When people talk about soap opera legends, they usually mention the Susan Luccis or the Erika Slezaks of the world. But honestly, if you were a fan of Oakdale, you know the real heavy hitter was always Barbara Ryan.
For 32 years, Colleen Zenk didn’t just play a character; she lived through a metamorphosis that most actors would find terrifying. Barbara Ryan on As the World Turns started as this sweet, slightly spoiled heroine in 1978 and ended up being one of the most complex, arguably unhinged, and deeply human figures in daytime history.
The Overnight Flip to "Bad Barbara"
Most characters on soaps evolve at a glacial pace. Not Barbara.
She spent years being the victim. She was kidnapped more times than anyone can count—literally 15 times—and spent a good chunk of the early 80s being psychologically tortured by the villainous James Stenbeck. You probably remember him; he was the guy who would "die" every few years only to pop back up in a monk’s robe or a helicopter.
But then 1985 happened.
Head writer Douglas Marland took over and decided Barbara was too boring as a "good girl." Overnight, he gave her an edge. She went from pouring coffee for her kids to breaking up Tom Hughes and Margo Montgomery. It was scandalous. Fans hated it, then they loved it, then they couldn't look away.
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Barbara didn't just become a "bitch"—she became a woman who was tired of being the prey.
The Fire and the Face
If you want to talk about "must-watch" TV, you have to talk about the 2001 chemical explosion.
By this point, Barbara had married Craig Montgomery. It was a disaster, obviously. A fire broke out, and Barbara’s face was destroyed. For an entire year, Colleen Zenk wore special effects makeup that made her look truly unrecognizable.
This wasn't just a plot device for a plastic surgery reveal. It broke Barbara’s psyche.
She turned into a full-blown villainess. We’re talking about drugging police officers, hiring hitmen, and kidnapping Rose D’Angelo. She became the very thing she used to fear. Hogan Sheffer, the head writer at the time, called Zenk an "under-utilized gem," and he wasn't kidding. He gave her the room to be absolutely monstrous, and she earned an Emmy nomination for it.
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The Real Life Battle: When Art Met Reality
In 2007, things got heavy.
Colleen Zenk was diagnosed with oral cancer in real life. It’s the kind of news that stops everything. She had multiple surgeries, radiation, and even had part of her tongue reconstructed.
Instead of hiding it, she did something incredibly brave. She worked with the producers to give Barbara Ryan oral cancer on the show.
- The Diagnosis: Barbara found out she had the disease on screen at the same time Colleen was fighting it.
- The PSA: Zenk filmed public service announcements that aired during the commercial breaks.
- The Voice: For a long time, her speech sounded different. Fans noticed. Some thought she’d had a stroke. By being open, she probably saved lives by encouraging early detection.
Honestly, seeing Barbara—this high-fashion, wealthy, often-evil woman—humbled by a disease that didn't care about her bank account or her pedigree was some of the most raw television ever produced.
Why the Ryan Family Matters
You can't talk about Barbara without her kids. She was a "smother-mother" before the term was even popular. Her relationship with her son Paul Ryan (played famously by Roger Howarth and Scott Holroyd) was the definition of "it’s complicated."
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She loved him, but she also controlled him. She tried to buy his love, tried to buy his children, and tried to destroy any woman who wasn't "good enough" for him. Which, in Barbara’s eyes, was every woman in Oakdale.
By the time the show ended in 2010, Barbara had found a strange kind of peace. She was with Henry Coleman—a much younger, quirky guy who actually made her laugh. They had a disco ball in their living room.
It was a weird ending, but after three decades of being shot, burned, and betrayed, maybe a little disco was exactly what she needed.
What to Do if You're a Fan Today
The show might be off the air, but the legacy of Barbara Ryan is still very much alive in the soap community. If you're looking to dive back into the world of Oakdale, here is how you can keep the spirit of "Bad Babs" alive:
- Check out the Oral Cancer Foundation: Colleen Zenk is still a huge advocate. If you haven't had a screening at your dentist lately, make the appointment. It takes two minutes.
- YouTube Archives: There are massive collections of "Barbara’s Bitchiest Moments" on YouTube. They are a masterclass in 80s and 90s camp.
- Follow the Vets: Colleen Zenk and many other ATWT alums are still active on social media and in independent films/theater. Support their new projects; they’ve earned it after all those years of drama.
Barbara Ryan was never just a character in a soap opera. She was a survivor. Whether it was James Stenbeck or stage 2 carcinoma, she never stopped fighting, and that's why we’re still talking about her 16 years after the world stopped turning.