another actor, we see what's happening on-screen and start playing around with it in the writing- that's how a character takes shape". The variety of actresses that auditioned for the role implied that there was not any set direction for the character. Brown spent the first few months of her tenure crafting a backstory to explain her character's actions. According to her backstory, the character was scripted as being born on November 5, 1973, in Jacksonville, Florida to the 16-year-old prostitute Bobbie (Jacklyn Zeman) and immediately placed up for adoption because Bobbie could not care for her. The child is adopted by Virginia (Lois Nettleton) and her husband Frank Benson in Pensacola, Florida as Caroline Leigh Benson. Frank eventually walks out on his family and Virginia works so much that Caroline barely has a chance to develop a relationship with her. According to Brown, Virginia is always a bit cold and bitter toward Caroline. In her teen years, Caroline becomes best friends with Charlotte "Carly" Roberts (Kari Wührer). Carly's father Dan Roberts seduces the young Caroline destroying Carly's family and the girls friendship. Caroline then loses Carly who is presumably killed in a car crash. Development Using the alias Carly Roberts, the character ingratiates herself into the life of her biological mother Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman) through her enrollment in the student nursing program and they start to bond until Bobbie rejects her. Carly then seduces Bobbie's doctor husband Tony Jones and sets her sights on the couple's young son Lucas (Justin Cooper). In Carly's mind, the affair is Bobbie's karma for abandoning her. Carly wants from Bobbie what she feels she didn't get from her adoptive mother. As the affair dismantles a once happy marriage, Sarah Brown maintained Carly's intentions start off pure. With Bobbie shutting her out, Carly goes on the defensive and develops feelings for Tony which she is very reluctant to face. Though she knows the relationship is built on her lies of omission, Tony becomes the center of Carly's life. Meanwhile, Bobbie's brother Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) recognizes a kindred spirit in his niece and "that excites him"—which is why he keeps the secret. As the walls feel like they are closing in on her, Carly becomes impulsive and self-destructive and has a one-night stand with the troubled alcoholic A. J. Quartermaine (Sean Kanan). According to Brown, the writing for Carly isn't to garner sympathy