User:Livelikemusic/Sage

Sage Warner is a fictional character from The Young and the Restless, an American soap opera on the CBS network. Introduced by executive producer Jill Farren Phelps and created by then-head writers Shelly Altman, Jean Passanante and Tracey Thomson, the role is portrayed by Daytime Emmy Award nominated actress Kelly Sullivan, who made her first appearance on October 28, 2014, Sullivan's casting announced the character as "intelligent, competent, discreet, and reserved". Sullivan described Sage as someone who would "do anything for those she loves". Sullivan departed the role on April 29, 2016.

Casting and creation
On September 9, 2014, Soap Opera Digest confirmed that former General Hospital actress, Kelly Sullivan (ex-Kate Howard), had joined the cast in the recurring role of Sage. Sullivan first began taping on September 24, 2014 and made her first appearance on October 28, 2014. Sullivan revealed her casting in the role of Sage came after her audition to portray Phyllis Summers, a role that ultimately went to Gina Tognoni. She revealed, "Basically what happened was, Gina Tognoni and I both tested for the role of Phyllis, and I knew right away I didn’t get the part. They called me when I was driving home. They said, 'We love you, but it’s not happening.' I said, 'No, worries.' Then they told me that the writers on Y&R love you so much that they want to write a character for you. Then a couple months later, they called me and said the character had been written, would you like to do it, and I said, 'Hell, yes!' I am so flattered and honored to be at Y&R… I can tell you that!" In May 2015, Sullivan was placed on contract with the soap. On April 29, 2016, following increased speculation, Sullivan departed the soap.

Character development
In the casting announcement, Sage was described as "intelligent, competent, discreet, and reserved. However, that reserve masks a well of passion and fire beneath the surface. She’ll do anything for those she loves." Sullivan described the character as a "badass" and that "there is always something else going on underneath there".

Storyline
Sage first appears in Genoa City at the Church of the Sacred Heart, watching over Chelsea Newman (Melissa Claire Egan), as she leaves a handkerchief belonging to her dead husband, Adam Newman. Once Chelsea leaves the church, Sage enters and removes the handkerchief. She then visits a very much alive Adam (Justin Hartley), and gives him his mother's handkerchief, revealing that she's been tending to him following his numerous facial reconstructive surgeries. While taking care of Adam, Sage is also taking care of a wheelchair bound Constance Bingham (Sally Kellerman), while helping Adam keep up the persona of Constance's grandson, Gabriel. As Sage continues to help Adam make appearances in Genoa City, she meets and begins to make a connection to Adam's brother Nicholas Newman (Joshua Morrow). Following Constance's death, Sage reveals she was married to Gabriel, in order for him to receive his inheritance from his grandmother. Per the demand of Adam, Sage continues to connect with Nicholas on a personal level. Continuing to grow closer to Nick, Sage divorces "Gabriel" in an attempt of living a more honest life for herself. During a brief split from Nick, Sage sleeps with Adam and later discovers she is pregnant, reconnecting with Nick with the intentions of co-parenting their child together, despite the doubts from Adam over the child's paternity. When Nick proposes to Sage, they marry in an intimate ceremony at Chancellor Park. In October 2015, Sage goes into premature labor and gives birth to a son, Christian Andrew Newman. Following his birth, Nick and Sage receive news that Christian died from complications of being born premature; immediately grief-stricken, Sage takes out her anger against Nick.

Reception
With Sullivan's casting, Jillian Bowe of Daytime Confidential said, "The casting wars between General Hospital and The Young and the Restless just took an interesting turn." Kambra Clifford of Soap Opera Network stated, "Genoa City is about to become one of the hottest towns in soap operas." Michael Fairman of On-Air On-Soaps boasted, "For all of us who have been waiting for acting spitfire Kelly Sullivan to re-appear on our daytime screens, it’s finally happened!" For her portrayal of Sage, Sullivan earned a pre-nomination for the 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. On January 27, 2016, Sullivan earned another pre-nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the 43rd Daytime Emmy Awards.