Victoria Newman - Casting

Casting

As a child, the role was portrayed by Ashley Nicole Millan from 1982 to 1990, and Jessica Jean Dollarhide did a brief voice-over in 1991. Afterward, Heather Tom assumed the role, after the character's birth year was revised to 1975. Tom was only 15 years old at the time she began to portray Victoria, and just 16 years of age when she won her first ever Daytime Emmy Award. In April 1997, Tom left the soap, reportedly to focus on stage work. Sarah Aldrich was hired as her replacement, though she was let go shortly after her debut. That October, Tom was asked for a reprisal, and returned to the role. In 1999, the actress signed a two-year deal with The Young and the Restless after weeks of contract negotiations. The soap had reportedly secured Carrie Genzel as a replacement for Tom in case negotiations fell through.

In September 2003, it was announced that Tom was to leave the soap again, reportedly due to "creative differences" with then executive producer David Shaughnessy. On her departure, Tom said: "I want to thank all of my fans in daytime for making these 13 years such a joy for me. A big thank you must go to Bill Bell for creating such a rich, complex character that I loved sinking my teeth into." Taping her final scenes on November 22, 2003, audiences, crew and co-stars were saddened by the actress's departure. On Tom's departure, Shaughnessy said: "It's tough. We started together in the same month in 1991. She was a little 16-year-old, so wonderful and talented, and she has grown so much as an actress. We're going to miss her tremendously. But there are a lot of opportunities for her out there, so I wish her the best." Co-executive producer Jack Smith also spoke out about her departure, saying: "It's a sad day and a happy day. It's a good opportunity for Heather, who's getting her chance to go to Broadway and explore other possibilities as well as television. We regret losing her, but I'm very philosophical about these things -- things happen the way they're supposed to happen, so this will be good." Tom made her onscreen exit on December 17, 2003.

A spokesperson for the soap stated that Victoria was initially supposed to reappear onscreen in January 2004, however a wave of auditions reportedly failed as a suitable replacement for Tom could not be immediately found. Amelia Heinle was cast in the role in February 2005, taping her first scenes on February 16 and debuting onscreen on March 21, 2005. After her debut, viewers reportedly said that Rachel Kimsey, the second recast for Mackenzie Browning, would have been a better recast for Victoria. In 2008, the actress took a leave of absence due to a real-life pregnancy, and onscreen Victoria slipped into a coma. In 2011, Heinle signed a new contract with The Young and the Restless, furthering her portrayal of Victoria for the foreseeable future. She stated: “I’m happy here. The people are good here. I can’t believe I’ve been here for six years!”