Young and the Restless Performer of the Month for May: Cait Fairbanks

Great job portraying Tessa in May!

Cait Fairbanks was great as Tessa this month.

May was a month filled with music, love, and complex emotions for Tessa Porter, on The Young and the Restless, and Cait Fairbanks brought every beat of it to life with her nuanced, heartfelt performance. Whether she was offering Daniel quiet comfort as he navigated his grief or wrestling with her own insecurities in her relationship with Mariah, Fairbanks turned Tessa’s vulnerability into undeniable strength.

Congratulations Cait Fairbanks!

Fairbanks shone brightest during Tessa’s scenes with Daniel (Michael Graziadei). Watching her gently guide him through guitar lessons, it was clear that Tessa wasn’t just teaching chords and strumming patterns—she was helping him reconnect with a part of himself he thought he’d lost. With a quiet, steady presence, Tessa provided not just a distraction but a pathway back to hope. Fairbanks gave Tessa a lightness and an empathy that felt authentic, making those moments resonate deeply with viewers.

Of course, it wasn’t all about Daniel. Tessa’s scenes with Mariah (Camryn Grimes) revealed another layer to her character—her deep-rooted fear of losing the woman she loves. Tessa’s worry that Mariah might be upset about her revealing details of their life to Ian (Ray Wise) was palpable. Fairbanks portrayed Tessa’s guilt and apprehension with such honesty that you couldn’t help but feel for her. Even in her moments of doubt, Tessa’s love for Mariah was unwavering, and that love was written across every expression Fairbanks wore.

What makes Cait Fairbanks stand out this month isn’t just her ability to play vulnerability. It’s how she imbued Tessa with both grace and grit. In every scene, Fairbanks brought Tessa’s layers to life: her quiet wisdom, her unshakable loyalty, and her willingness to fight for the people she loves.

With her understated yet powerful portrayal, Fairbanks reminded us that strength isn’t always about being loud. It’s about showing up, being present, and offering love when it’s needed most. This month, she made Tessa Porter unforgettable.