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VICTOR ALFIERI joined The Bold and the Beautiful in September as Giovanni, a Forrester photographer. Coming off a stint on Days of Our Lives bad boy Franco Kelly, Victor looks forward to exploring a character a little more like himself. Victor took a moment to chat with us about his new role.
CBS.com: Welcome to B&B. How does it feel to be back on daytime?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Oh, it feels great.
CBS.com: How did you land the role?
VICTOR ALFIERI: My manager sent the tapes, and my press kit, and everything to the producers and they called me in for a meeting and a reading and then I got the role.
CBS.com: How did you find out about the role?
VICTOR ALFIERI: My manager knew about the role when it came out on the breakdown, I guess.
CBS.com: What have you been up to since you left Days Of Our Lives?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Since I left Days, I did a role on Veronica's Closet, a play at the Coronet Theater with Kathleen Noone [who plays Bette on Sunset Beach]. It was a comedy. And then I did an independent movie called Dirty Down Under. Then I finished writing my movie.
CBS.com: Are you shopping it around?
VICTOR ALFIERI: No, not yet. I'm really focused on the Bold and the Beautiful right now.
CBS.com: What was your first day like on the set?
VICTOR ALFIERI: It was very exciting. It's a new job, new people, new producers, new directors, but everybody is so nice that they made me feel really comfortable and I was very happy to be there. Still am.
CBS.com: Tell me about Giovanni. Is he a good guy or a bad guy?
VICTOR ALFIERI: So far he is a good guy. In soap opera you never know. [Laughs] He could become bad the next day.
CBS.com: How do you like working with Ashley Cafagna and Katherine Kelly Lang?
VICTOR ALFIERI: I love it. They are very beautiful, first of all. They are very nice, very funny people. They have a really good sense of humor. It makes it great. When you're working with someone that can be goofy and at the same time professional, that's the best. Both of them are really professional, really beautiful and really funny so I am very happy.
CBS.com: Who else would you like to work with in the cast?
VICTOR ALFIERI: I don't have a preference. I guess everybody. [laughs] Everybody seems to be very nice. I meet them through events or in the makeup room. Actually, on my first episode I worked with John McCook [Eric] and he's really funny and outgoing.
CBS.com: Are you a photographer in real life?
VICTOR ALFIERI: No, not at all.
CBS.com: Is it strange to be playing one?
VICTOR ALFIERI: It's not strange. It's just I have to get used to it and then I don't know how far we're going with this photography thing. Right now, I shot just one episode where I was shooting Kimberly. It was okay. But if we're going into the every day shooting, I guess that I just have to practice really hard and try to be as much a professional as possible being a photographer.
CBS.com: Are you excited about the upcoming remote in Venice, Italy?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Oh, yeah. I haven't been back [to Italy] in two years and three months.
CBS.com: You didn't go back when you left DAYS?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Oh, no. I didn't have time. I bought a condo, and I was very busy doing stuff. The last time I was back was in '97. So, I'm very happy. I miss my family my friends.
CBS.com: Your family is from Rome?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Yeah, everybody is still there.
CBS.com: How far is Rome from Venice?
VICTOR ALFIERI: With the train, it's like six or seven hours. With the plane, it's probably only like forty minutes, so it's not that far.
CBS.com: Are you going to try to spend some time with your family?
VICTOR ALFIERI: I'm going to fly there with the cast and everybody and if I don't have to work here at the studio, I'm going to stay there and spend Christmas with my family. Even if I have to come back here and finish wrapping up the episodes I'm going to fly back there after a week. That's for sure.
CBS.com: What do you do when you're not working?
VICTOR ALFIERI: I like to play tennis. I used to have a motorcycle that just got stolen. So I used to ride my motorcycle a lot. I like to go to the movies. I like to be outdoors a lot. Ride my bicycle and walk my big dog. He's a long dog - a Dachshund, like a hot dog.
CBS.com: What's the last movie that you've seen?
VICTOR ALFIERI: American Beauty. I loved it. I think it was the best movie. The lead actress - Thora Birch - is my neighbor. She lives three doors from my apartment.
CBS.com: Did you see Life is Beautiful?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Yeah, I saw it like four times. I loved it.
CBS.com: In Italy, Roberto Benigni is big star.
VICTOR ALFIERI: Huge star. He is a really funny guy.
CBS.com: Are you still single?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Yeah, actually I am.
