Colleen Zenk, a beloved daytime television icon, recently shared her thoughts on her time portraying Jordan Howard on The Young and the Restless.
After her character met a tragic end last week, Zenk admitted that she felt disappointed by the brevity of her time on the show
but expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to return to the soap opera world after more than a decade away.
A Brief but Memorable Run as Jordan Howard
When Zenk first joined The Young and the Restless in 2023, she was brought on for a short-term role, expected to appear in just 12 episodes.
However, her storyline extended far beyond her initial contract, eventually turning into 50 episodes, followed by an additional 22.
Despite her character’s abrupt end—poisoned by a cup of tea—Zenk found the experience deeply fulfilling. “I’m sad Jordan went away so quickly,” she reflected, noting that she had hoped for a more explosive exit, imagining a Bonnie and Clyde-style finale with her character and Ian Ward (played by Ray Wise).
Zenk, best known for her long-running role as Barbara Ryan on As The World Turns (1978–2010), saw her return to soaps as a gift. She described it as an incredible opportunity, especially considering her age and extensive career. “What a gift at my age and my tenure to be given that kind of character,” she said, expressing gratitude for the chance to work alongside the talented actors and production team at The Young and the Restless. Zenk was particularly appreciative of her interactions with co-stars like Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman), Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), and Amelia Heinle (Victoria Newman), all of whom made her feel welcomed and supported throughout her time on the show.
Reconnecting with Old Friends and Making New Ones
Despite the initial nerves she felt upon returning to daytime television, Zenk quickly found comfort on set thanks to many familiar faces. She described feeling “completely intimidated” when she first arrived, but her colleagues helped ease her anxiety. Eric Braeden, who plays the formidable Victor Newman, was particularly supportive. “On our first or second day of work, Eric looked into the camera and said, ‘Thank God, you hired me a pro,’” Zenk recalled, laughing at the memory.
Zenk was also thrilled to reunite with old friends from her As The World Turns days, including Chris LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) and Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), both of whom she had known for years. “The New Yorkers made me feel like I was home,” she said. The connections she rekindled and the relationships she formed on set made her soap opera return even more special.
One particularly emotional moment occurred when Zenk met Jess Walton (Jill Abbott) for the first time. “We were in the makeup room, and she gets up out of the makeup chair, she sees me, she runs over, and we both start crying because we couldn’t believe after all these years, we had never met each other,” Zenk shared. The two actresses shared an impromptu moment of connection, though Zenk noted that she never saw Walton again after that brief encounter.
A Special Connection with Ray Wise
Ray Wise, who played the manipulative Ian Ward, became a close friend of Zenk’s during their time working together. Zenk had never met Wise before joining The Young and the Restless, but she quickly developed a deep admiration for him. “He’s kind, he is supportive, he is gracious, he’s funny as hell, and he’s a pure gentleman,” Zenk said of her co-star. She found Wise to be not only a talented actor but also someone who genuinely supported his fellow performers. “We became good friends,” Zenk added, noting that Wise had checked in on her after she left the show.
Gratitude for the Opportunity
As much as Zenk enjoyed her time as Jordan, she couldn’t help but wish for more. “I never got a chance to work with Peter [Bergman],” she lamented, mentioning her desire to share scenes with other prominent cast members such as Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers) and Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren Fenmore). Despite these missed opportunities, Zenk was thankful for the chance she had to explore Jordan’s character and dive into the role.
She admitted that she wasn’t given much direction in terms of how to portray Jordan, which allowed her the creative freedom to explore the role on her own terms. “I just had to go with what was on the page and figure Jordan out myself,” she explained. Zenk appreciated the trust that the show’s head writer, Josh Griffith, placed in her, as he encouraged her to push the limits of the character. “If I go too far, pull me back,” Zenk recalled telling Griffith. “He said, ‘You can’t go too far.’” This freedom was liberating, and Zenk embraced the opportunity to take risks with her portrayal.
Reflecting on Her Soap Opera Legacy
Although Zenk has kept herself busy with various projects since her time on As The World Turns, she acknowledged that she has fully embraced her soap opera return. Over the past decade, she’s played diverse roles, including a madam in a Western web series and Tallulah Bankhead in Looped. Despite turning down other opportunities, Zenk felt that her role in The Young and the Restless was the right fit.
At 72, Zenk is grateful to still be working in the soap opera industry, a medium she loves. “For a 72-year-old woman to be given this kind of opportunity, I’d jump in again,” she declared. Looking back on her time as Jordan, she expressed her gratitude for the support she received from the show’s fans, who welcomed her with open arms. “I’ve had it from both ends [love and sadness], and it’s been lovely,” Zenk shared. Her return to soaps may have been short-lived, but it left a lasting impression on both her and the viewers who celebrated her return to the world of daytime television.
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