She is known for playing the role of Emma Snyder on the CBS Daytime soap opera As the World Turns (1985 to 2010).
For her work on As the World Turns, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1986, 1987, and 1991.
Widdoes has appeared in theatrical productions, including The Beggar's Opera (1972), Much Ado About Nothing (1972), Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983), The Tower of Evil (1991), Hamlet (1992), and Franny's Way (2002).
[8][4][2] Widdoes performed in Richard II, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Romeo and Juliet at the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1961.
[9] Widdoes had a singing role in the musical We Take the Town (1962), but she heard through the dressing room wall that she was going to be fired, so she gave her notice that she was leaving.
[11] Widdoes made her film debut as Helena Davison in The Group (1966), directed by Sidney Lumet.
[18] She also played Masha in a film adaptation of Chekhov's The Sea Gull (1968), directed again by Sidney Lumet.
[21] In 1971, she played Maggie West in the horror film The Mephisto Waltz, co-starring with Alan Alda.
[1] In June 1972, Widdoes played Polly Peachum in The Beggar's Opera at the McAlpin Rooftop Theatre.
[34][35] Widdoes was cast as Rose Perrini on the NBC soap opera Another World, playing the role from 1978 to 1980.
[36] In March 1981, she starred in Stops Along the Way and In Fireworks Lie Secret Codes at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.
[42] Widdoes appeared as Blanche Morton in the original Broadway production of Brighton Beach Memoirs.
[43] She was cast in the contract role of Emma Snyder on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, first airing in July 1985.
The character was the owner of a farm and the matriarch of a large family, including son Holden Snyder (Jon Hensley).
[45] For her work on As the World Turns, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1986.
[49] For her work on As the World Turns, she received her third Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1991 for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
[50] In July 1991, Widdoes played Jan Kirkland in Man in his Underwear at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
[52][53] For her work on As the World Turns, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1994.
[56] Widdoes played Geraldine Walden in the film Courage Under Fire (1996), co-starring with Denzel Washington.
[57] In October and November 1996, she starred in The Rose Tattoo at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
[59] In February 1998, she played Maria Callas in Master Class for North Carolina's PlayMakers Repertory Company.
[44] In 1961, Widdoes met actor Richard Jordan when they played the lead roles in a Shakespeare Festival production of Romeo and Juliet.