ESPRIT LIBRE // Press Archive

Gold Star: Forbes March (SID 8/29/06)
Forbes March (Nash) is this week's outstanding performer

When a performer is as good-looking and as charming as One Life to Live's Forbes March (Nash) is, it's easy to overlook what else he brings to his role. But Nash's recent actions have proven once again how capable his portrayer is of making the audience care about his character and driving home a really good story.

All Nash wants these days is to be a family with Tess and baby Brennan. So when he finished with his Reston business, he immediately went back to Llanview to claim what he feels is rightfully his. As soon as Jessica answered the door, he greeted her with a kiss. "Sorry, I just miss Tess all the time," Nash said a bit sheepishly. "Won't happen again -- promise."

Like A Fine Wine
Being met with a fierce resistance by Antonio's girlfriend, Nash next tried a tactic he once used on Tess. Sharing a glass of wine, he hypnotically told her to "Start by swirling it gently in your glass...take a sip...let it flow over your tongue."

When she started having Tess' memory of that very moment, she stopped herself. But Nash was determined to bring back Tess so he unplugged the phone to ensure no distractions. Unfortunately for him, Antonio caught wind of his plan and came home to kick him out.

Nash had one other trick up his sleeve, though. "I need you to help me with a kidnapping," he told Bruce over the phone. "Actually, two."

Desperate Measures
After finalizing things with Bruce, the only thing left to do was convince Claudia to keep Antonio distracted. "Think of it more as helping out a friend," he urged her. "You know, like I did -- keeping that secret about your daddy died." "So, the old Nash has come out to play," she guessed. "The one who would lie, cheat or extort to get what he wanted."

Nonetheless, Claudia gave in, and Nash easily nabbed Jessica and the baby. Driving with the hostile mother, Nash tried explaining himself. "It's all or nothing with me," he said. "I will do anything for my baby, for Tess. Without them, I have nothing." Going on to tell the story of how he met her alter ego, his crazy scheme seemed to work, as Jessica was overtaken by many special Tess-and-Nash memories.

Ultimately, though, Tess didn't re-emerge and Nash was left with the prospect of losing his true love forever. But Nash's portrayer allowed people to sympathize with an increasingly desperate boyfriend and father. We all knew that March was a true star -- it was obvious from his first scenes on the show -- but let's never forget that he's first and foremost a talented actor, as well.