# Rebecca Budig
**Rebecca Budig** (Rebecca Jo Budig, born 1973) is an American actress and television host best known for her roles in daytime soap operas, most recently Dr. Taylor Hayes on CBS's *The Bold and the Beautiful*, and earlier Greenlee Smythe on *All My Children* and Hayden Barnes on *General Hospital*.[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2017135495.html) • [2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2) She is a four-time Daytime Emmy nominee and has worked in television since the early 1990s.[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2017135495.html) • [3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rebecca-budig/bio/3000043731/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1973; sources give Cincinnati, Ohio[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2017135495.html) or Fort Mitchell, Kentucky[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/budig-rebecca-1973) |
| Signature role | Greenlee Smythe on *All My Children*, 1998/1999 to 2011[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2) • [5](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/rebecca-budig/umc.cpc.1ed1w1ks7bbiwg7mn4qhy9rdb) |
| Current role | Dr. Taylor Hayes on *The Bold and the Beautiful*, first episode August 6, 2024[6](https://people.com/rebecca-budig-joins-the-bold-and-the-beautiful-as-an-iconic-character-exclusive-8690683) |
| Soap count | Four broadcast soap operas since 1996[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) |
| Awards | Four Daytime Emmy nominations, including nominations in 2001, 2003, and 2020; 2003 Soap Opera Digest Award winner[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rebecca-budig/bio/3000043731/) |
| Reality TV | Competed on ABC's *Skating with the Stars* in 2010[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) |
| Family | Married Michael Benson since 2012; daughter Charlotte, born 2014[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119003/) • [9](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/rebecca-budig/) |
## Early life and education
Budig trained in musical theater at Cincinnati's School for Creative & Performing Arts, graduating in 1991 with roles in *Annie*, *Oklahoma*, *Cinderella*, *Bye Bye Birdie*, and *Carmen*.[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) She then enrolled at [Miami University](https://www.edgepedia.org/miami-university) as a zoology major but left after a year and a half to pursue acting in Los Angeles.[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) Her first screen work included commercials for Clearasil and Trident in 1993.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/budig-rebecca-1973) She later studied acting with Howard Fine and Jay Goldenberg.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/budig-rebecca-1973)
Her birthplace is reported differently across sources: the Library of Congress authority record gives [Cincinnati](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati), Ohio,[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2017135495.html) while the St. James [Encyclopedia](https://www.edgepedia.org/encyclopedia) biography gives Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/budig-rebecca-1973)
## Career
**Breakthrough.** Within two years of arriving in Los Angeles, Budig appeared in *Batman Forever* (1995), in a kiss with [Chris O'Donnell](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-odonnell) that also appeared in Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" music video; she has described this as launching her career.[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) Soap Opera Digest also credits her with an appearance in the music video for Aerosmith's "Livin' on the Edge" before her soap debut.[9](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/rebecca-budig/)
**Daytime soaps.** Budig joined *Guiding Light* as Michelle Bauer; Soap Opera Digest dates the run 1995 to 1998,[9](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/rebecca-budig/) while CBS's official biography gives 1996 to 1998.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2) In 1999 she was cast as Greenlee Smythe on *All My Children*; the role began as a recurring part but, after positive audience response, she became one of the show's main characters until the soap's cancellation in 2011.[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/rebecca-budig/umc.cpc.1ed1w1ks7bbiwg7mn4qhy9rdb) CBS dates the role 1998 to 2011.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2) She joined *General Hospital* as Hayden Barnes; Soap Opera Digest dates the original run 2015 to 2017 with a return in 2019,[9](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/rebecca-budig/) while CBS gives 2014 to 2019.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2)
**Film and prime-time work.** Her credits outside daytime include *Blue Bloods*, *CSI*, *How I Met Your Mother*, *Castle*, *The Beast*, and the 2023 holiday film *Fit for Christmas*.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2) After *All My Children* ended in 2011, she had a small role in the 2013 action thriller *Getaway*, starring [Ethan Hawke](https://www.edgepedia.org/ethan-hawke) and [Selena Gomez](https://www.edgepedia.org/selena-gomez).[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/rebecca-budig/umc.cpc.1ed1w1ks7bbiwg7mn4qhy9rdb) In 2014, after the birth of her daughter, she wrote and starred in the short film *About A Girl* about that experience.