Y&R Stars React To Their Daytime Emmy Nominations

As you may have heard, The Young and the Restless scored an impressive total of 27 Daytime Emmy nominations this year, including Outstanding Drama Series. We spoke with five of the nine Y&R actors up for the prestigious awards to learn just what went through their heads when they learned the news. 

From stories of gratitude to fond set memories, read on to see what Christian LeBlanc, Justin Hartley, Steve Burton, Bryton James, and Hunter King had to say! 

Nominated For: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Christian LeBlanc: "On set! We were all on set shooting scenes. I think Steve Burton noticed first, and he's going, 'Check your feed, check your Twitter,' and then we looked down and they were slowly coming in. I guess it was live while we were doing it." 

Christian: "The prostate cancer storyline, which became very personal. I run now in the prostate cancer charity in New Orleans. It's only their second year, and one of the top [prostate cancer] specialists in the country lives there ... and he helped me with the storyline. It all circles back to my hometown, so it was really nice." 

Christian: "I was given this scene that was just wonderful. It was effortless ... Any recognition I've had, I've made it on the shoulders and heads of other people. That's how it should be. It's a team effort, and it's amazing." 

Nominated For: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Justin Hartley: "It's humbling. Some of my co-stars also got nominated, and the show got nominated, which is amazing and well-deserved. I'm happy to be part of a show that's nominated as a whole. I think that's the most important thing. That means everything's going right. To be nominated is fantastic. It's a great feeling." 

Justin: "I sort of left that to Missy [Claire Egan], to be honest with you ... She's got great taste, and she's worked with me every day for the last year, so I sort of left it to her. It was about the Adam reveal, so it was good stuff. And, it's easy when you're working with someone like her. It's show up, hit your mark, say your line, and she takes care of the rest. She's amazing."

Justin: "One of the things Missy and I have worked so hard on is [deconstructing these stories] ... The stories [can be] completely unbelievable, so what you have to do is take the story and somehow ground it, and we've worked really hard on doing that. To have the audience respond the way they did was really gratifying for both of us." 

Justin: "The Adam reveal. We had led up to the whole thing where people found out who he was and then having [Chelsea] find out who he was and everything he had to own up to [was intense]." 

Justin: "There's some stuff coming up that's good."

Bonus teaser: Justin mentioned some of his upcoming scenes might feature him shirtless!

Nominated For: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Steve Burton: "I've known Josh [Morrow] forever, and we play brothers, so that's been really easy. Melody [Thomas Scott] and I became really close really quickly. [We] just had chemistry, and she's awesome—she's like my mom! And then, of course, Doug [Davidson]. He really is one of my best friends in life, and he's my dad on the show. He's a mentor of mine; I love the guy. This whole place really is like a big family." 

Nominated For: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

Bryton: "Yeah, I was actually very surprised. I thought I had good material this year, but it was just nice for it to be confirmed. And, it's my first nomination in [the Supporting category], so I'm excited for that." 

Bryton: "My character got married on the show, so I that's I think that's [memorable]. You're not really on a soap until you've gotten married at least once or twice."

Nominated For: Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

Lauralee Bell: "The storyline that I submitted [for the Daytime Emmys]. My character is very serious and very lawyer-ish, and this was the one time in the year that we really got to play scenes about a relationship and was about something that people can relate to. My character has never wanted to have a child, and then after many years, she decided her life is going by, and she does love Paul ... So, finally, they decided to have a baby, and sadly, they lost the baby. For me, any sort of human emotion is always the most fun to play." 

Lauralee Bell: "It feels great ... To be in the final 10 was exciting—that was a new thing [for me]. And, I thought, 'I'll never get the nomination, I can't imagine.' It was quite a shock."  

Nominated For: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

Tracey Bregman: "I was in an airplane, and just happened to have the East Coast feed of The Talk on! I found out, and I'm going, 'Oh my God, I can't jump on a chair and celebrate!'" 

Tracey: "I loved the storyline of Michael and Lauren struggling with [Michael's] prostate cancer. I loved that emotional struggle. To see so much response from couples who have experienced that has been incredible." 

Nominated For: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

Kristoff St. John: "Every Emmy nomination has been special ... This year, I found out at home through Twitter. My dad and I did a little happy dance. It feels wonderful." 

Kristoff: "Absolutely not! The second time I won, it felt like the first time. I can only imagine that the same kind of feeling will wash over me just being in that room. It's been 31 years since an African-American male won a lead role. I'm just proud to be in that circle. If I do win, it'll be a trifecta. It'll have been Outstanding Younger Actor In A Drama Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series, and Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series!" 

Nominated For: Outstanding Younger Actress In A Drama Series

Hunter King: "I really like the Natalie and Summer stuff right now—their banter. I like the stuff with Mariah lately, too. They've had some struggles in the past, and they've kind of butted heads, but recently it seems like maybe there's a new friendship with Mariah—also, maybe a new friendship with Luca. There are so many new friendships and avenues right now for Summer." 

Related links: 
Congratulations To The 2016 Daytime Emmy Nominees
Nikki Newman's Best Fashion Moments On Y&R
Watch The Young and the Restless On CBS