Bobbie Eakes: From Middle Georgia to an Emmy

Middle Georgia’s “golden girl” Bobbie Eakes is riding high these days. She is one of the stars of the popular ABC soap opera “All My Children”; she is a successful singer who performs with the group Divas of Daytime TV; she is happily married to writer/actor David Steen; and she is up for a Daytime Emmy in the Best Actress Category.

When I spoke to her recently, she was on the road between Palm Springs, Calif., and Los Angeles. She and David had been house hunting in Palm Springs and thought they had found a “fixer upper.” Yeah, as if they have fixer uppers in Palm Springs.

Bobbie and David moved back to California this year because ABC moved the soap to L.A. in a cost-cutting move. I asked Bobbie if she had been upset to have to leave New York. “Not really,” she replied. “There was a lot I loved about New York and we took advantage of all the good things there. Still, living in midtown Manhattan could wear on you.

“I’m an Air Force kid you know,” she added, “so I can be happy just about anywhere. And we had lived in California when I was doing ‘The Bold and the Beautiful.’ ’’

Bobbie moved to California after her second year at the University of Georgia. “I had started out thinking I was going into dentistry,” she said with a laugh, “but I knew pretty quick that wasn’t going to work out. So then I switched to broadcast journalism, but the truth was I just wanted to sing.

“My folks were wonderfully supportive when I heard about a singing job and moved to L.A. I am sure they weren’t thrilled with me dropping out of college but they gave me their support.”

Bobbie admits it wasn’t easy those first few years in California. She missed her family and her career wasn’t moving like she wanted it to. “I was depressed and about ready to head for home,” she confessed. “Then my sister Shelly, I think it was, sent me some ‘Positive Affirmation’ cassettes by Tony Robbins. I listened to them and started thinking more positively about things. Shortly after that I got my role as Macy on ‘The Bold and the Beautiful.’ ’’

Bobbie said she has always been an optimist and being hopeful and positive has gotten her through some of the rough times.

Her mother, Audrey, who lives in Warner Robins, echoes this.

“Bobbie has always been disciplined and has been willing to make the sacrifices required by her career. Plus she is easy to work with and doesn’t burn any bridges behind her. Bob (her father) and I are very proud of her and we will be in Las Vegas for the Emmy Awards show.”

Bobbie is nominated for her role as Krystal Carey Chandler. Her competition is Crystal Chappell for “The Guiding Light,” Michelle Stafford for “The Young and the Restless,” Maura West for “As the World Turns” and Sarah Brown for “General Hospital.”

The awards will be presented at 9 p.m. June 27 on CBS. Bobbie and David will be there along with her parents and other members of her family. “I am not sure who all is going to get to come. I am pretty sure Shelly will be there and I think Sandra (sister). Plus there will probably be some other family members.”

This story was originally published June 13, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bobbie Eakes: From Middle Georgia to an Emmy."