Lesley-Anne Down Declines Bold and Beautiful Return
The former Jackie Marone actress turned down an offer to rejoin the CBS soap opera.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Tennis
Lesley-Anne Down declined an offer to return to The Bold and the Beautiful, the CBS soap opera where she played Jackie Marone from 2003 to 2012. Producers had declined to renew her contract in 2012, and Down said she would tell them to call Linda Gray instead.
Why it matters
The decision marks a rare public comment from a former cast member on a long-running daytime drama that has shaped soap opera history. For U.S. viewers, it highlights how recurring characters are sometimes recast or left behind as series evolve.
The report draws on Down's own account of her nine-year run, which she described as a part she took to focus on motherhood. Her reasons for declining the current offer were not stated, and the source does not say whether the character would have returned in a recurring or full-time capacity.
The players
Lesley-Anne Down
A British actress best known for playing Jackie Marone on The Bold and the Beautiful and for her earlier work on television and film.
Linda Gray
An American actress who played Angela Forrester on Dynasty and had a guest role on The Bold and the Beautiful in 2004 and 2005.
Entertainment Weekly
An American pop culture magazine that reported on Down's decision to decline the return offer.
The details
Down said she was offered the part of Jackie Marone when she did not need the money and accepted the role in 2003 for its schedule. Producers declined to renew her contract in 2012, and her decision to pass on a return was reported by Entertainment Weekly.
Timeline
2003: Producers added Down to The Bold and the Beautiful cast.
2004-2005: Linda Gray held a guest role on the show.
2012: Producers declined to renew Down's contract.
November 8, 2026: Entertainment Weekly reported Down's refusal to return.
Season Trajectory
Long-running daytime soaps like The Bold and the Beautiful often rely on returning favorites to refresh storylines, so a former lead declining to return can shape how producers rebuild a cast. Down's refusal fits a pattern of recurring characters being recast or left behind as series evolve.
The decision means the character's storyline will not include Down's return in the near term, leaving the show to rely on its current cast. Viewers following the series should not expect Jackie Marone to reappear unless producers announce a new casting arrangement.
The takeaway
Long-running shows often depend on returning favorites, but actors can and do decline to come back when the terms no longer fit their lives. Viewers interested in the series can watch current episodes as the cast evolves.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by TV Insider.
