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Martha Byrne
ATWTafscheid4.jpg
Byrne in 2012
Born
Mary Martha Byrne

(1969-12-23) December 23, 1969 (age 55)
Occupation Actress
Years active 1982–present
Spouse(s)
Michael McMahon
(m. 1994)
Children 3

Mary Martha Byrne (born December 23, 1969) is an American actress. She is famous for playing Lily Walsh Snyder on the TV show As the World Turns. She was on the show from 1985 to 1989, and then again from 1993 to 2008. She also played Lily's twin sister, Rose D'Angelo, from 2000 to 2003.

Martha Byrne has also acted in other TV shows, movies, and plays. She was the main character in the 1983 movie Anna to the Infinite Power. Today, she is an executive producer for the online drama series Anacostia. She has also acted in Anacostia as Alexis Jordan since 2011. Martha Byrne has won three Daytime Emmy Awards for her acting.

Early Life and Start in Acting

Martha Byrne was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Her parents are Terrence Joseph and Mary Adele Byrne.

She started acting when she was very young. Her first big role was in the Broadway musical Annie. In this play, she performed as the character July.

Martha Byrne's Acting Career

TV Shows and Movies

Martha Byrne appeared in many popular TV shows. These include Kate and Allie, Murder, She Wrote, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, and In the Heat of the Night. She also acted in TV movies like When the Cradle Falls and Pink Lightning.

Her most well-known movie role was playing the main character in the 1983 film Anna to the Infinite Power.

Daytime TV Roles

Martha Byrne is most famous for her role as Lily Walsh Snyder on the CBS Daytime TV show As the World Turns. She joined the show in May 1985 when she was 15 years old. She took over the role from another young actress.

Her character, Lily, became part of a very popular couple with Holden Snyder, played by Jon Hensley. Their storyline was very popular with fans.

Byrne won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1987 for Outstanding Younger Actress. She left As the World Turns in 1989 but came back in April 1993. From 2000 to 2003, she also played Lily's long-lost twin sister, Rose D'Angelo. She won another Daytime Emmy in 2001 for Outstanding Lead Actress.

Martha Byrne left As the World Turns again in April 2008. She later explained that she left because the show would not promise her the same amount of work she had before. Her last episode aired on April 22, 2008.

In 2009, Byrne worked as a script writer for the TV show The Bold and the Beautiful. From June to September 2009, she played Andrea Floyd on the ABC show General Hospital.

Since 2011, Byrne has played Alexis Jordan on the online TV series Anacostia. For this role, she won a 2012 Indie Series Award and a 2015 Daytime Emmy Award. The whole cast of Anacostia also won an Indie Series Award in 2015 for Best Ensemble. Byrne has also worked as a co-executive producer, director, and writer for Anacostia. She became an Executive Producer for the show in 2017.

Music Career

Martha Byrne is also a singer. She sang a Christmas medley on the 1994 album A Soap Opera Christmas. In 1996, she released her own album called Martha Byrne.

She released a second album called Woman Thing Music. In 2006, Byrne released her third album, The Other Side.

Awards and Achievements

Martha Byrne has been nominated for ten Daytime Emmy Awards as an actress and producer. She has won three times:

  • Outstanding Younger Actress in 1987.
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in 2001.
  • Outstanding Performer in a New Approaches Drama Series in 2015.

Martha Byrne's Family Life

Martha Byrne married Michael McMahon on November 12, 1994. Michael used to be an undercover police officer. Martha grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey and now lives in Ridgewood.

Martha and Michael have three children. Their first son, Michael Terrence McMahon, was born on May 29, 1998. Their second son, Maxwell Vincent McMahon, was born on September 3, 2002. Their daughter, Annmarie, was born on June 12, 2006.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Eyes of the Amaryllis Jenny Reade
Drop-Out Father Elizabeth McCall
1983 Anna to the Infinite Power Anna Hart
The Hamptons Miranda 1 episode
1984 He's Fired, She's Hired Emily Grier
1985 As the World Turns Lily Walsh Snyder 1985–1989, 1993–2008
The Beniker Gang Molly Stamwick aka Dear Lola, or How to Start Your Own Family
Kate & Allie Carter Lowe 1 episode
1986 As the World Turns: 30th Anniversary Lily
1989 In the Heat of the Night Lizbeth Hagen
1990 Jake and the Fatman Melanie Wilkerson
The Young Riders Vera Collins 2 episode
Doogie Howser, M.D. Sasha Larkin 1 episode
Over My Dead Body Julie Talmadge 1 episode
1991 Bob Hope & Friends: Making New Memories Herself
Murder, She Wrote Sarah Lapp 1 episode
Silk Stalkings Erica Dietz 1 episode
Pink Lightning Jill
1992 Parker Lewis Can't Lose Erin
1997 The Marksmen Alison Wells
When the Cradle Falls Donna McDermott
2001 The 28th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Herself
Mergers & Acquisitions Iowa
2004 Living It Up! With Ali and Jack Herself March 17, 2004
2006 SoapTalk Herself May 8, 2006, April 5, 2006
Life After Tomorrow Herself
2009 General Hospital Andrea Floyd June 17–September 9, 2009
2011–present Anacostia Alexis Jordan
2014 Crisis Marie Wirth 1 episode

Writer

Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Bold and the Beautiful script writer 3 episodes

Producer

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Bye Bye Sally executive producer
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