The Bold and the Beautiful’s Annika Noelle Reacts to 2024 Daytime Emmy Nomination

Since getting caught kissing Thomas and blowing up her marriage to Liam last year, Hope Logan has come into her own on The Bold and the Beautiful (B&B). The good girl leaned into her sexuality and found her backbone – much to frenemy Steffy’s chagrin. With Hope now on her own, again, portrayer Annika Noelle talks about the storyline that helped her earn a Lead Actress Daytime Emmy nomination and what the future might hold for her character.

Plus, Noelle reflects on going up against Lead Actress nominee and onscreen mom Katherine Kelly Lang, who plays The Bold and the Beautiful’s Brooke, and opens up about why this 2024 nomination means so much to her.

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B&B’s Annika Noelle Emmy nominee talks change, growth, and her jump to Lead Actress

This Daytime Emmy season, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Annika Noelle is celebrating a year of growth – for both herself and her character, Hope.

“2023 wasn't the easiest year for me, personally,” Noelle confides to FIRST for Women. “The thing about this beautiful show is it was my constant, and it’s what I could depend on in what was a tough year.

“So I'm feeling very blessed to be a part of The Bold and the Beautiful and to be recognized by the daytime community – as a Lead!” she continues. “It’s like a rainbow after a thunderstorm. And it just goes to show you never know what the future can bring. It's very humbling.”

While the actress was struggling off-screen last year, Hope went through a painful period of her own on the show – and those were the scenes Noelle submitted to earn this year’s nomination.

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“I really tried to show the growth of Hope Logan – from her denial of her feelings for Thomas to her getting caught by Liam to her mother confronting her about it to her finding resolve and strength, in the end,” she recounts. “We allowed Hope to really mess up, find some humility, and acknowledge her shortcomings – as well as find strength in her own voice.

“I'm honored [showrunner] Brad Bell wrote this story for me and that I could flex different muscles,” she adds. “I hope we continue to see that backbone, and that she continues to be a leading lady with stories that challenge her growth and help her evolve.”

B&B’s Noelle talks costars Katherine Kelly Lang, Scott Clifton, and Matthew Atkinson

Hope’s growing pains helped catapult Noelle from Supporting Actress to Lead, and she’s thrilled to be in the running alongside her onscreen mother.

“Katherine Kelly Lang and our scenes together are a big reason I’m able to be a part of this category,” she explains. “I submitted quite a few scenes with her and she's been such a nurturing mentor to me on the show, so it means the world to be able to share this with her.”

Noelle is also grateful to her leading men in this story – namely, Lead Actor nominee Scott Clifton and Matthew Atkinson, who play Liam and Thomas.

“I've known Scott for the six-plus years I've been on the show and Matt for about five,” she says. “So at this point, we have a very trusting, immediate camaraderie. I'm blessed to work with an amazing caliber of actors. On our cast, we all help each other shine a little brighter, and I'm just so grateful.”

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Annika Noelle Emmy nominee talks B&B’s international location shoots

Noelle is even grateful to the performer who tried to steal the show in many of her submission scenes – Italy!

“Rome being the background for the story, it was just iconic and picturesque,” she raves. “It was like a fairy tale, the way the show framed it all. And Liam's disillusionment in front of the Coliseum, it was so beautiful. To get to film in these historic places, that blessing is not lost upon me.”

As the most-watched U.S.-produced daytime drama series in the world, The Bold and the Beautiful is one of the few shows that gets out of the studio to shoot on location – and the only one that gets to leave the country.

“Behind closed doors, people on other soaps have said they wish they could film in Monte Carlo or Paris or Australia,” Noelle brags. “It's just so cool. I am so lucky to be part of a show that allows us to travel and has such an international fan base.”

Hope’s portrayer insists she’s on “the same rollercoaster” as B&B viewers

While The Bold and the Beautiful is set to return to Europe for the Annual Monte Carlo Television Festival this summer, it’s not clear when or where the next location shoot will be.

“Paris wedding?” Noelle suggests. “Fingers crossed!”

Not only would the actress enjoy a Parisian getaway with her costars, but that’s where Thomas ran after Hope confessed she wasn’t ready to get married, yet.

Yes, not even a year after she chose Thomas over Liam, he left her – and while there’s buzz the character may be back to canvas as early as next month, that doesn’t mean he’s coming back for Hope!

“I'm on the same rollercoaster ride as everyone else,” Noelle says. “I'm sitting here wondering, ‘Are we going to find Hope wandering the streets of Paris, trying to track him down and fight for her love? Or is Thomas going to come back with some hot French model as a wife?’”

Look out, Steffy: Emmy nominee Annika Noelle wants Hope’s next slap to land!

One person who’s definitely rooting for Thomas to find a new hot wife is Steffy – who doesn’t exactly appreciate the new and improved Hope!

“Brad is allowing Hope to stand up a little more and go toe to toe with Steffy,” Noelle says. “So who knows? Maybe next time he’ll let Hope land that slap!

“Steffy needs someone else on the canvas to challenge her and call her out on her stuff,” she adds. “I hope the women can continue to do that for each other – and do so in a way that serves both our character.”

As for getting into it with Steffy’s portrayer, Jaqueline MacInnes Wood? Noelle is always game.

“I adore Jacqui,” she gushes. “Talk to anybody and they’ll tell you: Even as a crazy boy Mom functioning on little hours of sleep, she is a joy to work with. She always shows up prepared and is such a pro.”

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Annika Noelle talks about singing a new tune, onscreen and off

Amid all the drama on The Bold and the Beautiful, Noelle – who released a version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” last year – knows just how to let off steam.

“I am definitely someone who will start belting show tunes in the middle of rehearsing scenes,” she admits with a laugh. “Especially with John McCook [who plays Eric] and Heather Tom, who [plays Katie and] is a huge musical theater nerd.”

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As for whether fans can expect fresh music from Noelle, she teases that she does have something to sing about, these days.

“I have an amazing new love in my life and he also plays music, so who knows?” she says, referring to John Patrick Amedori, who starred in Netflix’s Dear White People and appeared in The Good Doctor. “We might work on creating something together. Stay tuned.”

B&B’s Hope prepares for Deacon and Sheila’s unforgettable wedding!

Annika Noelle is celebrating a Lead Actress Daytime Emmy nomination and a new love, but The Bold and the Beautiful’s Thomas couldn’t tolerate the fact that her character was not ready to put a ring on it – which means Hope has been left spinning, yet again.

“I wish we had some scenes of her going to therapy and unpacking it all,” Noelle says. “But we only have so many sets, so Hope Logan's therapy will probably be throwing herself into Hope for the Future.

“And hopefully she doesn't take too much comfort in Steffy's husband,” the Daytime Emmy nom adds with a sigh. “One can only hope. We will have to stay tuned to see!”

While The Bold and the Beautiful viewers may have their theories about Finn, Thomas, and Liam, Hope’s probably not thinking about her love life right now – but she is thinking about her father’s! FIRST for Women hears Deacon and back-from-the-dead-again Sheila Carter are planning to get married this week! What could possibly go wrong?

The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will air Friday, June 7, on CBS, 8:00-10:00 PM, ET/delayed PT.