Soap Hub Performer of the Week for B&B: Annika Noelle

 

Hope Logan Spencer arguably has the most to lose in The Bold and the Beautiful’s current umbrella storyline of Douglas Forrester’s custody. For her understated and emotional performance as Hope, Soap Hub is bestowing Performer of the Week honors upon Annika Noelle.

Annika Noelle – Performer of the Week

Hope arrived at the executive offices at Forrester Creations hoping to find her stepfather Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye). Instead, she ran into longtime rival Steffy Forrester Finnegan (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and it wasn’t long before the two women put their cards on the table about Douglas (Django Ferri) and proceeded to strongly put forth their positions.

At the root of any Hope/Steffy scene (whether it’s over Douglas or not) is the hurt feelings each woman has over the fact that Ridge has dumped their respective mothers to be with the other. Arguably, Steffy’s mom Taylor Hayes (Krista Allen) has lost Ridge to Brooke Logan Forrester (Katherine Kelly Lang) more often than not.

Annika Noelle however kept Hope’s focus on track — this is about Douglas and what’s best for him. Hope knows that Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson) has changed for the better over the last year or so and she can’t argue that she’s had primary custody of Douglas since adopting him. Steffy (the always terrific Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) added a tiny bit of patronizing to her tone when she informed Hope that she’d done a great job with Douglas. That prompted Hope to point out that she’s not just some nanny — she’s Douglas’s mother. “I’ve been raising him,” Hope said. “Do you need to be reminded why?”

Steffy suggested Hope put herself in her shoes, noting what it was like watching a woman (Brooke) throw herself at her father. Hope tried to get the issue back on track — Douglas’s custody. Thomas’ arrival escalated the tension between the two women. Steffy once again patronized Hope, telling her she’d done a great job with Douglas but that he needs to be home right now. “He is home,” Hope maintained. “With us.”

Alone with Thomas, Hope suggested that her ex was putting his own needs over Douglas’s. Hope passionately reminded Thomas that it was his idea for her to adopt his son and that Douglas loves living with her and Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) and Beth. The tension went back and forth between Thomas and Hope — as it did with Hope and Steffy — like a tennis ball in a match between two skilled players. Hope appears to be conflicted given that she knows deep in her heart that Douglas loves spending time with his dad.

Annika Noelle chose to keep Hope’s arms crossed during her scenes with Thomas as if she felt she was being attacked. It’d be easy if Thomas were being unreasonable or if he were still unstable. Thomas pointed out that he only wants what’s best for his son. Annika Noelle is doing an excellent job of playing Hope being torn. And that is why Hope is such an excellent mother!