I Wanna Be a Soap Star is a reality television series which debuted on the cable channel SOAPnet in 2004. The show is hosted by All My Children star and ex-Dancing with the Stars participant, Cameron Mathison. It is based on the popular British reality series Soapstars.

I Wanna Be a Soap Star

The first season debuted on October 16, 2004. Twelve contestants competed in various acting challenges for the prize of a role on General Hospital. The performances, which involved learning how to cry on camera, filming love scenes and fight scenes, among other soap staples, were judged by film and daytime television actress Debbi Morgan, General Hospital casting director Mark Teschner and agent Michael Bruno. The show underwent some criticism when the winner, Mykel Shannon-Jenkins, was given a role as a police officer named Officer Byron Murphy that barely rose above extra status. His character was later shot and killed by Jesse Beaudry (Matt Marraccini) in July 2005.