Chloe Mitchell

Chloe Mitchell
Elizabeth Hendrickson as Chloe Mitchell (2010).
The Young and the Restless
Portrayed by	Darla and Sandra Greer (1990–1991) Danielle Ryah (1994) Elizabeth Hendrickson (2008–present)
Duration	1990–1991, 1994, 2008–present
First appearance	July 30, 1990[1]
Created by	William J. Bell Josh Griffith Maria Arena Bell
Profile
Nickname(s)	Katie (by Esther) Little One (by Billy Abbott) Sparkles (by Kevin Fisher)
Gender	Female
Occupation	Event planner Fashion editor at Restless Style magazine/webzine Stylist
Residence	The Chancellor Estate 196 E. Chestnut Street Genoa City, Wisconsin
Relationships Parents Esther Valentine Tiny "The Plumber" Spouse(s) Cane Ashby (annulled) [2008–2009] Billy Abbott (divorced) [2009] Romances Chance Chancellor (broken engagement, 2009-2010) Ronan Malloy (one night stand, 2010; one night stand 2011] Kevin Fisher (engaged, 2011-present) Children Cordelia Abbott (with Billy) Other relatives Katherine Chancellor Murphy (godmother)

Chloe Mitchell (born Katherine Tina Valentine; formerly Ashby and Abbott) is a fictional character on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless. She was first portrayed by a set of twins, Darla and Sandra Greer, from 1990 to 1991, and briefly by Danielle Ryah in 1994. Since February 6, 2008,^[2] the role has been portrayed by American actress Elizabeth Hendrickson. Within the story, Chloe is not revealed as Kate, Esther Valentine's daughter, until August 29, 2008.^[3] A recurring character upon her return in 2008, the character was upgraded to contract status and thrust into a frontburner storyline with Lily Winters and Cane Ashby. Described as "a force to be reckoned with" by TV Guide, Chloe is said to have rejuvenated the "dying breed" of classic soap opera vixens.^[4]

Background

Casting and introduction

The Young and the Restless called Hendrickson for a meet-and-greet audition.^[4] "Chloe wasn't even on the page when I came in for a chemistry audition," said Hendrickson.^[4] Impressed with her acting abilities, The Young and the Restless cast her in a recurring role as stylista Chloe.^[4] When the character was introduced, she was only intended to be integrated into the storyline for ten episodes.^[5] Hendrickson's interpretation of the character "grabbed the attention" of co-head writers Maria Arena Bell and Hogan Sheffer. They offered her a contract and created a story for her to be revealed as a member of one of the show's core families; Esther Valentine as her mother, and Katherine Chancellor as her godmother.^[4] In addition, she was given "a killer wardrobe" and love interests Cane Ashby and Billy Abbott.^[4]

Characterization and portrayal

In an August 2008 interview with Soaps in Depth, before the reveal of Chloe's complete family background, Hendrickson talked about the transformation of Chloe from a day player to a "compelling, integral" part of The Young and the Restless canvas. She said, "In the back of my mind, when I first came [to The Young and the Restless] knowing it was only a show-by-show basis, I was going to give it my all and hope they'd fall in love with me and ask me to stay, I will not deny that was my plan."^[6] When asked about her transition from her good-girl demeanor as Maggie Stone on All My Children to now portraying Chloe, she said, "It's so nice to step out of that. When I started on All My Children, I played Frankie, and she was a little troublemaker, and I had so much fun with it!"^[6] Of Chloe, Hendrickson said, "When I found out that she was going to be this little fashionista, I said, 'Sign me up right away!' Fashion is probably my second most favorite thing in the world."^[6]

