The Soap Opera You Forgot Lacey Chabert Starred In As A Child
Lacey Chabert is one of the hardest-working women in Hollywood. While you might know her for playing Gretchen Wieners in Tina Fey's 2004 teen comedy, "Mean Girls," Chabert has been working in show business for decades and has dozens of acting credits under her belt.
She appeared alongside Eddie Murphy in 2003's "Daddy Daycare" also starring Angelica Huston, Regina King, and a young Elle Fanning. And millennial fans rejoice –- she also voiced the unforgettable Eliza Thornberry on Nickelodeon's "The Wild Thornberrys." But we can't forget, Chabert is also a Hallmark Channel star. In fact, according to the Hallmark Channel's website, she has starred in over 25 titles. She doesn't just star in the Hallmark movies, she also helps bring them to life — in 2022, Chabert signed a multi-film deal with Crown Media and an executive producer told Variety that "Lacey is a prolific behind-the-scenes creative partner, developing and executive producing many of our highest-quality, most-beloved projects."
But the prolific Mississippi-born actress got her start long before "Mean Girls" and "Daddy Daycare" as the daughter of an iconic soap opera lead.
One of Lacey Chabert's earliest roles
Lacey Chabert's earliest regular role was in the long-running soap opera, "All My Children." The show followed Erica Kane (portrayed by Susan Lucci) and a handful of other families as they navigated the highs and lows of family life.
According to People, Chabert joined the cast in 1993, as the third actor to step in to play Bianca Montgomery. Chabert is among a star-studded group of actors who got their start in the long-running soap opera.
"All My Children" gave many popular stars a big break, including Michelle Trachtenberg, of later "Ice Princess" and "Gossip Girl" fame. Michael B. Jordan was also part of the cast (after Chadwick Boseman got fired from the role, via IndieWire). Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos even met on the set of "All My Children" and are now married with three children, per US Weekly.
Lacey Chabert has had a busy career after All My Children
People reports that Lacey Chabert left her role in "All My Children" to play Claudia in "Party of Five." The role of Claudia Salinger launched Chabert's career as she worked alongside 90s darlings Neve Campbell and Jennifer Love Hewitt, according to E! News.
Today, Chabert is the queen of what Forbes calls "a Hallmark empire." That doesn't mean she's forgotten her roots, though. Chabert has even managed to bring her "All My Children" past into her Hallmark empire present. Lacey teamed up with fellow "All My Children" alum Sam Page in 2019 for the Hallmark film, "Christmas In Rome," per TV Guide.
Despite how far she's come in her career, Chabert still has goals to pursue, like working with fellow Hallmark star Holly Robinson Peete. We have no doubt that she will accomplish whatever she sets her mind to!