Sarah_Roberts

Ads

Sarah Roberts

Sarah Victoria Roberts is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live. The role has been most notably portrayed by Hayden Panettiere from 1994 to 1997 and Shanelle Workman from February 4, 2003 to January 28, 2004. Justis Bolding assumed the role on June 14, 2007.

The daughter of Cord and Tina Lord (and younger sister to Clinton James "C.J." Roberts), Sarah is born in 1991.

Character history

The baby

In 1990, Tina had been seeing suave Johnny Dee Hesser, son of mobster Carlo Hesser, and had also slept with ex-husband Cord. She soon discovers she is pregnant, but is not sure who the child's father is. Though believing the baby to be Johnny's, Cord is willing to reunite with Tina raise the child as his own. Finding out about the baby, a distraught Johnny bursts into Llanfair, knocking Tina unconscious and attempting to kidnap her. Tina's half-sister Victoria Lord had suffered a stroke and at the time is left unable to walk or speak. Viki had struggled with and overcome disassociative identity disorder in the past; realizing that Tina's life was in danger, Viki's alternate personality Niki Smith emerges. As Niki, Viki is able to stand — and then shoots Johnny to death. Initially, both Viki and Tina have no memory of what happened, and Tina becomes the prime suspect in the murder. However, an audio tape recorded in the room later exonerates her, and proves that Viki had acted in self-defense.

Johnny's father Carlo wants to take his grandchild from Tina, who flees to Texas. Armed with medical proof that the baby is his, Cord follows. Tina goes into labor in a snowstorm, and with the help of Cord and DuAnn Demerest, gives birth in February 1991. She and Cord name their daughter Sarah Victoria, after presumed-dead family member Sarah Gordon Buchanan (abducted and apparently killed by Carlo Hesser) and Viki. Cord and Tina return to Llanview and remarry.

The little girl

Cord is later presumed dead in 1992, and both Sarah and her older brother C.J. become attached to their mother's new boyfriend, Cain Rogan. Cord returns in 1993 suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome, but after much intrigue Tina marries Cain in 1994 and leaves town with him. She returns without him soon after, and rededicates herself to raising her children.

Rapist Todd Manning escapes from prison, but saves the lives of Sarah, C.J. and their cousin Jessica Buchanan. A man named David Vickers comes to town, claiming to be Tina's secret brother; soon Tina joins forces with imposter David to swindle the massive inheritance from her and Viki's real brother: Todd Manning. Ultimately, Tina moves to Baltimore with C.J. and Sarah in 1996, the three returning briefly in 1997 to say good bye to Cord as he leaves for London.

Flash

A young woman calling herself "Flash" appears in Llanview in 2003, and befriends Viki's son Joey Buchanan. She sings in a band with Riley Colson, and they are romantically involved. It is soon revealed that Flash is actually Sarah Roberts, looking for her brother C.J., with whom she had lost touch. Sarah had also lost track of her mother Tina, who had apparently hooked back up with Cain. Sarah explains that Tina's parenting had forced both children to run away. Sarah gives up on finding C.J. after their great-grandfather Asa Buchanan's investigation uncovers that C.J. had enlisted in the Navy and is at that point stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean.

Sarah is terrorized and nearly murdered by the Music Box Killer in 2004; he strangles her, but she survives and her voice is saved. Cord arrives to bring her back to London for further recovery, and she breaks up with Riley in a "Dear John letter."

The return

While in Chicago searching for his kidnapped son, Todd Manning is stabbed and soon disappears; he later reappears as the hostage of a young man named Hunter Atwood. On June 14, 2007, Hunter's girlfriend discovers an unconscious Todd and seems to recognize him. She secretly calls Todd's ex-wife Blair Cramer in Llanview to tell her Todd's whereabouts, and asks that Blair not involve the police.

When Blair arrives in Chicago with Cristian Vega and Rex Balsom, Hunter had moved Todd to parts unknown but Blair recognizes the caller: Sarah. She tells Blair and the others what little she knew of the situation, but Sarah has no idea where Hunter had taken Todd. After Hunter threatens Sarah on the phone, Cristian and Rex insist she return with them to Llanview and stay with either her mother's sister Viki Lord Davidson or her paternal grandfather Clint Buchanan; not eager to reunite with her family, she refuses. Sarah finally agrees — if she can stay with Rex or Cristian. Sarah claims she has been staying "off the Buchanan grid" and living off money from her parents, who believe she is abroad with an important job.

In August, Hunter finally tracks down Sarah, first seeing her leave her great-grandfather Asa Buchanan's mansion. He follows her to Antonio Vega's club Capricorn; inside the empty club, he demands money. Cristian appears, and after Sarah cannot convince her father over the phone to send any money, there is a struggle between Hunter and Cristian over Hunter's knife. Hunter is stabbed, and dies shortly thereafter. Sarah goes to the Buchanan mansion to speak with Asa, but Clint tells her that Asa had died the night before. Sarah's father Cord comes to town for the funeral; she and Cord have a brief but loving conversation, and he returns to London.

Strapped for cash, Sarah takes a job as a waitress at Capricorn. Not any good as a server or bartender, Sarah pressures club manager Cristian for more responsibilities, in particular a position as talent booker, supposedly her area of expertise. Cristian refuses repeatedly, insisting that she needs to prove herself first. Sarah had been rooming with Cristian; overhearing that Layla Williamson is looking for a new roommate, Sarah nominates herself. Cristian gives Sarah a recommendation. Cristian finally challenges Sarah to book a major talent to perform at Capricorn, never expecting that she can do it. Owed a favor by hip-hop star Timbaland's manager, Sarah manages to book Timbaland to perform on October 9, 2007.