Chloe's personality called for her to be portrayed with a ruthless ambition and abrasive personality, but Hendrickson was humored by certain scenes. "You don't really find soaps with a lot of humor, but I think the Y&R writers have done a brilliant job with Chloe. Some of the lines I get, I just laugh out loud at home," she said.^[6] "I hope the humor is coming through."^[6] Hendrickson felt Chloe "always has an agenda" but is also "just really lonely and needs attention".^[6] When asked about Chloe's past, Hendrickson stated, "I don't think she was necessarily born a vixen. She's masking a lot. I think she's like this little wounded bird trying to put on this big front, but deep down she's a softie."^[6]

On November 16, 2008, TV Guide asked Hendrickson if she "ever [thought she would] be starring on daytime's biggest and best soap in a breakout role so soon after leaving All My Children".^[4] Hendrickson replied, "No, this has been a lovely surprise. I used to always watch Y&R when I was on AMC. I always liked the look and feel of the show, so I've always been a big fan."^[4] Hendrickson said, "To see how the role evolved from those initial scenes has been astonishing. My top soap choices were Y&R first, and General Hospital, second. So I'm very happy. Life is good."^[4] Asked about working with Daniel Goddard (Cane), she said, "[Goddard's] the hardest-working person I have come across. He carries a week's worth of scripts with him at all times. He's always studying his lines, talking about the motivation of his character, and his method."^[4] TV Guide credited Hendrickson with having chemistry with everyone on the show, and especially Michael Graziadei (Daniel).^[4] "I love working with Graz. He's so much fun to work with," she stated.^[4] "What a talented kid! Whenever you're in a scene with Graz, you never feel like you're working off the page. We met a few years ago through friends of friends."^[4] Regarding Billy Miller (Billy), she said, "[Miller's] my new favorite boy to work with. I can't believe how much fun we're having together. I think we have a lot of chemistry."^[4]

Hendrickson said she did not know Chloe was Esther's long-lost daughter, Kate, and that Chloe was having Billy's baby, not Cane's, from the beginning. "They didn't tell me anything until I had to know. I've dealt with that for years on AMC; that's how soaps work," she stated.^[4] She said as a new addition to the series she was not going impose on certain storylines.^[4] "I just told Y&R, give me what you want, and I'll act it out to the best of my ability," said Hendrickson.^[4] "As an actor, I created an initial backstory for Chloe, so I could explain her behavior at first. When they finally told me her real backstory, I was so happy because I could finally make Chloe three-dimensional."^[4]

Chloe's initial relationship with her mother, Esther (Kate Linder), was detailed as hostile. "Chloe is so mean to Esther," said Hendrickson.^[4] "You should see [Linder's] face when we tape our scenes, because she takes it so personally! I have to remind [Linder] that I love her."^[4] Despite the character's hostility in this regard, Hendrickson felt it was realistic.^[4] "Chloe and Esther remind me of a lot of mother-and-daughter relationships. It actually makes a lot of sense. Chloe is very young and immature — as well, hurt and ashamed about her upbringing. She's not going to let her mother forget it easily, either," said Hendrickson.^[4]

Hendrickson said she infuses her real-life personality into Chloe.^[4] "Our writers come up with the best zingers and lines, so it's easy to be inspired on Y&R. In fact, this is the only comedy I've been blessed to do on daytime that is actually working!" she stated.^[4] "Comedy and soaps don't necessarily go hand in hand as you know. I try not to ad lib. I get scared — I want to keep my job."^[4] Hendrickson added, "I have writer friends in soaps who say, 'when I see my lines changed, I cringe!' Sometimes if the line doesn't work, then you have to collaborate and make it resonate, but on this show that's a rarely a problem."^[4]

