What women hath wrought: A chld grown into a woman

Most people know Victoria Rowell as an actress, the first to simultaneously star in TV series in both daytime (“The Young and the Restless”) and primetime (“Diagnosis Murder”).

But few know that Rowell grew up as a foster child, first in Maine, then later in Massachusetts, where she pursued her passion for ballet.

How she rose from such humble beginnings to become a performer and social advocate is at the heart of her inspiring memoir, “The Women Who Raised Me,” recently released by William Morrow.

Rowell became a ward of the state when she was born in Bath in 1959 to a white, old-money, schizophrenic mother and an unknown black father.

She credits much of her success to lessons she learned growing up in Maine.

“The state of Maine became a mother to me,” said Rowell in a phone interview on her 48th birthday. “Being taught the trade of farming gave me a refined sensitivity to earth and taught me the value of patience and nurturing. Those are rudimentary steps I still apply every day.”

“The Women Who Raised Me,” a real it-takes-a-village tale, is divided up into three sections: “Grandmothers, Mothers, Aunts,” “Mentors, Fosterers, Grande Dames” and “Sisters,” as Rowell details the women who have had an impact on her life.

The book has been long in the making, as Rowell estimated that she began writing it at age 9 and has since then continued collecting material for it from letters, journals and other memorabilia.

Once she signed a book deal last year with Morrow, “it became a very aggressive schedule,” she recalled. “I signed the deal in July and turned in the book by December. Fortunately, I’ve always kept my stories fresh, kept the memories alive.”

What did Rowell learn about herself from this process?

“That I have a photographic memory,” she said. “And that I’m more of a packrat than I thought. I unearthed a lot of boxes that I had stored and hadn’t opened. I needed to re-read a lot of my ephemera.”

Rowell has done many things during her career. She began as a ballet dancer. While teaching ballet, she began modeling, then branched out into acting.

Her best known roles were as pathologist Dr. Amanda Bentley for eight years on “Diagnosis Murder” and as Drucilla Winters on “The Young and the Restless,” a role she recently left after 18 years.

Other roles have included “The Cosby Show” and “Feast of All Saints” on TV and the films “Leonard 6,” “The Distinguished Gentleman,” “Dumb and Dumber” and “Eve’s Bayou.” Her films coming out this year are “Home of the Brave” and “Of Boys and Men.” She’s now completing work on “The Mentor,” a documentary companion piece to her memoir.

Rowell also remembers where she came from. In 1990, she founded the Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan, offering artistic and athletic expression to foster children. She has also supported a number of artistic and children’s groups through the years.

As expected, Rowell’s book has been well received by those who have been involved with the foster-care system.

“A good percentage of the people at each book signing are foster youth, adult adoptees and social workers,” she explained. “People are coming out to ask questions and be heard. They’ve thanked me for representing them fairly. They’re so grateful. I’m proud to say people have found this book, enough to put me on the New York Times best-seller list.”

In addition to her acting, Rowell is continuing to write. Next up is a book of fiction titled “Secret Diaries of a Daytime Diva.” When asked if she was burning all her bridges to the soaps, Rowell laughed and said, “It really is fiction. It’s ‘Soapdish’ times 1,000, with characters from my imagination.”

Writing is a process which Rowell enjoys.

“Writing is always cathartic,” she said. “It’s a place to channel my thoughts, my feelings. It’s very therapeutic, and I always recommend it, especially to children.”

Rowell’s book tour recently brought her back to Maine, where a stop in Augusta attended by 400 people was her largest book signing to date. She was also invited to stay at the Blaine House by Gov. John Baldacci and his wife.

“That’s when I realized that you can run a hundred miles and wind up back at your own front door,” Rowell said. “In my book, I write about the history of Maine, some of which people would like to forget. We’ve come a long way as people in that time. I’m proud to be a Mainer.”