Victoria Rowell is on a crusade to expose what really goes down behind the scenes of daytime televisions top-rated soap opera 'The Young and the Restless.'And it's not the thinly-veiled, campy drama that she touches upon with her latest tome, 'Secrets of a Soap Opera Diva,' either.
Backstage at Steve Harvey's 8th Annual Hoodie Awards in Las Vegas, the 11-time NAACP Image Award winner talked exclusively to Blackvoices.com about the discrimination she suffered while on the set of the CBS serial.
From white actresses running around with an "afro wig" and spitting in her face on set, to wardrobe staffers making the black actors keep the tags on their clothes so they can return them, Rowell tells it all.
The Portland, Maine broke down her mission to stop, what she refers to as, "soap opera apartheid."
Watch the provocative video interview below.
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
Victoria Rowell is more than just your average soap opera actress; A true renaissance woman, she has written two books, starred in television shows including 'The Ghost Whisperer,' 'All of Us' and 'Noah's Arc' and appeared in a number of movies, including 'Home of the Brave,' 'Eve's Bayou,' 'Motives' and 'Barb Wire.' She's also a staunch advocate for foster care, and women's issues.
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
Her full name is Victoria "Vicki" Lynn Rowell. She was born in Portland, Maine, on May 10, 1959.
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
When she was 8, Rowell began ballet lessons. She received a Ford Foundation scholarship to study at the Cambridge School of Ballet.
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
When Rowell was just 16 days old, she, along with her two sisters, Sheree and Lori, was surrendered to child services after her schizophrenic mother left her and her siblings unsupervised.
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
During the 1980s, Rowell became an in-demand runway and catalog model. She began to take acting lessons and earned featured roles on television shows such as 'The Cosby Show.'
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
In 1990, Rowell was cast as a hood-rat-turned-fashion model Drucilla Barber on the long-running CBS soap opera 'The Young and the Restless.'
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
Rowell's first marriage was to Tom Fahey in 1989. A daughter named Maya is a product of their union, which ended in divorce the following year.
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
On 'The Young and the Restless,' Rowell's character fell in love and married Neil Winters, who is played by veteran soap actor Kristoff St. John.
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
The trajectory of Drucilla Barber and Neil Winters is quite interesting. Before the two became lovebirds, they schemed and plotted to break up the relationship between her physician sister Olivia and her detective boyfriend Nathan.
Victoria Rowell : Through The Years
During the early-1990s, Rowell had a long-term romantic relationship with world-renowned jazz luminary Wynton Marsalis. A son, Jasper, is the product of their union.



Comments: (59)
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By: Marlene Franklin on 9/03/2010 4:28PM
I'm sick of those hyprids claiming black racism when events don't go their way. She is half-white, married to a white man with a very white-light child. After all that she wants to cry white discrimination? Please.
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By: Jewel on 9/03/2010 7:32PM
Her child is by Wynton Marsalis, who is black and she is married to a brown skinned man who is black. Get your facts straight Marlene.
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By: ms smith on 9/06/2010 7:55AM
hybrid? wth?
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By: Lola on 9/06/2010 12:33PM
Well Marlene you've shown the world just how intelligent you are. Ms Rowell is of mixed race which is exactly why she stands for diversity.
I commend her actions.
BTW, what is a "hyprid"?
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By: clear2me on 9/06/2010 2:45PM
She has two children. One daughter by a former husband (white man) and a son by Wynton Marsalis. I think she is now married to a African American if I am not mistaken.
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By: SANDI on 9/06/2010 9:12PM
SHE IS NOT MARRIED TO A WHITE MAN. HER HUSBAND IS A BLACK MAN WHO HAPPENS TO BE FRIENDS WITH SAMUEL L. JACKSON.
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By: emma on 9/03/2010 4:42PM
she is soo brave, and strong. i'm proud she refuses to half-step on this subject.
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By: gichaya on 9/05/2010 10:44AM
Victoria was with a white man, adopted a snow white kid then claimed that she gave birth to her, realized that whitey would never accept her as their own, had a baby with Wynton Marsillas thinking that it would make her appear black and are now accepting that she will never be accepted by whitey. Now she wants us to embrace her. Go figure.
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By: Mr LOL on 9/03/2010 5:17PM
I think it takes a lot of courage to come out and talk about racism in Hollywood, seeing how Hollywood has a history of punishing black people who do by black listing them.
For those who are curious of who is Michelle Stafford, the one she said spit in her face
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0821325/
The white actress Melody Thomas Scott who had the afro wig on mocking her
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0779567/
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By: LEE on 9/03/2010 6:06PM
IF SOMEONE WERE TO SPIT IN MY FACE
THEY WILL BE SPITTING THEIR TEETH
OUT ON THE GROUND AFTER I KNOCK THEM LOOSE.
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