On January 8, 2009, Hendrickson did an interview with Soap Opera Digest. She said she was excited when she found out Chloe was going to have family ties. "I knew it would give me, as an actor, a chance to finally explain to viewers why Chloe is the way she is," she said.^[5] Hendrickson said Chloe is "not just this bitch who likes to destroy people's lives" and that the character's turn in story "gives [her] the opportunity to show people that Chloe is damaged goods".^[5] "She was missing a mother and a family, and the love that every child needs and deserves. She wasn't raised by her parents. She never had anyone tell her wrong from right," said Hendrickson.^[5] Digest asked if Hendrickson had anything to do with Chloe's development. "I was the one who wanted to make her edgy and funny. Most of the people I know who are in the fashion business are a little bitchy," she said.^[5] "I wanted to make Chloe interesting, instead of just playing her like some girl who was putting on fancy clothes. There was no conflict there," Hendrickson continued.^[5] She added, "The writers definitely gave me that in the writing, and I tweaked it a little. They seemed to enjoy it. Each day, Chloe kept getting funnier and bitchier."^[5]

Storylines

Marriages to Cane Ashby and Billy Abbott

Kate is the only daughter of Esther Valentine and Tiny, a plumber. She is named for her godmother and Esther's employer, Katherine Chancellor.^[1] As a child, she was rarely seen onscreen and attended boarding school, courtesy of her godmother. At some point during her absence, she officially changed her name to Chloe Mitchell, without telling her mother.

Chloe was hired by Jabot Cosmetics in 2008 to help coach the winning model of the Fresh Face of Jabot contest,^[7] which threw her into the orbit of Lily Winters and her then-boyfriend, Cane Ashby. After she won the competition, Chloe began working with Lily. Chloe began to push Lily to the best of her ability, and an antagonistic relationship grew between them. At one point Lily tried to quit, but then Chloe pressured her into staying in. Despite everything, Lily let Chloe move in with her and her adopted brother, Devon, when she needed a place to stay.

Upon learning that she was pregnant, Chloe began an elaborate scheme to trick Cane into thinking that he was the father. At Indigo, she succeeded in getting him drunk, and offered to take him home, only to have taken both their clothes off, and make Cane believe they had sex. This ultimately damaged Cane and Lily's plans to wed. Lily told Cane to marry Chloe for the baby's sake, and he eventually did, seeking a stable home for the child he believed to be his. After she caused trouble for Lily, Jill fired Chloe as the Fresh Face coordinator. Seeking new employment, she visited Restless Style where Phyllis Newman and Nicholas Newman hired her to be the fashion editor. She also met Amber Moore, who befriended her. In late August 2008 it was revealed that Chloe is actually the long-absent daughter of Esther Valentine. It was also revealed that Chloe had affair with Cane's half-brother, Billy Abbott. Chloe and Billy agreed to pretend they did not know each other. He began to question whether there was a chance he could be the father of her baby. His suspicions were confirmed after he found out the baby's due date was earlier than Chloe claimed.

Chloe was jealous as she watched Lily move on from Cane to Billy. She became dissatisfied with her loveless marriage to Cane and longed for a life with Billy. When she learned that Billy was going up to the Abbott cabin with Lily for Valentine's Day, she followed them up and overheard him confessing that he was the father of Chloe's baby to Lily. Chloe gave birth in the cabin with Billy and Lily's help.

Cane named the baby Cordelia Katherine Valentine Ashby. When Chloe told him the baby's real father was Billy, Cane reunited with Lily and decided to pursue custody of Cordelia, believing he would make a better parent. To retain custody of his daughter, Billy reluctantly entered into a loveless marriage with Chloe. Right after the ceremony, the real love of Billy's life, Mackenzie Browning, showed up. Billy tried to reunite with Mac, but she continually rejected him. Chloe tried to change Billy and hoped they could have a real family together, but then she found out that he was having sex with Sharon Newman, both before and after they married. When Chloe discovered this, she moved out. After he and Chloe separated, Billy began to purse a relationship with Mac. Chloe and Billy are both stunned when it was revealed that Cane was not the biological son of Jill, and that Phillip Chancellor III is actually alive. This also proved that Cane knew the whole time that he was not the father of Cordelia. He told Chloe, Billy and Lily that they did not want to have two DNA samples on file, so he thought the only choice could be Billy, and that he would step up and be a father.

