List of The Bold and the Beautiful characters introduced in the 2020s
The Bold and the Beautiful is a CBS American soap opera that first aired on March 23, 1987. This is a list of characters that debuted or will debut on the show between January 2020 and December 2029, in order of first appearance, that do not have their own page. Penny Escobar, the friend and doctor of Sally Spectra, was introduced in February 2020. John "Finn" Finnegan, a love interest for Steffy Forrester, was introduced later that year, as was Paris Buckingham, the sister of Zoe Buckingham. [|Jack] and [|Li] Finnegan were introduced in 2021 as the parents of Finn. Grace Buckingham, the mother of Zoe and Paris, debuted in January 2022. In September 2023, Luna Nozawa was introduced alongside her mother, Poppy Nozawa, later that month. 2024 featured the debut of Clint Howard as [|Tom Starr], a former local musician. Murielle Hillaire made her first appearance as perfume designer [|Daphne Rose] in January 2025. Additionally, multiple [|other characters] have appeared.
Penny Escobar
Penny Escobar was played by Monica Ruiz from February 7, 2020, to August 5 of that year.Penny is introduced as the friend and doctor of Sally Spectra. Penny dislikes her job and wishes to be a fashion designer. When Sally visits her in a professional capacity due to seemingly struggling with mystery symptoms, she tells her and Katie Logan that Sally has a month to live and to build a strong support system, but encourages her to seek a second medical opinion. However, it is revealed that Penny is helping Sally fake a terminal illness in an attempt to reunite Sally with her ex-boyfriend, Wyatt Spencer, with Sally promising to help Penny become a fashion design at Forrester Creations in exchange. When Wyatt's girlfriend Flo Fulton finds out about the scheme, Penny knocks her unconscious. Sally and Penny keep Flo hostage tied to a heater in order to prevent the truth from coming out, but Flo is able to get a message to Wyatt and is rescued.
Richard Simms from Soaps She Knows referred to the character as "Doctor Demento".
Paris Buckingham
Paris Buckingham, played by Diamond White, made her first appearance on November 2, 2020. She was introduced as the sister of established character Zoe Buckingham and the daughter of Reese Buckingham. The CBS website refers to Paris as "benevolent" and "vivacious" with a "heart-of-gold".Paris arrives to see her sister, Zoe. She begins flirting with Zende Forrester Dominguez, which irritates Zoe as she and Zende are attracted to each other despite her being engaged to Carter Walton. Paris accepts a job at Forrester Creations, despite Zoe telling her not to, and goes on a date with Zende, which Zoe tries to sabotage by spiking her drink with laxatives. After finding out that Carter has been having an affair with Quinn Fuller, Paris informs Zoe, who leaves town. Paris continues her romance with Zende and moves in with John "Finn" Finnegan and Steffy Forrester but leaves after developing a crush on Finn. She rejects Thomas Forrester, her housemate and a cousin of Zende, when he falls for her and tries to spring a romantic dinner on her. When Paris finds out that Zende wants to propose to her, she tells him that she is enjoying being single and encourages him to see other people too. Paris then kisses Carter. Paris is happy when her mother, Grace Buckingham, moves to town. Grace is unhappy with Paris not being with Zende and tells her to accept if he proposes again. Paris declares her love for Carter and breaks up with Zende. Carter proposes to Paris and she accepts, despite being surprised at the speed of it, but is devastated on their wedding day when Carter leaves her for Quinn at the altar. A heartbroken Paris is comforted by Grace and Zende, the latter later continuing to collaborate with her at Forrester Creations.
Soap Opera News placed White's portrayal of Paris eighth on its list of the "Top 15 Soap Newcomers of 2020". However, Richard Simms and Charlie Mason from Soaps She Knows named Paris as the "Worst-Written Character" of 2022 in American Soap Operas, commenting that "One day, The Bold and the Beautiful would have us believe that Paris just wants to settle down like Steffy and Finn. The next, it wants us to buy that she's savoring being single and ready to mingle. Two weeks later, she was 100 percent into the idea of marrying Carter. Whiplash, much?" Chris Eades from Soaps In Depth noted how Paris had "already made a place for herself at Forrester" despite being relatively new. In 2021, Carol Cassada from Showbiz Cheat Sheet noted how Paris was initially popular with fans, being viewed as a "heroine", but the popularity decreased due to her "tendency to jump from man to man" and viewers not understanding the "fascination" with the character. Cassada also noted how Paris was receiving a lot of air time and was initially viewed as a "fan favourite" but whose actions had become of a "villain". The following year, Cassada commented that Paris "waffles between men" and noted that some fans did not feel sympathy for Paris after being stood up by Carter.
