Ashley Bashioum and Jeanne Cooper Interview
Ashley Bashioum and Jeanne Cooper
"Mother's Day" from CBS.com
It was 7:45 a.m. when CBS.com sat down with the The Young and the Restless' on-screen grandmother/granddaughter team, JEANNE COOPER (Katherine) and ASHLEY BASHIOUM (Mackenzie). Although it took a while for Mac to warm up to Kay, Ashley and Jeanne hit it off immediately. Read on to see how they're relationship has grown both on-screen and off.
CBS.com: What were your first impressions of each other?
JEANNE COOPER: My first impression was...is she flexible? Isn't that strange? Only because of the part and what it requires. I saw a child, you know? In essence, a very innocent child in terms of the business today. I liked that. I liked it very much because you don't see that too often. She didn't have this worldliness about her that said, "I am the world. I know it all and go tack yourself to the wall." There was a basic innocence about her.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM [To Jeanne]: Thank you very much. I remember that first day [on the set]. I came the day before I was going to work to visit. [I wanted to] walk around a little bit just so my first day wasn't that bad, even though it still was. I met Jeanne when I was visiting. I think my first impression was...is she going to accept me? I was really nervous. It was my first job ever. My first time in front of the camera. So, that was probably coming from my nerves. Then, obviously, right when I met her she did [accept me]. I could totally see that. She was really sweet.
CBS.com: What was your first scene together like?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: It was in front of a fire barrel. [The barrel] was flaming and I was trying desperately not to catch my coat on fire and her coat on fire.
JEANNE COOPER: I had a fur on, right?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes, you had the fur coat and I had to put it on you.
JEANNE COOPER: Right. Those were very good scenes. I liked them. They looked very good on the show, too.
CBS.com: What has been the best advice you've ever given or received from one another?
JEANNE COOPER: It wasn't advice she gave me, but basically she's a "taught at home" person. Coming from that background and environment, you have a tendency to think that maybe she wasn't so aware of the world around her. But she said something that was really cool and I said, "Oh, I didn't know you knew that." And she said, "You know, I am fifteen." It was just so sweet. I saw this innocence, but it didn't keep her from looking and seeing and feeling. It's really quite amazing.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: [Laughs] I totally remember that and now I can say, "You know, I am sixteen."
JEANNE COOPER: Yeah. [Laughs] That's right. It's made a big difference. Now you can do anything, you're sixteen.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Right. I can do everything but drive right now. In the beginning, when we just started working together, I remember that it was in the shelter and you always helped me when Ed [Scott, Executive Producer] or David [Shaughnessy, Producer] would come out and they'd give me notes. They would say this is how we want you to change it or something like that.
JEANNE COOPER: I would interpret it for her.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. It was hard to comprehend.
JEANNE COOPER: And they never really thought about it. Ed was handling her like she's been in classes and things when she hasn't. I meet her on her terms if I'm trying to explain something. I don't try to say, "Don't you understand me?" Which I think is what parenting is all about. You have to try and get inside of that child's head and their point of view. The idea [is] if you're going to give advice, have it mean something.
CBS.com: Do you think being a mother in real life has helped you to relate in that way?
JEANNE COOPER: Oh, good heavens yes. Of course it has. I have eight grandchildren so I'm seeing it all over again. I have [Ashley] as a teenager seeing things all brand new again. It's quite amazing. I'm constantly seeing a new evolvement all of the time. I'm seeing teenagers evolve through Ashley.
CBS.com: What does it mean to Mac to finally have her grandmother, a mother figure, in her life?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I think it means that she has security because her actual mother, back in St. Louis, didn't pay attention to her after she married her stepdad. So, I think having her grandmother means that she has a security in her life. At first, she was scared to face that, but now she's accepted it, and she's started leaning on her grandmother. Before she thought, "Oh yeah, I could just run away if something goes wrong." But now I don't think she could do that.
JEANNE COOPER: She's becoming dependent through that security.
CBS.com: How has this relationship changed Katherine?
JEANNE COOPER: This becomes her own flesh and blood. It just becomes her direct line and she is a little more vulnerable in this situation than she's ever been. The Chancellor children always chose to live with Katherine rather than with their own mother Jill because Jill is such a twit. [Laughs] And, of course, what makes it even more ominous towards the future is the fact that she is going to try to disprove Mackenzie being Brock's daughter and my grandchild. Her son, Billy, is turning out to be a total nerd. He's such a disappointment to them. [Joking] To Alcoholics Anonymous. She does a hands on, but also takes them off quickly because she doesn't want to lose this in any instance. She'd probably kill Jill for trying to find out if Mac's her real granddaughter. That's to be the big storyline. It will be interesting. It's going to be very hard for Ashley emotionally. [To Ashley] You'll find that when we start [exploring that] that you're going to be torn as an actress. You're going to want to say, "Yeah, but I want her as my grandmother. I don't want to be somebody else's." As an actress it's going to be very challenging. You're going to find yourself personally saying, "She really is going to be my grandmother when this is all over, right?" You'll fall into that same security that you're talking about. That's the lovely part about it. You're feeling the right thing. You're going to miss the security as an actress. You'll say, "I want my grandmother." Great stuff to play, but you'll find it an emotional yank.