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2)
## Taylor Hayes and The Bold and the Beautiful
In 2024 Budig took over the role of Dr. Taylor Hayes on *The Bold and the Beautiful*, her fourth broadcast soap opera since 1996.[9](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/rebecca-budig/) • [7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) The character, a psychiatrist and mother to Steffy and Thomas Forrester and rival of Brooke Logan for Ridge Forrester, was created by the show's co-creator William J. Bell and previously played by [Hunter Tylo](https://www.edgepedia.org/hunter-tylo), Sherilyn Wolter, and [Krista Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/krista-allen).[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2) • [6](https://people.com/rebecca-budig-joins-the-bold-and-the-beautiful-as-an-iconic-character-exclusive-8690683) Budig replaced Allen, who was written off the show in October 2023, and her first episode aired on August 6, 2024, when she was 51.[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) • [6](https://people.com/rebecca-budig-joins-the-bold-and-the-beautiful-as-an-iconic-character-exclusive-8690683) She told *People* that before the part came up she had considered going back to school to study psychology.[6](https://people.com/rebecca-budig-joins-the-bold-and-the-beautiful-as-an-iconic-character-exclusive-8690683)
## Reality and hosting work
Budig competed on ABC's figure-skating competition series *Skating with the Stars* in 2010.[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) Her hosting credits include *The Sports Illustrated for Kids Show* on CBS in 1997[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/budig-rebecca-1973) and *Bonehead Detectives of the Paleo World* in the late 1990s,[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) and she hosted *The Better Show* on Hallmark in 2013.[5](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/rebecca-budig/umc.cpc.1ed1w1ks7bbiwg7mn4qhy9rdb)
## Awards and industry standing
[TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide)'s awards record lists Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2001, 2003, and 2020, and a 2003 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rebecca-budig/bio/3000043731/) WVXU counts four Daytime Emmy nominations in total, three of them for best supporting actress.[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) She was also nominated for a 2002 Special Fan Award for America's Favorite Couple with [Josh Duhamel](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-duhamel), her *All My Children* co-star, and for a 2020 Soap Hub Award as Favorite General Hospital Actress.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rebecca-budig/bio/3000043731/)
Her standing in the industry rests on longevity across four soaps: *Guiding Light*, *All My Children*, *General Hospital*, and *The Bold and the Beautiful*, a span from 1995 or 1996 to the present.[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese) Growing up, she watched [Susan Lucci](https://www.edgepedia.org/susan-lucci) on *All My Children* with her mother and later worked alongside her on the show.[7](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese)
## By the numbers
IMDb, a user-contributed database, credits Budig with roughly 701 episodes as Greenlee Smythe on *All My Children* (1998 to 2011), about 252 episodes as Hayden Barnes on *General Hospital* (2014 to 2021), and 192 episodes as Dr. Taylor Hayes on *The Bold and the Beautiful*.[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119003/) These counts are database figures and should be read as approximations; the tenure dates themselves differ between sources as noted above.
## Personal life
Public records document three marriages: to attorney Daniel Geller on June 1, 2000 (divorced the same year), to mortgage broker [Bob Guiney](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-guiney) on July 3, 2004,[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/budig-rebecca-1973) and to Michael Benson since 2012.[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119003/) She and Benson have a daughter, Charlotte, born in 2014.[9](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/rebecca-budig/)
## References
1. [Budig, Rebecca, 1973- – Library of Congress Name Authority Record](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2017135495.html)
2. [Rebecca Budig Bio – Paramount Press Express / CBS Entertainment](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=rebecca-budig-2)
3. [Rebecca Budig Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards – TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/rebecca-budig/bio/3000043731/)
4. [Budig, Rebecca 1973– – Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/budig-rebecca-1973)
5. [Rebecca Budig – Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/rebecca-budig/umc.cpc.1ed1w1ks7bbiwg7mn4qhy9rdb)
6. [Rebecca Budig Joins The Bold and the Beautiful as an Iconic Character – People](https://people.com/rebecca-budig-joins-the-bold-and-the-beautiful-as-an-iconic-character-exclusive-8690683)
7. [NKY's Rebecca Budig returns to daytime soap operas – WVXU](https://www.wvxu.org/media/2024-08-19/rebecca-budig-returns-soap-operas-bold-beautiful-cbs-tvkiese)
8. [Rebecca Budig – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119003/)
9. [Rebecca Budig News – Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/rebecca-budig/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Br to B*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license