Starr Manning
| Starr Manning | |||||||||||||||||||
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| One Life to Live character | |||||||||||||||||||
| File:Starr Manning.jpg Kristen Alderson as Starr Manning in the One Life to Live opening sequence | |||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Ariella and Natalie Jamnik (1996-1998) Meghan Rayder (1998) Kristen Alderson (1998-present) | ||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | January 9, 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Michael Malone | ||||||||||||||||||
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Starr Manning is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. She is the oldest child of Todd Manning and Blair Cramer, and was originally known for her mischievous behavior, exacerbated by her parents' volatile relationship.
Casting
The role was portrayed by child actors Ariella and Natalie Jamnik from 1996 to 1998 and Meghan Rayder in February 1998.[3] Best known in the part is Kristen Alderson, who assumed the role in March 1998 at age six[4] and was put on contract with the series in April 2001,[3] at the time making her the youngest performer on daytime television with a contract role.
Character history
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (December 2007) |
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Early years
Helping Todd and friendship with Matthew
Starr has suffered through her father Todd's many mistakes, especially his rape of Marty Saybrooke many years ago. After Todd's supposed death at the hands of Mitch Laurence, Starr was not willing to accept Walker Laurence as the new man in her mother Blair's life. However, Walker shared a secret with Starr: He was really Todd (after extensive plastic surgery). Elated that her father had returned and would be with her mother, Starr kept her father's secret. When the truth came out Blair was furious with Todd and wanted nothing to do with him. After a heated night of passion, Blair accused Todd of rape. Starr found herself in the middle of her parents' battle, but ultimately blamed her mother. Starr was devastated when Todd was found guilty and sent to prison for rape. Starr took matters into her own hands by enlisting Matthew Buchanan, who later became her best friend, to help in arranging her father's escape. They stopped the van that was transporting Todd to prison, but in the process Matthew was kidnapped by Troy MacIver. Starr felt terrible, and was relieved when Matthew was returned safely. For several days Starr also stopped eating to protest her father's situation. With the help of her aunt Viki Lord Davidson, Starr realized she was behaving in a dangerous manner, and agreed to start eating again.
Following all this, Blair was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. It turned out the tumor caused memory lapses and caused her to misinterpret situations. Blair realized Todd had not raped her, and dropped all charges against him. Starr was ecstatic to have her father back, but soon realized her parents would never reunite. Depressed, Starr met a young man named Travis on the internet, and lied to him about her age. She planned a mother/daughter trip to New York City so that she could meet Travis in person so they could run away together. The first meeting with Travis did not go as planned, and he was angry that she lied about her age. Travis contacted Starr again, and asked for a second meeting. It turned out he had also lied about his age, and still wanted to run away with Starr. She agreed to meet him and together they ran away. Blair was frantic when she realized Starr was missing, and asked for Todd's help. While walking through Central Park, Starr and Travis were chased by cops. Although Starr got away, Travis was apprehended. Starr came across a young man named Laser, who kidnapped Starr, and contacted Todd and Blair for ransom money. He told them to meet him back in Llanview where they would make a trade: $1 million and Starr would go home. Travis followed Todd and Blair to Llanview and was determined to help them get Starr back. The exchange for Starr went awry, and Todd and Blair were unable to get her back. Laser then contacted Blair, and told her to meet them back in New York. He sent her on a wild goose chase, and when the time came to get Starr back, Laser took Blair hostage. Luckily Todd had followed Blair out to New York, and after a suspenseful showdown, was able to rescue both Starr and Blair. The kidnapping brought Blair and Todd closer together, and they eventually decided to reconcile. Later, Travis came to Llanview for summer camp, and Starr spent the entire summer with him. Despite growing feelings between them, the relationship ended when Travis had to return to New York at the end of the summer.
Confrontations with Asa and Margaret
Starr distracted herself by helping with her parents' wedding. Starr was devastated when her father disappeared right before the wedding, leaving only a note that claimed he couldn't go through with the nuptials. Starr comforted her mother, but was convinced that there was more to her father's disappearance. Starr was right: Todd was actually kidnapped and held captive in an isolated cabin by an obsessed stalker, Margaret Cochran. Blair caught on to Margaret's role in Todd's disappearance, and set out to find Todd. However, Blair soon went missing, and Starr eagerly awaited the return of both parents. Starr was ecstatic when Todd returned to Llanview, but her happiness was short lived when she received the news that her mother was killed by Margaret. Starr was crushed, but Todd was certain Blair had survived. Starr helped her father get to the truth of Blair's whereabouts by confronting Asa Buchanan. It turned out that Asa had hidden Blair in an insane asylum, and Todd was able to bring her home safe and sound. Starr was reunited with both parents, but was wary that Margaret could return at any moment.
