reaction. When I saw it finally, I started crying. I thought it was so cool.
You manage to steal scenes from the likes of Emmy winner Suzanne Rogers! Your chemistry was instant long before viewers knew Maggie and Mel were related. Was that rapport in the script — or was it merely a subconscious connection you gals had from the start and the show wrote to it?
I believe our producer at the time, who saw our first scenes together at the docks where Melanie was being a complete jerk to Maggie, loved our dynamic together and they began to write for us more. I love Suzanne —and she took me under her wing. I think our off-screen affection transcends onscreen — and it makes for a believable grandmother and granddaughter relationship.
I’d say! Is Shawn Christian coming back to the show? I know he’s taking a personal leave from the show.
Yes, he’s coming back. But I didn’t know he was coming back when we taped Melanie’s goodbye to Daniel! Omigod, wait until you see those scenes because I was a complete mess as I thought he was really leaving the show permanently. But I found out soon after that the show was just giving him a break for a while.
I like that Melanie holds down two jobs! She must be the only character on daytime to work hard for her money. I love how timely DAYS is these days from Marlena playing Words With Friends with Will on her iPad to the embezzlement scandal… I’m really happy with the show. Are you happy with the reboot?
Yeah. I think it’s great! I like that the show is about family again. There’s some drama, of course, but our show is much lighter instead of being so dark. We celebrate holidays… DAYS is now a show I would watch. Our head writers are so sweet and so hands-on. They are always on set and ask for our feedback and input.
I always say, compared to other shows, DAYS is the happiest cast on daytime. You can tell when a cast is happy by watching the show onscreen.
Yes, we are. I know this is cheesy to say, but we really are a family. Everybody gets along with everyone. I wish there was all this drama because it would make for a more interesting interview but there isn’t.
What was it like losing Crystal Chappell this past summer as your on-screen mother, Carly?
It was very hard because I adore her and I look up to her. And she’s so talented and a friend. The pain of losing her was eased by getting to work her on Venice. It was really hard to lose her.
Is it discouraging that the ratings haven’t mirrored the show’s creative renaissance?
Yeah. I hope they go up, but I also know soap operas aren’t getting the numbers they use to across the board, because there are so many distractions these days. It’s sad because the soap opera art form is such a staple in our culture.
Were you a soap fan? Did you watch soaps before DAYS?
I didn’t watch a lot of soaps. My mom loved GH! She’d tape it on her VHS, and sit in her chair and watch it but she fast-forwarded through a lot of it because she didn’t have a lot of time. During the holidays, I would sit with her and watch GH so I got totally hooked, too, whenever I was visiting her. And soaps are just fun! Though I would ask, “How do you know what’s going on if you’re fast-forwarding a lot of it?” And she’d answer, “Oh, I know exactly what’s going on!”
Your mom and I would’ve gotten along! I do that all the time, but not through your scenes, of course! [Laughs]
When I got DAYS, she screamed, “But I cannot not watch GH!” I told her she could watch both shows. And she did.
Did you ever think you’d be a soap star?
I had no idea! I moved to L.A. just knowing I wanted to be an actor. I had no idea how I would start acting… I just had a dream. I’m so thankful I landed a job on a soap, because it’s like receiving a Harvard education in acting. It’s like boot camp. I prefer doing one take, actually. I was watching a new interview with Meryl Streep — and she said she hated doing multiple takes and I’m so on board with that. I feel like your initial reaction to a scene is the best one — and the most genuine.
I agree. We only get one take in life! Unless the lights fall on poor Suzanne Roger, then, yes, of course, do another take! [Laughs]
[Laughs] Yes, that would warrant another take!
Did you pop out of the vajayjay wanting to be an actor or was it a journey?
Oh man, I popped out wanting to entertain. As a kid, I remember being glued to The Lawrence Welk Show. I started out in musical theatre and loved acting my whole life. It’s the only thing I ever wanted to do — or could do.
