The Bold and the Beautiful is no stranger to sudden exits. The soap opera has been on for 36 seasons, so it’s become something of a tradition to watch characters leave, come back, and make shocking, life-altering decisions over the course of a given season. The longer they stick around, of course, the harder it is for fans to see them go. Steffy Forrester is a prime example.
The character, played by Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, was introduced in 2008 and has been part of the show in some capacity ever since. Steffy is never far from the drama, so the rumor that she will be leaving The Bold and the Beautiful during the current season concerned some fans. Thankfully, the character recently returned after a break, none the worse for the wear.
Why did Steffy leave The Bold and the Beautiful?
Unfortunately, the rumor is true. Steffy left the show during the episode that aired on September 7, 2023. She decided to leave mainly because she could no longer put up with the presence of Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) in her husband’s life. Steffy told Finn (Tanner Novlan) that she loved him but could no longer live like this and decided to leave for Europe with their kids in tow. Finn tried to get the character to stay by promising her that Sheila would never bother them again, but it was too little too late. She was gone.
While it was undoubtedly a heartbreaking moment for fans, there is a silver lining to be gleaned. Steffy’s absence from the show was only temporary. A show representative issued a statement reading: “Jacqueline MacInnes Wood is taking a short break, as she has done in the past, from The Bold and the Beautiful. She remains as the character of Steffy Forrester.”
The absence actually served as Jacqueline MacInnes Wood’s maternity leave. She and husband Elan Ruspoli, welcomed their fourth son in August 2023, which they commemorated on social media. “August 27th our baby boy Valor James Ruspoli was born,” Wood wrote on Instagram. “Our hearts are so full. Thank you for all the messages. Just been taking this time to slow down and soak in this moment.”
When did Steffy return to The Bold and the Beautiful?
Despite having just given birth, the actress planned to return as soon as possible. She even told fans that they won’t have to wait long to reunite with Steffy. “People are always surprised by how quickly I’m back to work! But I’m incredibly lucky, and we find ways to make it work,” Wood told Soaps She Knows. “It’s not easy, not by any means. But my husband and I are big believers that you have to make time for everything that’s important in your life. Your kids, your partner, your career, all of the things that make you happy and who you are. It’s about balance.”
Wood has the track record to support her claim. She took a break from The Bold and the Beautiful in 2013, which led to the character of Steffy only making a handful of guest appearances, but she was back full-time by 2015.
Steffy made her surprise return to Los Angeles on the Nov. 2 episode of The Bold and the Beautiful. During a scene of Finn working from the cliff house, Hayes and Kelly emerged. Hugging both of them, Finn wondered what they were doing there. Kelly exclaimed that she’d woken up in Los Angeles after sleeping in Italy. “Surprise,” Steffy grinned as she entered the room.
Later, Steffy sent the kids to their rooms so she and Finn could talk privately. Finn exclaimed that this had been the best day of his life and asked her what had led her to decide to return home. As Steffy explained, she could not be apart from Finn because the kids missed him so much that it had broken her heart, and she couldn’t stand being apart from him. Steffy had also realized that she did not want to run anymore. She was a fighter and would not allow Sheila to take her family away from her. She vowed to defend what was rightfully hers despite what Sheila had done.
Then Finn began apologizing to Steffy, but she was insistent that none of that mattered. It was all about how strong they were together, and she promised that she and the kids would never leave him again. Will it be smooth sailing for Steffy and Finn from now on? When will Steffy go toe-to-toe with Sheila? As Wood told michaelfairmantv.com, “Steffy tells Finn that she’s not afraid of Sheila anymore, and she’s actually going to go see her and tell Sheila to her face.”
She also teased viewers, “Keep watching because, in the coming weeks, Steffy will give Sheila some payback.”
Wood has been nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards during her time on the show and has won two.
