Born in 1956 in Los Angeles, California, Thomas Scott first appeared on the big screen at the age of 13 in the film “Marnie.” Over the following years, she landed small roles in both film and television, sharing the screen with stars like Kirk Douglas and Clint Eastwood. Alongside her acting career, she attended the University of Southern California, where she studied piano performance.

Despite her professional success, which included several Emmy nominations and awards from Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Update, few knew about the dark, traumatic past Scott endured as a child. Her mother abandoned her when she was an infant, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. Unfortunately, her grandmother did little to protect her from abuse by various individuals throughout her childhood.

In 2020, Scott released her memoir, Always Young and Restless: My Life On and Off America’s #1 Daytime Drama, giving readers an intimate look at her life behind the scenes. It was an eye-opening account of the struggles she faced growing up in a tumultuous environment.

Scott’s painful memories began at just four years old, when she first witnessed her grandmother being abused. Her grandmother, although present, never intervened to protect Scott from the repeated abuse that she endured for much of her life. As a child actor, Scott found solace and escape in her work, using it as a refuge from the chaos of her family life. Acting offered her a sense of normalcy and safety she had never known.

At twenty, Scott left her grandmother’s home. Despite her declining health, Scott’s grandmother did little to shield her from the abuse, and Scott realized that no amount of reasoning could change what had happened. Over time, Scott learned to move forward, despite the hurt and bitterness that marked her relationship with her grandmother. Her grandmother sought forgiveness for years, but Scott could never fully reconcile with her before she passed away.

Yet, Scott found a silver lining. Her traumatic experiences taught her resilience, patience, and how to persevere through life’s hardships. Although her relationship with her grandmother remained strained until the end, Scott was able to move past the pain after shedding her grandmother’s last name.

In 1985, she married Edward James Scott. To celebrate their 20th anniversary, they renewed their vows on “Entertainment Tonight,” surrounded by family and friends. The couple adopted three daughters, Jennifer, Alexandra, and Elizabeth.

Motherhood offered Scott a second chance to make up for the wrongs of her own childhood. She devoted herself to giving her daughters a better life, actively involving them in different activities and watching them grow into independent, happy adults with families of their own.

By sharing her story, Scott hopes to shed light on the woman behind the TV character Nikki Newman, and more importantly, she urges anyone enduring abuse to seek help before it’s too late. She reminds us that abuse can happen to anyone, no matter their social or financial background.