What was it like being on True Blood — you lucky bitch! It’s the hot show of the moment…
It was so great! I didn’t watch when I booked it, because I didn’t have HBO yet. When I filmed True Blood, I only filmed my scenes, so I didn’t get to see what the show was about. When my mom and I finally sat down to watch the first episode of the second season, we were shocked because it was extremely provocative and sexual. My mom was like, “What the hell did you get yourself into?!”
[Laughs hysterically] Omigod, that’s so funny! Yep, on first glance True Blood can come across as a well-written gay porno!
[Laughs] My poor mother! But we both fell in love with the show — and watched it together every Sunday. It’s a great show.
And that was your real voice singing “Jesus asked me out Today?”
Yep. I love singing so much. I’m working on a record label I’m creating. I’m working with a couple of different producers right now. My sound leans more towards R&B. We’ll see… that’s one of my side projects.
Can we expect Mels to start singing on the show? I kind of hate when soaps do that…
I know! But if DAYS could make it work, for sure.
You could sell records directly to the DAYS audience. And why not? Everyone else is hawking stuff onscreen! [Laughs]
[Laughs] I know, right?!
We’ve talked about your growth as an actress on DAYS these past three years. In hindsight, what do you think of your evolution? Do you blame the writing at all for fans and critics not taking you seriously at first?
This was my first time ever stepping in front of a camera, so I was very green. Mel was also a really bitchy character, so it made it easy for everyone to hate her. The combination of all those things, me finding my feet in the crazy fast-paced world of daytime, plus my mean character, I think, created that initial impression. But later, I was able to find my feet —and infuse Melanie with a lot more comedy and vulnerability. I think people Melanie and I now. Well, I hope they do.
Was there a specific moment when you said: “OK, I’m Melanie now?”
That’s a good question. I don’t know if there is a specific moment. [Pauses] It kind of happened without me realizing it. However, I will say the time Melanie found out Daniel and Carly were her parents, because that reveal was such a defining moment for the character, was a turning point for me as Mel. Having said that, I still don’t think I know Melanie completely yet — which is part of the fun. But I like to think I have a good grasp on the character. I love this job so much. I work very hard. I’m excited to see what the future brings. I am very appreciative [DAYS casting director] Marnie Saitta trusted me with this character and saw something in me.
I wanted to personally and publicly thank you, James Scott and Michael Muhney for showing up to the NATAS meeting to help determine Emmy Award reform. And you guys did it! Congrats. Are you putting yourself up this year? You bettah…
Yes, I am! I haven’t chosen an episode yet. I’m thankful and excited to be in the race again this year.
You have a lot to choose from this poor year. Emotionally, poor Mel ran the gamut. Along with your full-time gig on DAYS, fighting for Emmy reform, working on your fledgling music career, you debut as a mysterious character on Venice this season. What can you tell us?
I’m not sure what I can say without Crystal getting mad at me [because my character is a big surprise]. Shooting Venice is a lot like shooting movies and prime-time TV, so I like that element and dynamic. It’s a lot more intimate. We go
t to do a lot of takes, which was kind of cool. But to be able continue working with Crystal is the biggest joy.
Well, viewers will definitely want to tune in because your character changes the Venice dynamic big time. Crystal is known for reinventing DAYS actors on Venice — and you should be honoured because she doesn’t just pick anyone to star on her web soap. Is your character different from Melanie?
Um, she’s a little similar and a little different. They share the same kind of back-story. But my character is explored more in the fourth season, so I’ll be able to talk more about her next year.
Crystal’s smart: she knows how to introduce new characters slowly. Soaps used to do that — and that’s maybe a reason why fans resisted you at first on DAYS. Do you have a favourite acting moment so far?
My favourite scene so far is when Melanie got a T-shirt for Daniel, which read, “I’m a big sister,” and a newborn baby book on DAYS. And out of nowhere, Melanie started crying because she was trying to give her father something she never received from the dad who raised her.
I’m a huge fan of the recent Chad and Melanie pairing. I’ve been demanding this hot hook-up for a while now despite the fact real-life pairings sometimes spells box-office poison. And you guys are hot, hot, and hot! Did it surprise you that