Jack Finnegan
Jack Finnegan, played by Ted King, made his first appearance on July 30, 2021. He was introduced alongside his wife, Li, as the "adoptive" father of John "Finn" Finnegan, although it is later revealed that he is his biological father. The news of King's and Matsuda's casting was announced in June 2021, with it being teased that their arrival would reveal Finn's "very dramatic backstory." They had begun filming on June 9 of that year. King returned the following year and began reappearing from July 7, 2022. In July 2024, People made an announcement that King would return as Jack on the series to take part in a "dramatic storyline involving Li and his son." His return airdate was July 1st.Jack arrives for Finn's wedding to Steffy Forrester and to meet his grandson, Hayes Finnegan. At the wedding, Jack is nervous about their wedding being public information and his fears are proved right when Sheila Carter, who has terrorised Steffy's families for decades, arrives at the reception and reveals that she is Finn's mother. It is later revealed that Jack had an affair Sheila years prior, when she was working at the hospital with Li, and that he is the biological father of Finn. He reveals the truth to Li and they tell Finn, who struggles to forgive his father. Li and Jack separate. Jack grieves Finn after he is presumed dead after being shot by Sheila, but it is revealed that he is still alive. When Sheila is arrested for shooting Finn and Steffy, Jack visits Sheila after she emails him. She tries to play with his emotions and reminds him of their relationship but Jack refuses to help her.
For his portrayal of Jack, King won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series at the 2022 ceremony. Charlie Mason and Richard Simms from Soaps She Knows called the reveal of Jack being Finn's biological father as the "Worst Reveal" of 2021 in Soap Operas, commenting that the soap "dragged out the moment that Finn learned that his adoptive father was also his biological father for so long."
Li Finnegan
Li Finnegan, played by Naomi Matsuda, made her first appearance on August 2, 2021. She is introduced as the adoptive mother of John "Finn" Finnegan, and arrives for his wedding to Steffy Forrester, alongside her husband, Jack. The news of King's and Matsuda's casting was announced in June 2021, with it being teased that their arrival would reveal Finn's "very dramatic backstory." They had begun filming on June 9 of that year. Matsuda was reported to have made a "fiery exit" when Li was seemingly killed off on June 22, 2022, however it was later revealed that the character was alive when Matsuda began reappearing from July 21 of that year.Li arrives with Jack for Finn's wedding to Steffy, whom she takes a liking to, and to meet her new grandson, Hayes Finnegan. At the wedding, Finn's biological mother, Sheila Carter, who has terrorised Steffy's family for years, arrives to meet Finn, shocking everyone. Jack later confesses to Li that he is Finn's biological father as he had an affair with Sheila whilst married to Li. A heartbroken Li is devastated by the lies and encourages Jack to tell Finn the truth. Finn comforts his mother after the revelation, and she returns home.
Li returns the following year after Finn and Steffy are shot by Sheila, with Finn supposedly having died. She checks on Steffy, who is in critical condition, and refuses to allow Sheila to see Finn one last time. Li then finds out that Sheila shot him. Li refuses Steffy and her family's help in organising the memorial service. It is then revealed that Finn is still alive but in a coma, with Li nursing him at home and making everyone believe he is dead, having signed his death certificate. Li is overjoyed when he begins to wake up but the pair are discovered by Sheila, who Li had been trying desperately to keep Finn away from. Li tries outsmart Sheila and calls the police, leading to Sheila attacking her. Li escapes and a car chase follows, leading to Sheila hitting Li's car, which starts burning and falls into the water. Li is presumed dead and Sheila takes over looking after Finn.
Weeks later, just as Sheila tells an awake Finn about Li's death, Li is revealed to be alive and she is discovered by Bill Spencer Jr. near a trash can. She is badly traumatised and amnesiac, but Bill's son Liam Spencer recognises Li and tells Bill who she is. Li is able to regain her memory and ability to speak and tells Bill and Liam that Finn is alive. Finn and Li reunite and fall into each other's arms. Finn is grateful to his mother for keeping him alive and whilst Steffy is also grateful, she is angry by Li not telling her that he was alive. Li explains her reasons and refuses to apologise, saying that Finn had a normal life before meeting Steffy. Li meets up with Bill, who she is grateful for saving her life, and explains that she and Jack are no longer together due to his deception. Sheila fakes her death and lurks at Li and Finn when they are at a restaurant together. When Sheila is discovered, Li visits her in prison and tells her off. When Sheila has a heart attack and Li is assigned to be her doctor, she refuses to help Sheila and wants to see her die, but Finn saves her. Li later tells Finn off when he calls Sheila a hero due to her saving Steffy's stepdaughter from drowning.
For her portrayal of Li, Matsuda was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series at the 2022 ceremony, but lost out to King's portrayal of Jack.
Referring to the character's presumed death, Richard Simms and Charlie Mason from Soaps She Knows said that Li had the "Best Swan Song" of 2022, saying that she "got one hell of a send-off, going up in flames — literally! — while being pursued by Finn's other mother, lunatic about town Sheila." They also referred to Li as "fiery" and referred to the revelation that she "had fooled everyone into thinking he was dead even as she worked to bring him back from the brink" as the "Best May Sweeps Reveal" which made fans "over the moon".