The Young and the Restless star Melissa Claire Egan thanks the person responsible for her soap opera career

Melissa Claire Egan, who plays Chelsea on The Young and the Restless, has been in soap operas for nearly two decades. She recently returned to New York City, where her career began, to thank the person responsible for it all!

The road to The Young and the Restless

"I owe this woman everything!" Egan shared on Instagram along with a photo of herself and Judy Bye Wilson, the former casting director of both All My Children and Y&R. " She cast me in both All My Children AND The Young & the Restless. I love you, @judyblyewilson you changed my life.

"Such a great few days in my happy place and old stomping grounds," continued Egan, who checked out some stage shows while she was in New York. "Great shows, the best of friends, lots of laughs, and many memories. My heart is full and soul is recharged🥰Now back to my babies."

Egan spent approximately five years on AMC as Annie Novak, a young woman who fled an abusive relationship and came to Pine Valley, the show's locale, with her daughter, Emma (Emily Alyn Lind).

Egan's co-stars included Cameron Mathison (Ryan; now, Drew, General Hospital) and Billy Miller (Richie; ex-Billy, Y&R; ex-Drew, GH). Egan left the series in early 2011, and she returned to the program later that year before it went off the air.

From Pine Valley to Genoa City

Egan debuted on Y&R in late 2011 as Chelsea Lawson, a con artist who had a relationship with Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson; formerly, Billy Miller), and later, she gave birth to his son, Johnny (Paxton Mishkind).

It was Chelsea's relationship with Adam (now, Mark Grossman; formerly, Michael Mealor) that helped put the character on the map. Egan has received five Daytime Emmy nominations for playing Chelsea.

In 2013 and 2014, Egan was nominated in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. In 2021, 2023, and 2025, the actress received nods in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Many of Egan's daytime pals weighed in on her post, sending heartfelt messages to both Egan and Wilson. "Omgggggg," raved Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe), who recently made her debut as one of Y&R's directors.

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"Love you both," Lauralee Bell (Christine, The Young and the Restless) added. Rebecca Budig (Taylor, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Greenlee, AMC) wrote: "Amazing woman!"

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

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