Lisa Yamada on Luna’s Dark Descent, Daytime Emmy Glory, and Her ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ Dream
From Sweetheart to Schemer
Lisa Yamada’s rise on The Bold and the Beautiful has been nothing short of dramatic. Once the show’s wholesome “good girl,” Luna has now spiraled into one of daytime’s most unpredictable forces—and Yamada couldn’t be happier about it.
“I asked for Luna to go bad, but not that bad!” she laughs. “I wanted to be a badass, like Steffy. I didn’t realize Bradley Bell would take that and turn me into an actual villain.”
That transformation—from lovable Luna to “unhinged” killer—earned Yamada a 2025 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Emerging Talent. The actress credits her costars, including Kimberlin Brown and Don Diamont, for helping her embrace Luna’s sinister side.
Finding the Darkness
When the scripts first took a dark turn, Yamada admits she wasn’t sure she could pull off evil. But Don Diamont, who plays Bill Spencer, quickly became her mentor.
“Don saw my potential before I did,” she says. “He made me believe I could handle the chaos—sobbing, screaming, and even swinging a gun around.”
Kimberlin Brown, who portrays iconic villain Sheila Carter, offered even simpler advice: “Being bad is the most fun.” Yamada agrees. “Kimberlin is nothing like Sheila in real life. She’s sweet, but she’s given me the space and courage to play dark.”
Luna’s Tangled Web
Luna’s storylines have only gotten wilder. Recently resurrected and now pregnant after an assault on Will Spencer, Luna’s return has every Forrester, Logan, Spencer, and Finnegan in chaos.
“They are obsessed with me,” Yamada jokes. “It’s like everyone just walks into Bill’s mansion uninvited.”
Despite the backlash, Yamada finds joy in playing a complex, morally twisted character. “It’s fulfilling creatively,” she explains. “I’m exhausted sometimes, but lucky to be exhausted doing what I love.”
‘Lock Her Up’—But Not Too Fast
Even Yamada admits Luna’s crimes have gone too far. “If this were real life, she’d be in jail forever,” she concedes. “She’s unhinged. She needs a psych evaluation from Dr. Taylor Hayes!”
But in soapland, there’s always a twist waiting. “Without Luna, everyone would be living happily ever after, and that can’t happen on this show,” Yamada teases. “I’d love to see her on house arrest, plotting her next escape.”
A Bonnie and Clyde Future?
Yamada hopes Luna can find a little love amid the madness—especially with Will Spencer. “I’d love for them to have a Bonnie and Clyde moment,” she admits. “I’ve been playing crazy for a while now, so I miss the love story.”
While Will’s heart may still belong to Electra, Yamada’s friendship with actress Laneya Grace keeps the rivalry fun. “We always joke that she’s Luna before the evil kicked in,” she says. “We’re all close off set—it makes the onscreen tension even better.”
Red Carpet Confidence
Offscreen, Yamada is ready for her big night at the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. “No silk slip dresses for me,” she says with a grin. “I love structure, color, and confidence. And always—good posture and perfect toes!”
Whether Luna finds redemption or dives deeper into chaos, Yamada’s bold choices have made her one of The Bold and the Beautiful’s most talked-about stars.