Divorce from Billy and Engagement to Chance Chancellor

While a still married Billy pursued a relationship with Mac, Billy's nephew, Chance Chancellor (Phillip Chancellor IV), reemerged on the scene, all grown up and now a young army veteran. Chance became smitten with Chloe, blushing in her presence; he admitted to her that he was a virgin and had little experience with women. They shared an impromptu kiss in a playful moment. Chloe, still in love with Billy, tried to set obvious good-guy Chance up with do-gooder Mackenzie. The pair realized they were being set up, and Chance alluded to his crush on Chloe when he cryptically told Mac he was already interested in someone else. Chance took Jill's side (which Chloe likewise did) when Billy railed against her. He later showed distaste over how his uncle treated his wife and child, to which Chloe admitted that Billy continuously breaks her heart. Chance caressed Chloe's face and moved in as if to kiss her, just to reveal he had found an eyelash. Chloe made a wish, but coyly refused to share it. Chance was shown grinning after she exited, and was caught in his happiness by grandmother Jill, who realized his mind was preoccupied with something or someone in particular.

Mac finally confessed to Chloe that she and Billy were together. A hurt Chloe leaned on Chance as he comforted her. Billy and Chloe agreed to divorce and get shared custody of Delia. Chance asked Chloe out on a date and she accepted. After a kiss, Chance told her nothing will ever happen as long as she was hooked on Billy. Later, Billy took a little long to sign divorce papers, and Chloe, thinking they were getting back together, decided to use Chance to make Billy jealous. Chloe was warned by her mother not to use such a nice guy to make Billy jealous, yet she chose to ignore her. Chloe and Chance grew increasingly close when Chance defended her from his mother, Nina Webster, and her ex-husband, Billy. When Chloe began to see where her heart truly was, she finally signed the divorce papers. Eager to tell Chance the good news, Chloe was disappointed and hurt when Chance treated her news like it was nothing. After realizing Chloe really did care, Chance forgave her. While trying to stop a robbery at Crimson Lights off duty, Chance was stabbed. Chloe was terrified for Chance. Luckily, he pulled through. After professing her feelings while he slept, Chance awakened to hear the tail end of her speech. Chloe had still not had sex with virgin Chance, although she had almost said "I love everything about you," but she changed the word "love" to "like". Both hope for their first time together to be special and seem to be on the way to a bright future together. Chloe and Chance finally said, "I love you". About week after that, in a surprise trip to Chloe's favorite city New York City, Chance proposed. Chloe's response was a point blank, "no", stemming from her fears of abandonment. After both parties felt rather upset, they went back home, where Chloe said her feelings for Chance hadn't changed. Chance replied to her, "Good night, and sleep well."

On June 4, 2010, Chloe herself asked Chance to marry her, after having an eyeopening talk with Kevin Fisher. After responding to a bomb scare by ADA Heather Stevens, Chance says "yes" to Chloe's proposal. Chloe and Kevin began bonding over their marital issues as he was dealing with his wife, Jana Fisher. Chance, on the other hand, was now Heather's bodyguard and moved in with her, angering Chloe. Chloe moved in with Kevin, since he lived just across the hall from Heather and Chance. Chloe flirted with Ronan Malloy, Chance's mysterious new partner, who bugged Chance and Heather's apartment. Eventually, Heather and Chance had an affair.

Romances with Ronan Malloy and Kevin Fisher

Soon after Chance's affair, Chloe and Chance broke off their engagement, but she wanted her revenge. After calling both Chance and Ronan to Jimmy's Bar, Ronan agreed to help her annoy Chance. Chance arrived with roses and sees Chloe and Ronan in a somewhat heated kiss. After Chance left, Ronan began to dance with Chloe again. Chloe told him he could stop because there was no audience. He kissed her anyway and appeared to have accepted her offer to be "friends with benefits". Chloe is unaware at the time that Ronan is Chance's half-brother.