Margaret did return and tried to kill Starr. Starr escaped, but noticed that Margaret was pregnant. Todd confessed that it was his child---Margaret had raped him while she held him hostage---but begged Starr to keep the truth from Blair out of fear that Blair would be unable to accept the truth. Starr agreed. Some time later, Margaret and her unborn child were murdered and Todd was accused of the crime. Starr refused to believe her father was guilty. However, Todd was convicted and sentenced to death. Todd was executed just before it was found that Margaret was not really dead. Although Todd had been given a lethal injection, the doctors were able to revive him.
Starr and Cole
Starr met Cole Thornhart, a classmate, at a high school party and became friends with him right away when he stuck up for her when mean girl, Britney Jennings teased her. Starr and Cole remained friends and, when the Halloween dance came around, Starr asked Cole to be her date. Cole had already accepted a date with Britney but turned her down to go with Starr. Both had a wonderful time at the dance, even though Britney arranged for a video that mocked Starr by portraying all her family's problems. Cole stuck up for Starr and the two shared a kiss after the dance. Starr and Cole kept getting closer, but things started to go wrong at a party one night. Cole had been taking steroids because of peer pressure from his football buddies. At the party Cole got in a fight with another football player. Then, when Starr and Cole were alone together kissing, Cole got very angry when Starr asked him to slow down. In order to cause further trouble, Britney called the police on Cole and pretended to be Starr. At the police station, it was discovered that Cole's mom was none other than Marty Saybrooke, the victim of a rape by Todd Manning, which occurred when the two were in college. Also Blair had a stillborn son with Cole's father Patrick Thornhart. So Starr and Cole technically share a half-brother, the deceased Brendan Thornhart. Because of these things, Cole and Starr's parents attempted to keep them away from each other. After trying to stay away from each other for some time, Cole and Starr were finally reunited on prom night. Now, after some convincing, Cole and Starr finally have their mother's permission to date. When Starr's father went missing, Starr wasn't aware of the fact that Cole knew about her father's whereabouts and kept quiet in order to keep the secret of his mother killing Spencer Truman. Eventually, Starr forgave Cole when she viewed what he had gone through from his perspective. Starr's great-aunt Dorian hired Rex Balsom to find the parent's of Langston Wilde, Starr's best friend. Dorian, Starr, Blair, and others were shocked to learn that Langston's parents died in a car accident a year 1/2 earlier.
Pregnancy
Todd decides to move his family to Hawaii, fearing for their safety. Starr and Cole, wanting to spend one last night together before the big move, go to Langston's old house, where they sleep together for the first time. Todd walks in on them and nearly beats Cole to death. Todd decides to forbid Starr to see Cole or get anywhere near him, even though she assures him that he walked in before anything happened. Todd takes Starr out of school and decides that she should be home schooled to prevent her from seeing Cole.
Later, Langston walks in on Starr holding a pregnancy test. Todd eventually decides to trust Starr and put her back in school, as long as she agrees not to talk to Cole. Starr finds out she is pregnant but does not want to tell Cole. She considers having an abortion so that her father will never find out about the pregnancy. With Langston's help, Starr sneaks out of the house with the intention of taking a bus to Atlantic City to get an abortion.
Cole gets wind that Starr has gone to Atlantic City, and gets the address where Starr is going from Langston, not knowing that she was heading to an abortion clinic. Cole comes in at the last minute, figures out what is going on, and demands to see Starr. The nurses threaten to call police, but Starr comes out of the room in a hospital gown and the couple embraces. They return to Llanview without Starr having had the abortion. Cole sends Starr a letter stating that he wants her to have their baby.
Cole hatches a plan where he and Starr would run away to Virginia Beach. Starr is forced to endure a Manning family poker night with her parents and younger brothers while she was planning to run away. Before she leaves the room she tells her father, Todd, she loves him and hugs mother Blair tightly. Langston shows up and gives Starr a fake ID that Cole has procured for her (The name on Starr's IDs is Mindy Venta, while Cole's is Dan O'Connor. Both are names of two young real-world "One Life To Live" staffers) and a letter stating that she should meet him at 9 p.m. so they can run away and no one can ever tell them what to do again. Starr's aunt, Viki Davidson, shows up with a scarf that Starr has misplaced. Langston figures out that Starr and Cole are running away, and Starr admits to it, and also confesses that she will probably have the baby. Starr hugs Langston and they say an emotional goodbye. Todd and Blair put the boys to bed, and Viki stays downstairs at La Boulaie, catching Starr red-handed as she is walking out the back door, bags in hand, ready to meet Cole. Aunt Viki calls Starr back in, but doesn't catch on that was about to run away. Viki tells Starr that she knows she is upset and promises to keep Starr's confidence if she'll talk to Viki about her problems. Todd and Blair appear before Starr can tell Viki anything. Starr lies to Blair and Todd about being in the kitchen a few minutes before. When Blair and Todd leave, Viki confronts Starr about lying to her parents, knowing that Starr had not been in the kitchen, and asks her what she was doing. Starr confesses to Viki that she was sneaking out to meet Cole. Viki presses Starr for more information, but Starr doesn't let on that she is pregnant. Todd walks in and presses Viki for what Starr said, but Viki doesn't tell Todd and Blair anything. Starr reaches Cole on Langston's cell phone and they make plans to meet down by the dock. Starr waits for the right time to make a break for it while Cole retrieves her bag off the back patio of La Boulaie and Todd nearly catches him outside. Cole is relieved when Blair entices Todd back inside to go upstairs and make love. Starr sneaks past her parents when they are looking the other way and out towards the kitchen. Langston runs into Todd and Blair, who tell her that Starr is asleep. Blair looks into Starr's room, and is fooled by the lump in the bed. Starr and Cole meet on the dock. They embrace and kiss. Cole says he loves Starr, and promises that he will take care of her and "our" baby. With that, they run off into the night.
