Jane Elliot defies Holywood stigmas as Tracy Quartermaine on General Hospital

Jane Elliot is an icon

Within the world of daytime television and Hollywood as a whole, Jane Elliot has proven herself to be a well-beloved soap opera veteran. She has stood the test of time as an actor-period and is well respected outside of the world of soaps. Online news forums like TV Insider and others that do not necessarily print articles about daytime have interviewed or written about the powerhouse who portrays Tracy Quartermaine on the ABC soap General Hospital.

An interview with Soap Opera Digest that has excerpts in Soaps in Depth gives insight into why the character and her portrayer are so appreciated. Elliot said she noticed how her friend Deidre Hall became successful as Marena Evans on Days of Our Lives and decided that she wanted the stability of knowing when she would work and having steady hours as well as a steady paycheck. Many actors have left daytime never to return and have said things that imply they think working on a soap is somehow not as impressionable as having a prime-time gig or a movie offer.

“So when you see me on TV, when you see me playing this part on this show, that’s what you see,” Elliot declared. “You see somebody who has so fully realized my vision of where this was going to take me, and where it’s taken me is to comfort and ease. I’ve raised two children as a single mother on acting money and continue to be able to help my children on acting money. And that is, in my profession, a big win. (Soap Opera Digest).

Tracy Quartermaine is a flame in the wind

Tracy is sassy, saucy, sarcastic, and snide, and fans would not have her any other way. This time around she has been congratulating her son Ned Quartermaine (Wally Kurth) for calling the SCC on Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) and Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) only Ned didn't do it. The more he declares his innocence to more his mother compliments him on a job well done. Tracy also has blackmailed Ned's daughter her granddaughter Brooklyn Quartermaine to return to Deception Cosmetics and spy for her. This is classic Tracy and General Hospital viewers are saying they cannot get enough of her shenanigans.

The actress credits her coworkers for their part in keeping her grounded and helping her to easily step back into Tracy's shoes. She retired in 2017 and suggested she was done with the ABC soap but has returned several times. The first few times she came back as Tracy it was around Thanksgiving and remained until after the first of each year. General Hospital fans are elated to find out that Elliot who returned in April this time will be sticking around for quite some time.

Elliot and Tracy are here to stay

Elliot was born on January 17, 1947, and her first soap role was in 1965 on A Flame in the Wind (265-1966). She was also in the film One is a Lonely Number in 1972 which also starred Janet Leigh and Change of Habit in 1969 with Elvis Pressley, Barbara McNair, and Mary Tyler Moore.

Of course, stepping back into Tracy’s shoes still proves daunting even after all these years. “The night before I go back, I don’t sleep because I’m so anxious that I’ve forgotten how to do it, I won’t be able to do it, and I’ll just be the new kid on the block again,” “And then, of course, I get onto set and I’m working with Wally [Kurth, Ned], Lisa [LoCicero, Olivia], Nancy Grahn (Alexis), or Lynn Herring (Lucy) and all of that disappears and I’m home.” (Soap Opera Digest).

One thing that fans say they love about Jane Elliot is that she is rocking her natural grey hair thus defying rumors that older actors and grey hair keep you from getting roles. Ageism and sexism are no match for Tracy Quartermaine and her portrayer.