If you spent any part of the last forty years with a TV on during the afternoon, you know Erika Slezak. Honestly, she wasn’t just a face on a screen; she was basically the moral compass—and sometimes the chaotic center—of fictional Llanview, Pennsylvania. For decades, fans knew her exclusively as Victoria "Viki" Lord on One Life to Live.
But things have changed.
Lately, if you’ve been keeping up with Erika Slezak movies and tv shows, you’ve probably noticed she is popping up in the most unexpected places. From gritty primetime dramas to heartfelt holiday movies, the woman who holds the record for the most Daytime Emmy wins by an actress (six, if you’re counting) is proving there is very much a second act to her career.
The Viki Lord Era: More Than Just a Soap Role
It is impossible to talk about Erika Slezak’s credits without acknowledging the 40-plus years she spent at ABC. She didn't just play a character; she played a dozen versions of one.
Most people remember the "split personality" storylines. It sounds campy now, but back then, her portrayal of Dissociative Identity Disorder was groundbreaking. She’d switch from the regal, buttoned-up Viki to the brassy, cigarette-smoking Niki Smith with just a tilt of her head. Over the years, she added even more "alters" to the mix, including Jean, Tommy, and even her own father, Victor.
She stayed with the show until it went off the air in 2012, and then she did something most legends don't: she followed it to the internet for the short-lived 2013 Hulu revival. That kind of loyalty is rare.
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Breaking Out: Erika Slezak Movies and TV Shows Post-Llanview
After the soap world quieted down, many expected Slezak to head into a quiet retirement. She’d earned it. Instead, she started taking guest spots that reminded everyone why she’s a RADA-trained powerhouse.
Primetime Guest Spots
In 2018, she showed up on the Fox medical drama The Resident. She played Dr. Eileen Jacoby, a retired physician struggling with the early stages of dementia. It was a 180-degree turn from the polished Viki Lord.
Then came Blue Bloods.
Slezak appeared as Donna Duvall, a neighbor of Henry Reagan. It wasn't a huge role, but seeing her trade lines with Len Cariou felt like watching two heavyweights in a sparring match. She actually returned to the role in 2023 for the episode "Nothing Sacred," proving that when she shows up, showrunners want her back.
The Hallmark and Indie Film Pivot
Movies haven't always been her primary focus—TV takes up a lot of time—but she’s made some smart choices lately.
- Next Stop, Christmas (2021): This was a big one for fans. She played Aunt Myrt in this Hallmark Channel original. It was cozy, nostalgic, and gave her a chance to work alongside fellow soap alum Chandler Massey.
- Guest Artist (2019): If you haven't seen this, find it. It’s an indie film written by and starring Jeff Daniels. Slezak plays Helen, and the performance is quiet, nuanced, and reminds you she was a theater kid long before she was a soap star.
- Song Sung Blue (2025): This is her most recent big-screen venture. She plays Frances Stengl, the mother of Kate Hudson's character. It’s a biographical musical drama, and seeing her in a major production like this in 2025 is exactly what her long-term followers wanted to see.
The Surprising 2025 General Hospital Run
Just when we thought she was done with the "sudser" life, the news broke in mid-2025. Erika Slezak was joining General Hospital.
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It wasn't a Viki Lord crossover, though. That would have been too easy. Instead, she took on the role of Ronnie Bard. She filmed for three weeks, and her episodes ran from September through early November 2025. Watching her share scenes with Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine) was basically a "Super Bowl" moment for daytime TV historians. It was brief, but it was a masterclass in screen presence.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
There’s a misconception that Erika Slezak "is" Viki Lord. While she loved that role, she actually started in heavy repertory theater. She was at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Alley Theater in Houston long before she ever set foot in a TV studio.
She actually auditioned for All My Children first. She wanted to play nurse Mary Kennicott. She didn't get it. ABC basically said, "We don't want you for that, but we have this other show called One Life to Live..."
The rest is history.
How to Watch Her Now
If you’re looking to catch up on her recent work, most of it is fairly accessible. Blue Bloods and The Resident stay in heavy rotation on streaming platforms like Paramount+ and Hulu. Next Stop, Christmas is a staple every December on Hallmark.
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Current Career Status:
- TV Guesting: Still active, specifically taking roles that offer "meatier" dialogue.
- Film: Moving into more prestige indie and musical-drama territory.
- Soaps: The General Hospital stint proved she’s willing to return for the right limited engagement.
Erika Slezak has managed to do something very few daytime actors ever pull off. She aged gracefully out of a 40-year role and became a "working actor" again. She isn't chasing fame; she’s chasing good scripts. For a woman who has already won everything there is to win in her field, that's the ultimate flex.
To see her in action, your best bet is to check the current streaming schedules for Blue Bloods or look for Song Sung Blue in digital release. If you want the classic experience, some of her most iconic One Life to Live episodes are occasionally archived on ABC's digital platforms, though they can be hard to track down in their entirety.
Actionable Insight: If you're a fan of her classic soap work, prioritize watching her 2019 film Guest Artist. It showcases her theatrical range in a way that One Life to Live rarely could, providing a bridge between her early stage training and her modern screen presence.