Later, they are found by Todd, Blair, and John. Todd throws Starr down a flight of stairs, then beats up Cole until he is unconscious. They are rushed to the hospital and John and Blair find out that Starr is pregnant.
Back in Llanview, Starr tells Blair that she wants to have the baby, but thinks that it should have a better life than she can offer a child. Blair tells her whatever happens will be okay with her. On June 18, 2008 she tells Cole that she will be placing the baby for adoption. Cole is heartbroken, and says that Starr really doesn't love him. Starr wants Marcie to have the baby after it is born. Marcie is initially unwilling, but eventually decides to go along with the idea. Meanwhile, Cole threatens to sue for custody of his child, but eventually decides to give up all his rights to his child. He also ends his relationship with Starr.
Back at school in the fall of 2008, several boys make fun of Starr because of her pregnancy. Starr stands up for herself and Cole protects her telling the principal of the school, who has threatened to expel her from school, that if she kicks her out she better kick him out too, because he's the father of her baby. After everything that Starr and Cole have been through together, they decide to stay friends.
Baby switch
Hope is born on November 6, 2008. Blair and Marcie are with Starr during the delivery, with Cole and Langston Wilde waiting outside. While Todd had originally planned to steal Starr's baby with the help of Janet Ketring/Lee Halpern and Starr's OB-GYN, Dr. Joplin, both of whom he has blackmailed, and raise the baby in New Mexico with the amnesia-stricken Marty Saybrooke (Cole's mother), he has a change of heart after talking with Starr before she goes into labor, and decides to call the scheme off. However, his plan is intercepted when Bess, an alter of Starr Manning's cousin Jessica Buchanan, steals the baby instead, intending to pass it off as Jessica's (Jessica's own baby, born while her alter Tess was in control, was stillborn). Jessica reemerges not realizing that her newborn daughter is Starr's child, and with everyone thinking that Starr and Cole's newborn daughter Hope had died of RH as confirmed by Dr. Joplin, and Starr's family mourn the loss of the baby they believe is hers. The baby's headstone gives her name as Hope Manning McBain. Marcie later finds out that neither Cole nor Starr were RH positive, and that's what they said the baby died from. Natalie and Jared soon discover that Chloe who they think is Jessica's baby is Starr's baby. Marcie later tells Starr that Hope had to have died of something else because her and Cole are both RH negative. Starr and Cole are about to receive the baby from Jessica, who is having a hard time admitting to her self that Chloe is dead. When they get Hope back from Jessica, Starr struggles with the decision to give up Hope or keep her. Starr eventually gives the baby to Michael and Marcie, but is clearly heartbroken by her decision. Starr and Cole start their relationship back up. Marcie realizes how difficult the decision to give away Hope was for Starr, and on June 15, 2009, she offers Starr the opportunity to raise the baby. Starr tearfully accepts, and Marcie gives Hope to Starr, saying that she loves them both.
Starr, Cole and Hope
Starr and Cole knowing that they can get through anything now decide to get married before Cole goes off to prison for drug possession.Todd does not agree with this. Thinking Blair won't give consent, Todd hopes to win over Starr. Blair eventually gives consent and Todd tells Starr there's no way in hell he will let his daughter marry Cole. Starr tells Todd she doesn't care what he says and tells him that if he doesn't give them his consent, the moment she turns 18 she'll take Hope and leave and they will never see them again. Todd finally gives in. Just as the pastor is about to announce them married, John McBain walks in to inform Cole that he will not have to go to prison if he co-operates in a sting operation to bring down the school drug dealer, Asher. Starr and Cole call the wedding off, deciding to wait. The day before Cole is supposed to go undercover, Starr proposes that Cole spend the night with her. The two make love and the next morning Cole says goodbye to Starr and Hope.
Notes and references
- ^ Though the character of Starr was born onscreen in the January 8, 1996 episode, she was subsequently aged four years by the casting of six-year-old Kristen Alderson (born in 1991) in 1998. This was confirmed in the January 17, 2008 episode, in which Blair realizes that she and Todd have forgotten that it is Starr's 16th birthday.
- ^ One Life to Live recaps (1/17/08) - ABC.com
- ^ a b Starr Manning profile - SoapCentral.com Retrieved December 24, 2008.
- ^ Kristen Alderson profile - Soaps.com Retrieved on December 24, 2008.
