Kelly Ripa

With her ability to balance dramatic and comedic television roles with a successful family life and morning talk-show, Kelly Ripa proved to be a paradigm of the modern working mother. Though her coy sex appeal and dramatic flair contributed to a 12-year career on the long-time soap "All My Children" (ABC, 1970-2013), it was Ripa's vibrant personality and unique sense of humor that made her a morning talk show star. Able to stand on her own opposite the brazen antics of television veteran Regis Philbin, Ripa breathed new life into "Live with Regis and Kelly" (ABC, 2001-2011), which became "Live with Kelly" upon Philbin's retirement and "Live with Kelly and Michael" (ABC 2012-16) when ex-football player Michael Strahan was named co-host. Following Strahan's departure in 2016, Ryan Seacrest became Ripa's new co-host in 2017, and the show was relaunched as "Live with Kelly and Ryan" (ABC 2017- ). Ripa's down-to-earth personality and willingness to share her off-camera life with viewers quickly made her one of the most popular names on morning talk-show circuit.