Erika Slezak
					Erika Slezak has been honored with a record six Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress -- in 1984, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2005 -- for her portrayal of Victoria Lord Buchanan. Viki is a woman of great character, but her emotional wellbeing collapsed with the revelation that her father, Victor, had sexually abused her when she was a child. As a result, Viki's mind shattered into various personalities, each trying to protect Viki from the horror of the truth. Now, she has rebuilt her life, but must continue to protect her family from longtime nemesis Dorian Lord. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, Erika was admitted to the prestigious school when she was only 17, one of the youngest students ever accepted. But honors in the world of the arts are a tradition in her family. Her father, the late Walter Slezak, starred in many films and Broadway hits, among them "Fanny," for which he won the Tony Award. Erika's grandfather was the world-famous operatic tenor, Leo Slezak, who sang in Vienna and Berlin as well as at New York's Metropolitan Opera. Born in Hollywood, Erika learned to speak German at home before she learned English. She was educated primarily at convent boarding schools in the east. "They weren't the kind that kept me from my family, though," she says with a smile. "I first went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, Connecticut, then transferred to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Philadelphia." When did Erika first decide she wanted to act? "I can't recall a time when I didn't want to act. When I was a sophomore in high school, my father talked to me about training for a career in acting. "One thing my father did for me was not discourage my ambitions. But he made sure I had no illusions about the acting profession, explaining that it was going to be harder for me because I had a famous father. I would have to prove myself more than others and, as usual, he was right." Before making her debut in television on "One Life to Live," Erika established solid credentials in the theater. She was a member of the Milwaukee Repertory Company for three seasons when she starred in everything from Chekhov to Noel Coward, and she acted for another season at the Alley Theater in Houston. Erika is the only Slezak of her generation to pursue an acting career. Her sister, Ingrid, is an attorney and her brother, Leo, is a pilot. Erika and her husband, actor Brian Davies, have two children: Michael Lawrence, born Jan. 23, 1980, and Amanda Elizabeth, whose birthdate is Oct. 29, 1981. The family lives in a suburb of New York on Long Island. From soapcentral.com