie and decided to get back at her by marrying Thorne. Katie overheard Jackie and Donna talking and realized that Donna didn't love Thorne and was only marrying him to get back at Stephanie, so Katie told Thorne. Stephanie made the statement that Katie was the only decent Logan.

Eric was distraught over Stephanie's part in contacting Andy and wanted to hear her side of the story, but Stephanie was out of contact. Donna and Nick drew closer and gave Eric an opportunity to buy back his company on the condition that Stephanie would no longer be a part of it. Eric was apologetic to the Logans, promising them that he would make sure Stephanie wouldn't bother them again. Donna showed up at the house to apologize to Thorne and found Eric there. They began a love affair, and Eric actually moved her into the Forrester family home, where Pam was staying and watching over things for Stephanie. When Stephanie returned from Chicago, she found the door locks to the house changed. When she tried to return to work, Eric had her office cleared out and he fired her.

At the next fashion show, Stephen Logan showed up, invited by Donna, and confronted Stephanie over her involvement in Brooke's rape and her treatment of his family through the years. He threatened to harm her if she didn't stop. Stephanie plotted with Felicia and Thorne to replace Donna with Stephanie on Eric's arm at the show's finale. Right after the show was over, and unseen assailant shot Stephanie. When Stephanie found out that Storm Logan had shot her, she made a deal with Brooke that she wouldn't tell who shot her if Donna would give up Eric. Pam's hatred of Donna was festering as she watched Stephanie's humiliation and pain from the sideline.

Eric found out what Stephanie was up to and kept seeing Donna on the sly. Stephanie found his Viagra and had him followed, and a photographer took a picture of Eric hiding nude on the ledge. Stephanie and Eric had a meeting of the minds, and she said if he'd share their anniversary with her, she would sign the divorce papers. She hoped he would change his mind. He hesitated but didn't change his mind.

After Storm inadvertently shot Katie, he killed himself. Katie fell into a deep depression and lost the will to live until a late-night visit from Stephanie turned things around for her. Stephanie changed her tactics concerning Eric's relationship with Donna; she appeared to accept defeat and graciously told them they could marry in the family home. Stephanie attended the wedding and actually toasted the couple... although she secretly hoped and believed that Eric wouldn't go through with the wedding. He did, and a saddened Stephanie watched the newlyweds dance, remembering many such dances and the close intimate family times she and Eric had through the years. She quietly whispered a goodbye to Eric.

Stephanie decided it was time for her to give Eric up and move on, so she sold Eric her half interest in their home, and also gave up her interest in the company. Stephanie confided to Pam her feelings of betrayal and deep pain. Pam's hatred of Donna festered and became dangerous. The family was worried about Stephanie as she became quietly depressed and seldom seen and was living at the beach house alone.

Eric's serious medical condition pulled Stephanie out of her depression and back into the middle of the family. During Stephanie's visit with him, Eric emerged from his coma and asked for Donna. Stephanie immediately sought out Donna, to tell her the good news. When she got there, she found Donna in bed with Owen, and she left without saying anything.

Angered, Stephanie decided that Eric needed her. She told her family what she had seen, and they plotted to have Donna go on a business trip to Paris, with Owen. Stephanie took advantage of Donna's absence, forged Donna's signature, and, with their kids' help, secretly had Eric transferred from the hospital to the family home. Eric improved and was communicating.

Unknown to the family, Donna had returned with Owen and they went to the bedroom, where things heated up and they fell into each other's arms, kissing. When Eric thought he heard Donna, he wheeled himself into the room, caught them kissing, and told Donna to leave. Eric hyperventilated; his doctor was called and the doctor informed the family that Eric needed quiet and rest, so they decided to guard Eric from everyone, especially Donna. Brooke was allowed a visit but, when she pleaded Donna's case, was asked to leave. Donna managed to sneak in. Thorne and Stephanie found her in Eric's room, and Thorne forcefully threw her out.