Melody Thomas Scott, who has played Nikki Newman on “The Young and the Restless” since 1979, reveals her difficult past in her 2020 autobiography, “Always Young and Restless: My Life On and Off America’s #1 Daytime Drama Scott, born in Los Angeles on April 18, 1956, debuted in 1964 with “Marnie” and later starred in “The Shootist” and “The Waltons.”

A spy camera setup due to Scott’s roommate’s anxieties revealed a stunning fact despite her success. She was abused and neglected as a child despite Daytime Emmy and Soap Opera Digest accolades.

Her grandmother sexually abused Scott, a motherless child. Grandma knew, but nothing happened. Scott found comfort in acting, where the set seemed normal, after escaping an insect-infested home.

After leaving her grandmother’s house at 20, Scott struggled to forgive her for seeing her suffer. The memoir Scott wrote after a decade promotes abuse awareness and understanding. Edward James Scott, married since 1985, adopted three girls to overcome abuse. She proved that trauma affects everyone, regardless of looks, and investigated its depth.⁸