Kelly Ripa CreditsAll My ChildrenCasting Director for Giving Her Mark Consuelos and Their Kids: 'I Would Literally Have Nothing'

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelly Ripa.Photo:Getty

Getty

Kelly Ripahas a lot to thank casting director Judy Blye Wilson for — and she’s well aware!

During the conversation, Cohen asked Wilson about some of her proudest casting moments, at which point Ripa, 54, quickly interjected, “If I may add, without Judy, I would literally have nothing.”

“I would not have my husband[Mark Consuelos]. I would not have my children. You are responsible for every good thing that’s ever happened to us. And I just want to publicly say that because I’ve said it before, but without you [present],” she continued.

Andy Cohen, Susan Lucci, Kelly Ripa, Jill Larson, Eden Riegel, Jennifer Bassey, Francesca James, Lorraine Broderick and Judy Blye Wilson at ‘All My Children’ at 55 in N.Y.C. on Jan. 14.Getty

“[The show’s executives] couldn’t make a decision about Mark,” she revealed during the panel.

“And I was so behind him,” she continued, adding, “And I brought Kelly into my office and I showed her a black and white picture of him and his headshot, and shereallyliked him. Really. I did everything.  And I don’t know why they were dragging their heels on it, but they actually had him play the role [temporarily].”

“So he started playing the role and I had to continue to search for another person. […] Finally, I begged to the producer and she [relented], and it turned out to be the best — one of the best parts — that I ever cast. Because it not only maintained for that story, but it obviously maintained for your life” she said motioning to Ripa. “Which is fabulous. Just fabulous.“

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos at the opening night of ‘Sunset Blvd’ in N.Y.C. on Oct. 20, 2024.Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Other cast members apparently noticed the immediate chemistry between the pair as well.

“I just have to say something about Mark and Kelly,” their former costar and soap icon, Lucci, told Cohen during the discussion. “I was happy to be in the hair and makeup room watching their audition scenes. […] And we were all like, ‘Oh, get a room.’ The chemistry between you two was coming right through the screen.”

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Ripa and Consuelos soon began dating and elopedto Las Vegas in 1996.

Kelly Ripa, Michael Consuelos, Lola Consuelos, Mark Consuelos and Joaquin Consuelos.Kelly Ripa/Instagram

Kelly Ripa/Instagram

“You’re going to go through things, there are ups and downs,” Ripa toldEntertainment Tonightin 2023. “The thing is, don’t panic.”

During a January 2020 episode of her showLive with Kelly and Ryan,the television personality likened marriage to a“marathon.”

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“You’re going to fight, you’re going to have disagreements. Relationships, marriages are not sprints, it’s a marathon,” she said. “There’s going to be like, mile 24, when you’re like, ‘I quit.’ But you just got to push through. Just push through.”

“There’s really nothing that’s that insurmountable besides abuse or things of that nature. You’re going to fight. You’re going to have disagreements. You’re going to fundamentally not agree on things. And if you take a breath, you usually can’t remember what you’re fighting about,” she added.

source: people.com