Interview with Ashley Bashioum
From CBS.com


It certainly isn't easy being a teenager these days - not even in Genoa City. And although Mackenzie has a good head on her shoulders, she's been riding an emotional roller coaster ever since her breakup with Billy. CBS.com spoke with Mac's portrayer, ASHLEY BASHIOUM, about what's she's learned in her two years with The Young and the Restless and how sometimes life can imitate art.

CBS.com: Are you enjoying your storyline?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I love it!

CBS.com: Things have been heating up for Mac.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes.

CBS.com: How do you like working with Thad Luckinbill [J.T.]? Fans are really responding to the two of you.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: They are?

CBS.com: Yes. Many want to see you together.

ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Oh, now they do. First [the fans] were like, "What are they doing? Wait, this can't be happening." And now they're like, "Oh, put them together." [Smiles]

CBS.com: Fans are starting to like J.T. because they are getting to see a softer side of him. Do you hope that Mac and J.T. get together?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes, I love working with [Thad]. I love working with David [Tom, Billy] though, too, so it doesn't really matter to me. I've got it good all around.

CBS.com: How does it make you feel knowing how popular the teen storyline has become?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I think it's amazing. I was brought on the show to support Jeanne Cooper's [Katherine] storyline in the shelter and then all of a sudden David Tom comes in and Jess Walton [Jill]. Then [Billy and Mac] start hitting it off and then a whole teen thing started. It's just amazing. I never thought that it would be this big.

CBS.com: Do you feel a responsibility to the teen audience to portray the drug issue in a certain way?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. I want to portray it like it's not a good thing to be experimenting with because look what can happen.

CBS.com: Do you hope the show continues to address these tough teen issues?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes, but I would like to get into a love interest storyline, too. It's been such a long time since I've done something like that. But I always enjoy [addressing hard issues].

CBS.com: You said that when you first came on the show your storyline was more about your relationship with Katherine. Would you like to get back to that?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I would think that [Mac] would tell her what's been going on in [her] life lately. I think teens go through stages [of closeness to their parental figures]. I'm going through it right now. I'm becoming more independent, but I still talk to my mom. I think with the show, they've just been trying to gear up [things in] the teen storyline. I think that's why [Mac hasn't] been communicating that much with [her] grandma. I'm sure it will pick up.

CBS.com Do you think that the teens could ever be all friends again?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I hope so, but even in real life there's always that tension [over] things that have happened in the past. I know I have a lot of that [in my life].

CBS.com: Is portraying a teen on television an odd parallel to your own life?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I wouldn't say it's so dramatic. [Laughs]

CBS.com But things are sometimes very dramatic for teens in real life.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. I think [there are parallels]. In my life...let me find an example. I can totally feel that same feeling [there is between Brittany and Mac] with a couple of people that I know.

CBS.com: Wouldn't it be nice for Mac to have a good girlfriend? Then she might not seem like such a loner.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: It seems like she is really uneasy around girls that are into makeup and stuff like that. Mac's not into clothing and shopping and all that kind of stuff. She's just into "Hey, let's go have fun." [She's into] ice skating, sledding, horseback riding - activities instead of really girly stuff.

CBS.com: But since her toned down beginnings, Mac has really begun to blossom. She uses more makeup and does different things with her hair.
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I think that's just because she's getting older. It's been two years since I've been on the show. [It shows] in the writing as well. They are increasing her maturity level. I can tell in the lines.

CBS.com: Speaking of two years...does Y&R feel like home now?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. It's fun. Every single day that I come here, I love it.

CBS.com: Do you still remember how you felt on your first day at Y&R?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Oh, yeah. I was so nervous. I watched the show and [I could see that] my hands were shaking. I [thought], "That did not look good." [The shot] was in front of burning trash cans. We were on the streets and I saved Kay from the beggars. She had a fur coat on. I said, "Officer, Officer! There's a woman being attacked." That was my first line.

CBS.com: How have you evolved as an actress?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I've learned everything that I know about acting within these last two years.

CBS.com: Do you still get nervous?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. I'll be nervous today because I have so much dialogue.

CBS.com: You tape scenes almost every day. Is it hard to maintain such a demanding schedule?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: This week I'm taping every single day and [then two more days]. So, I'm working seven days straight. And [I have] school to keep up with. I have three hours of school a day.

CBS.com: Do you attend school at the studio?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. I have a French teacher and I have a regular teacher.

CBS.com: Do you miss being in a public school setting?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: There are some aspects that I miss, [and] some aspects that I really am glad that I'm out of. I went back [home] and a lot of people were into drugs. I'm just glad I didn't get wrapped up in that or have to deal with it. I've made my choices [where drugs are concerned] and I didn't do anything.

CBS.com: Do you think being in this business forces you to mature faster having to deal with work as an adult?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I think I'm just exposed to more things and it really depends on how your parents raise you. At home, I really think I would have grown up the same way [even] if I wasn't on a show. I think it really just has to do with parenting and how much you're exposed to adult situations and business situations. If your parents talk to you about taxes or whatever they're doing - like the stock market when their stocks drop - then you learn all sorts of stuff like I learn about here when I do stuff with my money.

CBS.com: At some point, would you like to pursue work on outside projects?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. I would love to do a film or guest star. David Lago [Raul] did Seventh Heaven. I'd love to do something like that.

CBS.com: When you do have time off, what do you do for fun?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: When I'm off and I'm not in school and not memorizing lines? In the summer I always go to the beach. I love the beach. I love the ocean, everything about it. I don't know. That's a good question. I hang out with friends. I go to [Universal] Citywalk, Jerry's Famous Deli just to hang out, have dinner. I go bowling. I go see movies when I can because I really like going.

CBS.com: Do you find yourself being more critical about movies the more you learn about story structure and acting?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I do notice in certain parts I'm looking at their acting and I'll [say], "Oh, that was really good." I can tell now [things] like, "Wow, that must have been really hard to do." But I still just enjoy the movie. I'll go see chick flicks and teen movies.

CBS.com: Do you take acting classes?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. My acting coach is Steven Anderson. His class is so [much] fun. He's great. I love him to death. He has taught me everything I know about acting. He's Shemar [Moore's, Malcolm] coach, too.

CBS.com: Is your brother involved in acting as well?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Yes. He just did a national P.S.A. for not smoking and he's doing a graduate film for a guy at USC [University of Southern California]. It's [the student's] final project.

CBS.com: Do you coach him or sometimes give him pointers?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: I don't. I go to Steven more than him, but [my brother is] also in my [acting] class. He gets coached mainly by our manager. I get coached by her, too. They're both really good. [My brother] did a feature called American Friends and Lovers. He's doing really good.

CBS.com: So the both of you have had really great experiences being out here in Los Angeles?
ASHLEY BASHIOUM: Definitely. He's my best friend. We go through everything together.