As we approach the day of Victor (Eric Braeden) and Sabrina's (Raya Meddine) wedding, fans can expect more visitors to arrive in Genoa City.  Among those who will drop by is Cynthia Sikes, who has been cast as Sabrina's mother, Zara, on The Young and the Restless.

According to Soap Opera Digest, Sikes has already started filming her scenes on Tuesday and is set to make her debut on The Young and the Restless on June 19, in time for her daughter's wedding to Victor.

Finola Hughes, best known for her portrayal of Anna Devane on the soap operas General Hospital and All My Children, was supposed to fill the role of Sabrina's mother, but producers of General Hospital asked her not to.  Consequently, the role went to Sikes, an actress known for playing strong mother roles.

Landing the role of Zara on The Young and the Restless serves as Sikes' comeback after nearly six years of absence on-screen.

Sikes' most recent TV exposure was on the comedy sports show Arli$$ where she guest starred as Meredith Scott in 2002.  Prior to that, she played Dr. Sidney Walden, Adm. Albert Jethro 'A.J.' Chegwidden's (John M. Jackson) love interest on JAG, and recurrently appeared as Judge Monica Ryan on L.A. Law.  But her breakthrough role came as she was cast as Dr. Annie Cavanero on the critically-acclaimed series St. Elsewhere.  Her other TV credits included Flamingo Road as Sandy Swanson, Falcon Crest as Barbara Munroe, and Archie Bunker's Place as Mrs. Peggy Levy.

While doing TV guest appearances, Sikes also landed roles in the big screen.  She starred alongside Jeff Daniels in the 1990 drama-comedy Love Hurts, participated in the sports drama Possums as Elizabeth Clark and was most recently in Henry Jaglom's romantic comedy Going Shopping, in which she worked with Rob Morrow, Lee Grant, Victoria Foyt.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Soap Opera Digest
(Image courtesy of Soap Opera Digest)