CBS.com: How do you think that Katherine would deal with Mac and Billy having a relationship?
JEANNE COOPER: It would be fine with her, but she would fight it only because of what Jill would do to her. Plus, the fact that she's not quite certain that Billy is not a lot like his mother which is, again, no good. [Laughs] But how bad can he be at the age he's supposed to be? Sometimes they're worse. As an actress it would be very difficult because I've fallen in love with David Lago [Raul]. The rejected cutie pie. It would be very hard to look at little David if all of a sudden Mac says, "Now my mind's on Billy." I'd say, "Poor David."
CBS.com: On a more personal note, how are you planning to celebrate this Mother's Day?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I'm going to the Bahamas.
JEANNE COOPER: This Mother's Day I'll be in Canada. I'll be doing appearances for a Mother's Day crowd. My own children, they all have their own families. However, [my son] Corbin will say, "Oh you're not going to be home for Mother's Day?" And I'll say, "No, I'm not, Corbin." [My son] Collin said, "Where you going? That's good." And [my daughter] Caren is saying, "Well, we can celebrate Mother's Day before you go." And I'm saying, "Hey, let's all call each other on the phone and say we love each other and that'll be okay." Besides, I don't want another framed picture. I really don't. [Laughs] This time I'll get a Rolls Royce. You hear that Ashley, dark green? I mean it. I don't care who's granddaughter you are.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I leave this Friday.
JEANNE COOPER: And your mother said you kids are going to get out of her hair and she's going to have time to herself.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. That's kind of her reward. To get us out of the way. My brother and I will be hanging out in the Bahamas and I'll be horseback riding. He'll be doing hiking and archery.
JEANNE COOPER: When you get time you'll go in the ocean. It's marvelous.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Except, I'm afraid of sharks.
JEANNE COOPER: There won't be any sharks where you're at.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: In the Bahamas? There are tons are sharks.
JEANNE COOPER: There are tons of sharks, but not where you're going to be. It's so warm. Stay close to the shore.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: But did you know that most shark attacks happen in under three feet of water?
JEANNE COOPER: Okay, don't go in the water.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: [Jokes] I'll just go in the deep part.
JEANNE COOPER: Go in the pool.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Good idea. I'll go in the pool. No, I'll just go horseback riding on the beach.
CBS.com: What qualities have you inherited from your mother?
JEANNE COOPER: The intelligence gene came from my mother. The same to be curious and apply yourself. My father was pretty good at that sort of thing, too...to give you a passion towards life. I think my mother was basically a survivor. You survive. You'll have conflict, but you arm yourself with knowledge or intelligence and that's your survival kit.
CBS.com: That's very similar to Katherine Chancellor. Do you bring that characteristic to her?
JEANNE COOPER: Yes. That's one of the main qualities that I've given to her. Thank heavens they write the challenges for her every once in a while to show that strength over the years. She survives it and you can if you're focused on it. I think the main emotion of Katherine is surviving any of life's battles that are thrown at her, conflicts and various things and winning just by being focused in order to survive. Life is more precious than not.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I don't think I'm old enough to notice the qualities that I have from my mom. I can't think of any right now because I'm still trying to get to know myself.
JEANNE COOPER [to Ashley]: What have you learned about you at this stage of the game?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I don't know.
JEANNE COOPER: [Joking] Are you a Republican or Democrat?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Republican. There you go. I'm Republican. My mom is Republican.
JEANNE COOPER: She has a lot of her mother's genes that I have seen. I see a great deal of Ashley's mother in Ashley. I think Ashley has her dad's work habits, which are his drive and profession. But she's receiving a lot of her momma's genes. She's going to make her own life for herself. She's not going to sink into the services of her children.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: That's a good point. I have developed the independence of my mother. When I turn eighteen and am allowed to move out, I don't want a roommate. I want to live on my own. I want to live alone and work for myself, make money for myself and not live off of anybody else.
JEANNE COOPER: You want independence.
CBS.com Thank you for talking with me.
JEANNE COOPER: Sure, we'll talk to you on Granddaughter's Day!