The Bold and the Beautiful Performer of the Week: Lisa Yamada as Luna Nozawa

Sometimes, on soap operas like The Bold and the Beautiful, it can be difficult to separate the character from the performer, and although Luna Nozawa jumped the shark many months ago, there's no denying the raw talent of Lisa Yamada. The Emmy-winning actress wrapped up her stint on the sudser this week, and she did so in a week filled with emotionally powerful performances. Luna's impact on the canvas cannot be denied, and it is solely attributable to Yamada's acting prowess.

Lisa Yamada exits The Bold and the Beautiful in thrilling fashion

Yamada carried every scene this week with the most raw, frantic energy, and it felt heartbreakingly real. Once Luna got past the ridiculousness of the laundry cart escape, the character spent the rest of the week scrambling through a myriad of emotions like fear, desperation, and eventually, hopelessness. However, she helped each emotional shift feel grounded without it being too exaggerated. This character tends to be written so over-the-top, but in this instance, her swan song showcased a young woman drowning in a sea of consequences. She tried to outrun her twisted past, but it was too late for redemption. The authenticity of the performance helped the sometimes questionable writing remain somewhat tethered to reality.

In the spirit of full transparency, the entire gimmick surrounding the laundry cart escape should have been a complete and total disaster. In many aspects, it was. However, Yamada sold it to the best of her abilities, something some of her fellow actors could never do. Beyond that, once she was at the beach house with Will (Crew Morrow), her eyes and the panic in her voice sold it all. Luna had run out of options, and Yamada made the viewer feel like Luna was on her last viable lifeline. Her commitment to the role made another chaotic plot twist into a character's last stand that may be talked about for years to come.

The moment Luna was face-to-face with Will at the beach house and she realized he would never reciprocate her feelings, she descended into a further state of fragility. Luna suffered a complete emotional collapse, and what followed was a five-star performance in which everything landed. To be clear, everything that followed their scene at the house was head-scratching, but the guilt, fear, and desperate clinging to hope made the scene feel essential not only to her arc but also to Will's. Luna's moment finally arrived, and it's unfortunate that it was the end of her run on the show.

Luna leaves a lasting legacy

A key part of Yamada's performance that made it stand out above the rest this week was the ability to switch gears, from one emotion to the next, without completely losing who the character was at her core. A scene that began with delusion and defiance ended with Luna's walls finally collapsing, and a flood of regret that came many months too late. The transition of the emotions helped her snag the title of performer of the week, and in a week where everything revolved around her, it was difficult for it to go to anyone else.

Yamada also elevated Morrow's acting this week as well. Sometimes he can be a bit too performative with his expressions, but she helped him shine as well. Will's reactions felt more genuine and authentic because of the sheer intensity Luna radiated. The tension of their story was heightened because of her line delivery and body language. She helped Will feel more alive, and the sense of urgency, knowing Luna's freedom was fleeting also assisted. A true performer elevates everyone on the canvas, and she did exactly that.

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She helped an unbelievable storyline feel believable, and that's no easy feat. Yamada gave a career-defining performance, and knowing it was her final appearance (for now) makes it all the more special. She earned this honor by making Luna the center of the entire show, and, love it or hate it, it cannot be denied.

Catch all-new episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

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