Drucilla Winters

Drucilla Winters
The Young and the Restless character
Victoria Rowell as Drucilla Winters
Portrayed by	Victoria Rowell (1990–2007) Dawn McMillan (1996) Kent Masters King (2000)
Duration	1990–1998 2000 2002–2007
First appearance	May 7, 1990
Last appearance	April 6, 2007
Classification	Former; regular
Created by	William J. Bell
Introduced by	Edward J. Scott (1990, 2000) David Shaughnessy (2002)
In-universe information Other names Drucilla Barber Occupation Cosmetics spokeswoman Executive Director of Cosmetics (Newman Enterprises) Businesswoman Fashion model Ballerina Photographer's assistant Family Barber Father Walter Barber Mother Lillie Belle Barber Sisters Olivia Winters Husband Neil Winters (1993–1998, 2003–2007) Daughters Lily Winters Adoptive sons Devon Hamilton Grandsons Charlie Ashby Dominic Newman-Abbott-Chancellor (adoptive) Granddaughters Mattie Ashby Uncles Wesley Barber Aunts Mamie Johnson Nephews Nathan Hastings, Jr. First cousins Justin Barber

Drucilla Winters is a fictional character from the American CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. Created by William J. Bell as an effort to add more African American characters to the cast, the role was portrayed by Victoria Rowell. Rowell left the role in 2000 to pursue other projects and Alexia Robinson was introduced as Alex Perez, a replacement character, shortly after. Rowell later returned in August 2002.

In 2007, Rowell became unhappy with the soap opera behind the scenes, labeling daytime television and The Young and the Restless as racist for not having enough African-American cast and crew.^[1][2] She also argued the directions of her storylines which weren't heard, prompting her to leave. Within the storyline, Drucilla fell off a cliff and was presumed dead as her body was never found. Rowell has openly expressed pleasure and willingness to return,^[3][4] and as a result of the character's strong appeal and popularity, viewers have campaigned for the series to rehire her. However, CBS has stated that having Drucilla return is not the creative decision they are looking for, which has disappointed fans of the actress.^[5] In 2015, Rowell filed a lawsuit against the soap opera and Sony Pictures Entertainment for retaliation, claiming that she had been blacklisted by the network for speaking out against what she believed was racial discrimination during her time portraying Drucilla.

The character is a ballerina-turned-model, with a forward personality and feisty persona. Introduced in 1990 as a runaway teen and street urchin whose aunt is Mamie Johnson (Veronica Redd), the housekeeper for the Abbott family. Drucilla's storyline revolves around normal soap style rags to riches story beginning as a rough around the edges illiterate young woman, to becoming a glamorous model and later a major business executive and one of the elite citizens of Genoa City. Most of her history also revolves long-term relationship with cosmetics executive later CEO Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John) with Dru and Neil becoming one of the main super couples on the show, being raped by Neil's brother, Malcolm (Shemar Moore), which resulted in the birth of a daughter, Lily (Christel Khalil), and on-again/off-again relationship with her sister, Olivia (Tonya Lee Williams). Drucilla's rivalries with Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) and Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) (the latter often providing the series' comic relief), and friendships with Victor Newman, Jack Abbott, Brad Carlton (Don Diamont) and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) have also proved popular as plot points.