The ongoing contract talks between Hillary B. Smith (Nora Hanen) and ABC Daytime execs are, well, ongoing. According to a setside source, both sides are still talking, but there has been relatively no progress.
As reported last month by Soap Central, Smith's contract with One Life to Live is set to expire by year's end. ABC did extend a new contract offer to the Emmy winning actress, but Smith reportedly scoffed at the lowball offer. ABC has come under fire of late for cutting its cast of veteran performers. These performers typically command a higher salary and, in this time of shrinking budgets, are more easily expendable when it comes to trying to free up more money for the show.
Smith's agent, however, disputes the notion that Smith scoffed at ABC's offer -- saying that there was no offer in the first place.
"There are no negotiations, and there never were" the rep says.
Smith was recently spotted in Los Angeles at the set of CBS' The Bold and the Beautiful. No one is saying officially if Smith is auditioning for role on the half-hour soap or if B&B execs requested a meeting with the actress.
A CBS spokesperson had no comment and anc a spokesperson for ABC stated that the show does not comment on contract negotiations.
Smith joined the cast of One Life to Live in 1992. Two years later, she was awarded a Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actress category for her role as the lead attorney in the Todd Manning/Marty Saybrooke rape trial.
