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Behind The Scenes On 'The Young & The Restless'
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Set your DVR's people. I'm about to embarrass myself once again as I recently took on another acting gig. This time I was asked to play a reporter on CBS's number one daytime drama: "The Young & The Restless."
Back in February, I tackled my first ever acting role playing a patient on ABC's "General Hospital." For that one I had to be glammed down, wear a big bulky robe and sit in a wheel chair with a head injury. This time I was hoping for something a little more glamorous. So, I was thrilled when they asked me to play Sonia Wells, a reporter with the National Inquisitor. I try to stay away from all that tabloid stuff so it was a bit of a stretch for me to play a sleuthy chick whose only goal is to dig up dirt on Genoa City's most famous couple, Nicholas and Phyllis Newman. Here's how the day went down.
I arrived to CBS studios where the show's super sweet and friendly publicist greeted me. She let me borrow Melody Thomas Scott's dressing room. It was right across the way from "The Price Is Right" studio, which I desperately wanted to sneak into! Melody's dressing room was huge and very shabby chic with magazine covers she has been on all over the walls. I have never seen so many. She's been on a lot of covers! First up we went to the stage where we did camera blocking with the director. I met Joshua Morrow and Michelle Stafford who were in the scene with me (or shall I say, I was in the scene with them) and they were already made up and ready to go. I was still in jeans with messy hair and no makeup. When I remarked how scary I looked Michelle joked, "No you're a piece of ass! You're hot!" I liked these actors already.
Next, we headed into hair and makeup. The room is huge as they have a lot of cast members to get glam. Most of the team has been working there so long they are used to working very quickly. I think I was in and out in 30 minutes. I ran back to my dressing room to throw my dress on and then it was out to the stage for rehearsals. As we waited for the producers and directors to get everything set I chatted with Josh and Michelle who told me to just have fun with it. We ran lines together and I told Josh I was hoping to do a love scene on a soap one day. Wrong thing to say because during rehearsal every time we would start, Josh would say some cheesy pick up line to make me laugh. My favorite was, "Hey, you wanna share a banana smoothie? One straw." I think it actually helped loosen me up for the actual taping which maybe was why he did it.
Tape was rolling and it was the start of my scene. I was supposed to say to Josh, "Nicholas Newman? Sharon Abbott, your former wife and Beauty of Nature spokes model. Can you tell us about her being in the loony bin?"
Unfortunately, on the first take I forgot to say Sharon's name and I messed up "Beauty of Nature." I figured I would get a second shot but no sooner did they yell, "cut" when someone yelled, "Moving on!" Moving on? But I messed up my lines! How could I not get a second take? I guess on a soap opera that's how they roll!
We then went straight into our next scene where I was supposed to say, "Oh come on tell us. Is she all doped up or in straight jacket?" Those lines I nailed perfectly. Cut to yesterday when I watched the clips and my line had been cut out! Instead I just stand there while Josh calls me scum and yells at me. I give him a dirty look and walk away. Dirty looks? That's my specialty!
Thanks for having me Genoa City! I'll come back anytime as Sonia Wells to dig up the dirt.
My episode of "The Young & The Restless" airs Monday, August 24. Check out the behind the scenes video right HERE.
I saw your scene and it was cute. But just to let you know, it's Michelle Stafford who is the actress and she plays the character of Phyllis...
Total oversight we all missed! Thank you Kara for pointing that out to us. It's been fixed, with apologies to Michelle!