5 Young And The Restless Recasts Who Made The Role Their Own

When it comes to the character of Sharon Collins on “Y&R,” Sharon Case is unparalleled. The role of Sharon was initially given to Monica Potter in 1994, who, by her admission on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” was “terrible” in the role. Heidi Mark followed but didn’t align with the character’s intended personality. While Sharon was envisioned as naive and wistful, Mark exuded confidence and sensuality — traits perfect for a model but not fitting for a sixteen-year-old character.

Then, on September 7, 1994, Sharon Case stepped into the role, and it felt perfect. She effortlessly played the whimsical teen and gradually took us along on her journey to becoming an adult. Sharon has been paired with various leading men on “The Young and the Restless,” but Case always establishes genuine chemistry. This isn’t by chance. Speaking with Michael Fairman TV, Peter Bergman noted that when his character Jack Abbott was paired with Sharon Collins, the storyline initially felt forced to both actors.

Instead of resigning to this narrative, they met in a dressing room and rewrote Sharon and Jack’s love arc until it felt real. Sharon has embodied various roles, consistently adding depth to each plotline. We’ve seen her character marry, become a mother, endure the pain of losing a child, confront cancer, grapple with a bipolar diagnosis, and navigate countless other challenges. Case’s ability to keep a character compelling for almost three decades is an impressive feat few actors can achieve.