Emmy-nominated B&B performer Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy Forrester) is leaving the CBS series -- but differing stories about how long she'll be gone caused fans a great deal of panic.
"Jacqueline MacInnes Wood is taking a short break, as she has done in the past, from B&B," a spokesperson for The Bold and the Beautiful confirmed. "She remains as the character of Steffy Forrester and is continuing to tape, currently, with episodes airing through July of 2013 and then beyond."
In its latest print edition, Soap Opera Digest reveals that Wood has "opted not to renew her contract" with The Bold and the Beautiful. Digest also claims that B&B execs "threw a lot of money at her" to get Wood to stay but that the actress ultimately decided to walk. However, on its web site, Digest printed a retraction of sorts, stating that Wood's supposed final day of work was not really her last at the B&B studio.
Soaps In Depth, meanwhile, was first to explain that Wood's exit was just a temporary thing. The actress will, the magazine emphasized, be back.
"A The Bold and the Beautiful source tells us Jacqueline Wood is 'taking a short break' from the show 'as she has done in the past,'" the magazine's Twitter feed for CBS soaps reported.
Meanwhile, a couple of weeks ago, Wood told Soap Opera Uncensored about her daytime plans.
"No plans of leaving," Wood told Uncensored. "I'm so lucky to be here. I'm happy I got to play this character. I have such an incredible boss in Brad Bell. He lets me do other things. He's made me want to stay here while pursuing other things. I want to do all of it! I'm very blessed. I live it day by day and live in the moment. I like being able to do daytime, primetime, and films all at the same time."
Wood made her daytime debut on B&B as Steffy Forrester in 2008. Earlier this month, the actress earned her second consecutive Daytime Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Younger Actress field.
Outside of daytime, Wood has landed roles in the feature films Nightmare at the End of the Hall and Final Destination 5. Dubbing herself DJ Jacqui Mac, Wood also released a song in January 2012, entitled "After Hours."
