Julia Barr - Career

Career

Barr broke into soap operas with a short stint as bad girl Reenie Szabo on the now-defunct Ryan's Hope. She was soon invited to join the cast of All My Children as Brooke English, succeeding Elissa Leeds in the role. Her portrayal of Brooke has garnered Barr eight Daytime Emmy Award nominations (1980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2001), winning the trophy in 1990 and 1998 for 'Outstanding Supporting Actress'. Barr quickly became a fan favorite and a fixture of the show. She also became close friends with noted actress Ruth Warrick, who portrayed her aunt Phoebe on the show until her death in 2005.

Barr was at one time a vocalist in a band that she formed with Richard Shoberg, who played her onscreen husband Tom Cudahy.

Barr played Erica Kane in an audition scene with David Canary.

Barr took a 15-month break from the show beginning in 1981, during which time she toured with Katharine Hepburn and Dorothy Loudon in the national touring company of West Side Waltz. She returned to the show in 1982.

Despite fan outcry, Barr's airtime on AMC diminished in the early 2000's with Brooke only being used to further other characters story lines. In late 2006, executives at ABC did not renew Barr's contract, and offered her recurring status (without a guarantee of appearances). Barr declined. Fans of the show were upset that Barr was leaving; the controversy was further fueled by the fact that the writers did not craft an exit for her, but rather, the character simply stopped appearing. Barr's contract officially expired in December.

Barr returned to AMC for the soap's 40th Anniversary on January 4 and 5, 2010. Barr again returned to AMC in February 2010 for a brief stint coinciding with the retirement of David Canary (Adam Chandler) on April 23, 2010.

Barr's final return to All My Children as Brooke English was in September 2011 in the final episodes of the shows finale.

Recently Barr has teamed up with All My Children co-star Jill Larson to produce and write a web series titled The Vindicated, which about three women, who are at a point in their lives in which they are without their male counterparts for different reasons. The project was written in 2007 and filmed in 2008. A final product is still in the works.