Occupation: Reporter

Relationships: Ethan Blackthorne

Appearances: Season 2

Who’d Play Her: Brooke Burns

The Reporter Who Became Part of the Story: Janet Harper was an ambitious Denver newspaper reporter whose fascination with the Blackthorne family brought her to Los Angeles. Persistent, intrusive, and rarely discouraged by boundaries, she first inserted herself into James Blackthorne’s search for Brooke Taylor after locating the pregnant woman in Phoenix. Her information helped James bring Brooke home, but Janet’s interest in the family extended far beyond a single news story.

While remaining close to the Blackthornes, Janet began dating Ethan and quietly worked on a manuscript exposing the family’s secrets. Stormy immediately distrusted her, recognizing Janet from Denver, where she had previously photographed his affair with Senator Timothy Fallmont’s wife, Samantha. Janet later sent the incriminating pictures to Timothy, setting in motion the political blackmail that threatened the Blackthorne-Reynolds natural-gas pipeline.

Janet’s manuscript eventually attracted the attention of Will Thomerson. After breaking into her hotel room and discovering the project, Will offered to buy Janet her own newspaper in exchange for the rights. He intended to turn the Blackthornes’ private scandals into a film and use it to humiliate James. Tempted by the career opportunity, Janet initially accepted.

Her growing feelings for Ethan soon caused her to reconsider. Realizing the project would devastate him and expose the family he loved, Janet asked Will to return the manuscript. When he refused, she broke into his home in an attempt to retrieve it. Instead, she discovered DNA results proving that Will was Ethan’s biological father. The revelation placed Janet in possession of one of the Blackthornes’ most explosive secrets and forced her to choose between journalistic ambition and protecting the man she had come to care about.

Janet also became involved in the investigation of Will’s murder. Stationed outside his house on the night of the Filmmaker Awards, she reported hearing a gunshot and seeing Stormy flee the property. Her statement contributed to Stormy’s arrest, though the case soon expanded to include nearly every member of the Blackthorne family as a potential suspect.