With Chloe's relationship woes, she continued to build up a friendship with Kevin Fisher, who was separated from Jana because of her affair with his half-brother, Ryder Callahan. Chloe went out with Kevin to the opening of his mother, Gloria Bardwell's nightclub, Gloworm, where Kevin's ex-wife, Jana, showed up and not only apologized for the affair, but wanted to give their relationship another chance, which Kevin refused. After Jana walked away, Chloe, ever the fashionable one, expressed her dislike not only for Jana, but her hat as well. Chloe had to deal with Jana being jealous of her and Kevin's budding friendship. Things got even more complicated when Jana took a job as an art teacher at Delia's preschool, in order to keep an eye on them. Jana did this after seeing Kevin and Chloe posing for pictures with Delia at Crimson Lights.

Despite the fact she moved on from Chance, she still looked out for him and eventually learned Ronan was Chance's half-brother and Nina's stolen son. After confronting him about this, Ronan admitted his true identity. Chloe promised not to tell anyone, but that was easier said than done in her case. Despite their breakup, Chloe still cared very much for Chance and was worried about him when he vowed to put an end to the drug case he was working on that may involve Ronan. She was devastated and grief-stricken when she, along with his mother Nina and the rest of his family, learned that Chance had been killed. Chloe was still grieving (although it turned out Chance is alive; Chloe didn't know until February 8, 2011). Although Chloe had denied feelings for her friend, Kevin, she seemed to be jealous with his relationships with various girls.

On New Year's Eve, Kevin and Chloe kissed outside Jimmy's Bar as the clock struck midnight, after Chloe admitted to having feelings for him. However, Jana saw this and vowed to do whatever it took to have Kevin back in her life, even going so far as to fake both an injury and memory loss. On Valentine's Day 2011, thanks to Kevin's mother and Chloe's godmother, Katherine Chancellor, playing matchmaker, Kevin and Chloe got locked in Gloria's office at Gloworm and began to argue, which then led to them kissing. After a brief interruption by Jana, when Kevin rejected her by telling her not to worry about him ever again because they were not together anymore, Kevin and Chloe took the next step in their relationship by having sex for the first time.

By Spring, Chloe and Kevin's relationship continued, but Jana was nanny to Lucy Abbott, the daughter of Billy Abbott and Victoria Newman. Therefore, when Delia was with Billy, she could also be with Jana. Chloe ended up confronting Victoria about it and asked her to fire Jana. Chloe and Gloria were arrested after breaking into Billy's garage apartment, which Jana was living in to prove she was up to something. Soon after they made bail, Jana kidnapped Delia and Lucy after finding out Lucy's paternity, confirming Chloe's worst fear that Jana was crazy and could put Delia in danger. Chloe planned to sue Billy for full custody of Delia after finding out about him getting Lucy via the black market, and Jana knowing about it. She sued Billy for full custody of Delia. Billy went off since she mentioned the illegal adoption of Lucy. On May 6, 2011, Jana called Chloe and told her to come to the preschool without the police. When she got there, Kevin knocked the gun from Jana's hand and then, Chloe and Jana began fighting. After Chloe shook Jana, she died. They were trying to find out what actually caused Jana to die, but the autopsy report showed that Jana died of natural causes. On July 15, 2011 Chloe won the custody battle for Delia after Billy was arrested for soliciting a hooker. Billy eventually left for Hong Kong, China without telling Chloe. Annoyed at how much she cared about Billy still, Kevin broke things off.

Around this time, Ronan Malloy showed back up in Genoa City to work as the lead investigator in the Diane Jenkins murder. Chloe was infuriated that Ronan decided to come back to Genoa City all of a sudden. Ronan left without notice after receiving a liver transplant from his half-brother, Chance. Chloe found Ronan playing basketball and demanded to know why he left. Ronan stomped off, angered at her rudeness. She followed him to his house, where he came to the door in a towel, freshly showered, to open the door. Chloe came in and began to push him and yell at him for leaving the way he did. He pulled her close to him, and the two kissed and later, had sex. All the while, Chloe left Delia at home for others to take care of her, even though Delia was recovering from being sick.

