The Young and the Restless Performer of the Week: Jess Walton as Jill Abbott

Jess Walton, who plays Jill on The Young and the Restless, has never "phoned in" a performance. Well, figuratively, that is. Technically, she used a cell phone this week to appear on the show, but that didn't detract from her performance. Soap Central is bestowing Performer of the Week honors on the two-time Daytime Emmy-winner for Jill's emotional showdown with Billy.

The Young and the Restless, Performer of the Week, Jess Walton

The story of Chance's (Conner Floyd) passing wouldn't be complete without an appearance by Walton's Jill, as he was the son of Jill's child, Phillip (Thom Bierdz). The actress doesn't reside in Los Angeles, so she played her scenes via cell phone.

The show keeps in the forefront the tension between Jill's son Billy (Jason Thompson) and Jill's surrogate son Cane (Billy Flynn). Jill had already learned about Chance's passing when Walton appeared on screen, but she continued to play Jill's devastation over the loss. "He was such a good, kind man," Jill lamented about Chance. "He had such a loving heart. He was always trying to protect everyone."

Viewers were denied seeing on-screen Jill learn from Cane about Chance's death, but Walton made sure viewers knew just how much Jill loved Chance in these scenes.

Jill's sorrow turned to frustration and anger -- not just over Chance, but the fact that Billy didn't call her about his nephew's death. Strangely, Billy played the victim, which prompted Jill to go on the offensive. "Poor baby, what has been done to you! How you've been betrayed and wronged," Jill mocked her son as she delivered some tough love. "The world really is out ot get you, isn't it, Billy!"

This shift in Jill was a reminder that Walton is an expert at playing her character as a vulnerable woman with her heart on her sleeve in one moment, and, in the next, she's not afraid to stand up for herself and call people out on their self-pity.

Fond farewell to Colin

When Billy pressed his mom for details on her alliances with both Cane and a dying Colin (Tristan Rogers), Walton reminded us that Jill makes no apologies for seeing the truth or giving someone a second chance.

"For many years, Colin made me laugh," Jill said as to why she visited her conman ex-husband. "He made me crazy, but he also made me love him."

Walton is so deeply immersed in her character that viewers can easily visualize Jill's final moments with Colin at Cane's chateau, even though we never saw them play out on screen. Her ability to play the entirety of her character's history is captivating. We can never get enough of Walton on our screens -- even when that screen is a cell phone screen.

Walton played Jill as a woman who had no regrets about giving Colin another chance. "I found a man who had totally changed," Jill recollected. "All he wanted was forgiveness so he could die in peace.

Despite hearing Jill's vulnerable description of Colin and her grief over Chance, Billy refused to play nice with his mom. True to character, Jill didn't hesitate to point out Billy's past. She reminded Billy that while he's protective of Lily now, he didn't hesitate when it came to firing her last year.

The relationship between Jill and Billy is strained; a lesser actress might have chosen to have her character remain furious with her son. Walton, however, had Jill choose frustrated empathy for Billy. Jill stated: "Chance is gone from this world, and if you can't understand that, I weep for you!" Bam!

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Bravo to Walton! We're hoping The Young and the Restless keeps this valuable player on speed dial for future appearances.

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

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