Young & Restless’ Zuleyka Silver Calls Audra a “Survivor” and a “Fighter” as She Celebrates 3 Years on the Soap
Audra’s Impact on Genoa City
Three years ago, The Young and the Restless introduced viewers to Audra Charles — a mysterious, ambitious businesswoman with secrets in her past and a knack for shaking things up. Played by Zuleyka Silver, Audra has since become one of Genoa City’s most unpredictable and intriguing characters.
Marking her third anniversary on the soap, Silver reflected on her journey with Soap Opera Digest, sharing her deep connection to the role and why she finds Audra endlessly fascinating.
“She’s a Survivor, She’s a Fighter”
Silver admitted that she loves Audra’s complexity — damaged yet determined. “She has a lot of trauma and is a little damaged, but that’s why I love her,” she said. “She’s a survivor, she’s a fighter, and she doesn’t quit. I just think she’s fascinating, really.”
That resilience, she believes, is what makes Audra stand out in a world where betrayal, power moves, and heartbreak are constant.
Three Years That Feel Like Both Forever and a Blink
Reflecting on her time on the show, Silver confessed the pace of soap storytelling makes it feel as though time moves differently.
“It feels like it hasn’t been three years, but then it does,” she explained. “I’m like, ‘Wow, time really does fly.’ But then I feel like just now we’re starting to see a little bit of evolution with Audra, when she was a bit vulnerable, and then she kind of went back to her essence.”
She added that compared to real time, Audra’s on-screen growth feels slower: “That’s just the nature, I’m learning, of soaps, right? One day is what, like, seven episodes or something?”
The Joy of Playing the Unpredictable
For Silver, one of the greatest rewards of stepping into Audra’s shoes is her unpredictability. She enjoys that fans never quite know what Audra will do next, keeping the character fresh and exciting.
“Sometimes I feel like time has gone by fast outside of the show, but not in it,” she said, noting that the slow burn of Audra’s development only makes her actions more surprising.
What’s Next for Audra?
As Silver looks ahead, she sees plenty of room for her character to grow. Whether Audra leans into her softer side or doubles down on her fierce, take-no-prisoners persona, one thing is certain — she’ll continue to keep Genoa City on its toes.
And for Silver, that’s exactly what makes playing her such a thrill.