7 Daily Soaps characters who seem to have everyone wrapped around their fingers

Kim Tate in Emmerdale | Image Via: ITV
Kim Tate in Emmerdale | Image Via: ITV

Daily soaps have the ability to bring forth characters who can orchestrate events that could easily make people sway their way. These characters possess a certain level of intellect and a cunning manipulative streak that allows them to navigate complex relationships.

They can easily bend others to their will. They are the puppet masters pulling the strings of the narrative. They leave a trail of unease in their wake. These individuals inject their own brand of drama, keeping us hooked to our screens.

They embody a fascinating blend of power and personality, which makes them compelling and even questionable. They employ emotional manipulation, strategic alliances, and even the undeniable force of their personality to create gripping storylines.

So, let’s delve into the 7 characters who seem to have everyone wrapped around their fingers.


7 Daily Soaps characters who seem to have everyone wrapped around their fingers

1) Warren Fox in Hollyoaks

Hollyoaks | Image Via: Lime Pictures
Hollyoaks | Image Via: Lime Pictures

The primary aspect of any manipulative character is their ability to keep others around them completely oblivious to their activities and make them believe that whatever they are doing is right. In Hollyoaks, one such character is Warren Fox. He has an uncanny ability to make people dance to his tune — a remarkable aspect of his character.

From exploiting people to blackmailing, he has done it all. He is a master at twisting the situations around him. When he is the one pulling the strings, everyone is at his command. He even murdered his own fiancée. He does not have any remorse as a character.

A significant trait of Warren Fox is his ability to exploit people’s weaknesses and insecurities. Throughout his presence in the series, he has manipulated numerous characters — from lovers to family members to unsuspecting acquaintances — weaving a tangle of deceit.


2) Kim Tate in Emmerdale

Emmerdale | Image Via: ITV
Emmerdale | Image Via: ITV

Kim Tate’s name is enough to bring forth a sense of tension in the world of Emmerdale. She has undeniably earned the title of the master manipulator by having everyone wrapped around her fingers. If she does not get her way, she creates events with such minute details that they have the ability to surprise everyone. She has a sharp intellect, which helps her easily manipulate others.

Her manipulative tactics are varied and layered. She even faked her own death — just to get revenge on Frank. She is intimidating and ruthless. Her long history in the village has provided her with a deep understanding of the intricate web of relationships and past grievances of others. She uses this knowledge skillfully. Even when she is exposed, she somehow manages to wiggle free from the consequences.


3) Sonny Corinthos in General Hospital

General Hospital | Image Via: ABC
General Hospital | Image Via: ABC

Someone who is as involved in the mob as Sonny Corinthos definitely has the talent to manipulate and wrap people around his finger easily. Sonny Corinthos has evolved as a character in General Hospital. This long-running soap opera has the ability to bring forth some of the most intriguing character aspects in the show.

Each of the characters in General Hospital is well-written. Sonny Corinthos is capable of intense brutality. He has battles of his own. As a multifaceted character, he has the ability to bring forth a sense of intrigue in the show whenever he is involved in any plotline. He has a way of manipulating people with his words. It makes things easier for him to get what he wants without raising immense suspicion — something other characters might not be able to do.


4) Trevor Morgan in EastEnders

EastEnders | Image Via: BBC Studios Continuing Drama Productions
EastEnders | Image Via: BBC Studios Continuing Drama Productions

People who have the ability to maintain a façade of friendliness are truly among the most vicious kinds of individuals. For Trevor Morgan, it is easy to maintain this façade. He is a master manipulator, notorious for his ability to control and torment others, especially his wife, Little Mo.

His manipulative techniques were truly insidious. He systematically eroded Little Mo’s self-esteem, using verbal attacks, criticisms, and belittling remarks. He created a situation that caused her to become entirely dependent on him. He even isolated her from her family and friends. This isolation made it harder for outsiders to recognize his true colors.

Trevor also had the talent to gaslight others. As a result, he was able to make people doubt themselves. Since he maintained the façade of a good person, it made it even harder for Little Mo to break free from him. Apart from Little Mo, Trevor’s manipulative tactics also affected other characters equally. His duality hid his true nature. He was calculative about his actions and exploited others with precision.


5) Sheila Carter in The Bold and the Beautiful

The Bold and The Beautiful | Image Via: CBS
The Bold and The Beautiful | Image Via: CBS

Sheila Carter in The Bold and the Beautiful was truly one of the most intriguing characters in the show. She was famous among viewers not for her positive traits, but for all the manipulative activities she carried out for her own gain. Over the years, she has woven a complex thread of deceit. She has pulled the strings and stayed behind the scenes to make people wrap around her fingers with a façade.

Her manipulative activities are not loud or aggressive. She has the talent to employ a subtle approach to play on people’s vulnerabilities. Her obsession with Dr. Scott Grainger was truly one of the most compelling plotlines, showcasing her true nature to the viewers. She didn’t think twice before drugging Dr. Scott and assaulting him, doing so to get pregnant and keep him to herself. She even used manipulation to remove Lauren from her path.

When Sheila’s baby died, she went as far as to switch Lauren’s baby. Removing a child from their mother is truly one of the most heinous crimes one can commit. She went ahead and replaced Lauren’s child with a baby she got from the black market. When Lauren found out the truth, she was devastated.

Sheila even manipulated a paternity test so that everyone believed Ridge was the father of Brooke’s baby. She is highly adept at exploiting people’s vulnerabilities, making them easily wrapped around her fingers. Her relationships were built on the foundation of manipulation.


6) Pat Phelan in Coronation Street

Coronation Street | Image Via: ITV
Coronation Street | Image Via: ITV

Pat Phelan of the long-time-running soap opera is a character one should think twice before associating with. Yet his skills in expert manipulation make it hard to truly understand his plans and desires. He easily twists situations to his own advantage. He did his best to keep his crimes under the radar so that no one would doubt him.

He murdered people, deceived them, and did everything a master manipulator would do to achieve their goals. The fact that he was able to hide his criminal activities from Nicola and Eileen shows his capabilities. He scammed people. He turned Anna’s life upside down. He was able to create a situation that made Anna believe she had no one. His manipulation was all about psychological control.

He preyed on the weaknesses of his victims. Pat Phelan in Coronation Street was like a dark shadow lurking in plain sight. It made him both compelling and terrifying. No wonder he had the other characters wrapped around his fingers—he had people dancing to his tune.


7) Victor Newman in The Young and The Restless

The Young and The Restless | Image Via: CBS
The Young and The Restless | Image Via: CBS

Victor Newman’s manipulative tactics have truly been one of a kind. He has the ability to wrap people around his fingers and make them do things that serve his interests. His power and wealth act as a propelling factor for this behavior as well.

They enable him to control situations and the people around him with ease, often turning them into pawns for his own use. His methods frequently cross ethical boundaries. He has the ability to exploit the vulnerabilities of those around him, using his knowledge to steer them in the direction he desires.

Victor has used both romantic relationships and professional aspirations as leverage to achieve his goals.


For more such interesting pieces, stay tuned to Soap Central.

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Edited by Ritika Pal