Delia's Illness

However, Jill Foster Abbott and Esther both realized that, while Chloe was off having sex with Ronan, that Delia was sick again, at a very serious level. They then took her to the hospital, where Chloe arrived moments later in hysterics. Later on, Jack Abbott, Victoria Newman, Kevin Fisher and others arrived at the hospital after hearing about Delia's condition. Delia asked for her father, Billy Abbott, who ran off to Hong Kong after his separation from his wife, Victoria. Her daughter's plea brought Chloe to tears. Delia's doctor soon revealed to everyone that Delia had acute myeloid leukemia, and she was in need of a bone marrow transplant. After the diagnosis, Victoria told everyone that Billy needed to be tracked down. Victoria then agreed to find him, no matter what it took.

Meanwhile, all of Chloe's family and friends were there for her to support her and Delia at the hospital, and many of them even got tested to see if they were a bone marrow match. Ronan tried repeatedly to come to the hospital and check on Chloe, but he was either pushed away by her or overpowered by Kevin, who did not want Ronan near Chloe or Delia. One day, Kevin came to visit Delia and Chloe at the hospital, and he told her that he was a bone marrow match for Delia. In reality, Kevin was working with Victor Newman and Billy Abbott, who had secretly returned from Hong Kong to help his daughter. Billy was tested and found to be a match for his daughter, but Victor made Kevin pose at the match because Billy's return needed to be kept under wraps. Chloe was overjoyed with the new hero in her life: Kevin, and at one point, she even kissed him in the heat of the moment when she was telling him how thankful she was that he was in her life. At first, Kevin didn't know how to respond to Chloe's kiss, but then he decided to reconnect with her, and the two kissed and reunited again later at Crimson Lights.

On October 3, 2011, Chloe was finally taking a break from the hospital and was at Crimson Lights when she found out that her godmother, Katherine Chancellor, had suffered from a stroke and was also hospitalized in the same location as Delia. To add insult to injury, Chloe had to deal with two of her loved ones in the hospital at the same time.

Reception

Chloe's introduction as a vixen, as well as a core character, was generally well-received by critics and viewers.^[4] Hendrickson was praised for her "adventurous and comedic performance" as the character, which has been credited as being "reminiscent of the divas of yesteryear, like As the World Turns' Lisa Miller, and Another World's Rachel Cory".^[4] In 2008, TV Guide named her one of soap opera's best new characters.^[4] In 2009, Soap Opera Digest said of the character, "What started as a 10-episode arc as a bitchy stylist transformed into a meaty contract character and an even meatier storyline."^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Who's Who in Genoa City: Chloe Mitchell". Soapcentral.com. http://www.soapcentral.com/yr/whoswho/chloe.php. Retrieved 2009-07-07. 
2. ^ The Young and the Restless recap (February 6, 2008) - Soapcentral.com
3. ^ The Young and the Restless recap (August 29, 2008) - Soapcentral.com
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac} Branco, Nelson (2008-11-05). "Queen Elizabeth". TV Guide. http://tvguide.sympatico.msn.ca/Queen+Elizabeth/Soaps/Features/Articles/081105_elizabeth_hendrickson_NB.htm?isfa=1. Retrieved 2008-11-16. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Di Lauro, Janet (2009-01-08). "Y&R's Elizabeth Hendrickson: "Mean Girl"". Soap Opera Digest. http://www.soapoperadigest.com/features/young-and-restless/interviews/elizabeth_hendrickson_mean_girl. Retrieved 2009-07-12. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "In Her Own Fashion". Soaps In Depth. 2008-08-04. p. Pages 52–55. http://www.elizabeth-hendrickson.net/SID080408.html. Retrieved 2009-07-12. 
7. ^ http://www.soaps.com/youngandrestless/update/3769/A_Bumpy_Night