CBS.com: You're not dating anyone right now?
VICTOR ALFIERI: No, nobody. I'm going to take a break for at least a year or two.
CBS.com: What would you like to see happen with Giovanni?
VICTOR ALFIERI: I don't know. I think I like the character right now. I always have fun playing the bad guy because you're playing someone that is completely not you, that is totally different from what you do in real life. But playing Giovanni is fun because I can share a lot of things with him. He's a funny guy. He makes fun of his English, so I like that. So far, I just want to see him dating all the girls on the show. [Laughs]. They are so beautiful over here. That's why it's called The Bold and the Beautiful.
TRACEY BREGMAN'S CHAT HOS SOAP OPERA DIGEST, 23 june '98
SODhost: Tracey is here. Welcome, Tracey!
TRACEY BREGMAN: Hi! How are you? I'm thrilled to be here and looking forward to answering all your questions!
Lubba66 asks: Will your son come back into the picture any time soon?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I am really hoping for that. There has been talk about it; there's even been talk about making him older.
Jo_Vin asks: How do feel about Eric and Lauren reactivating their romance, and do you think Stephanie is really out of Eric's system for good?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well I hope so, but... I'm hoping for a really nice love affair between Eric and Lauren and I hope that they really show a great storyline. I've heard some really interesting stuff is going to happen in September and I'm just jumping up and down about it...
Dr_Glad asks: Is it true that Eric and Lauren will be getting married? Or will this be one of those long rocky roads soaps are famous for?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well I hope it's very long and very rocky. There's definite talk about us getting married, but I hope there's a lot more to come.
Gete25 asks: Tracey did you ever find what Scott granger died from?
TRACEY BREGMAN: SOD -- Soap Opera Disease ;-)
Jo_Vin asks: Do you keep in touch with Peter Barton, who played Lauren's late husband?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I adore Peter Barton and he's very very close with Barbara Crampton, who played Maggie, and who's coming back to Y&R, I'm here to tell you. I talk to him from time to time and I usually see him at Barbara's house. I'm actually jumping that Barbara is reprising her Leanna Love role.
Crysley asks: Why did you leave the Y&R?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Basically I had done B&B and Y&R for three years and Bill Bell wanted to take B&B to an hour. They wanted me to go over there to help bring the show to an hour, which never happened.
Lubba66 asks: Do you miss Young and the Restless?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well, they're just across the hall from me, so it's kinda hard to miss them.
Gete25 asks: I think you and sally are the best how is it working with her?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Oh my goodness, she is the BEST! She is so funny and her mind is a steel trap! It's amazing what she does with the dialogue on the page and the energy she brings to every scene. I just admire her tremendously.
Drunkenduck asks: Will Lauren have a bigger storyline now that Eric has left Stephanie?
TRACEY BREGMAN: You mouth to God's ear. I hope :)
GimmeALittle_Shhhh asks: We love your nickname for Stephanie -- Steffers -- was that really in the script or did you ad lib it?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I'm so glad somebody noticed that. That's something that I adlibbed.
Otismckinleywhitaker asks: Tracey Bregman, are you married?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Yes.
Dr_Glad asks: How do you think Stephanie is going to receive the news that you and Eric are an item? Any dunks in the pool in store for us?
TRACEY BREGMAN: LOL... I think I've spent my fair share of time in the Forrester pool, I'm hoping to be leisurely swimming next time I'm in it. As you'll see the storyline is going into a different direction, where Stephanie and I may be allies again.
LisMichelle asks: Hi Tracy I first saw you as Donna on Days of Our Lives. What do you remember the most about those early years?
TRACEY BREGMAN: It was a lot of hard work, because I was going to high school at the same time. I was working four and five days a week doing forty pages of dialogue a day and going to High School. I don't know how I did it. Youth is all I can say.
Rhett_Scarlet asks: Tracy where are u from???
TRACEY BREGMAN: I'm from Munich, Germany.
Blueberrysky_1 asks: I'd love to see you and Sheila have another intense story line-anything in the makings?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Not at the moment.
SGB_DownUnder asks: Tracey, do you have a favorite scene with Kimberlin Brown?! Mine is where they fought and Sheila almost drowned Lauren in the hot tub! CLASSIC CATFIGHT!!!!!
TRACEY BREGMAN: I can be honest with you, that was not my favorite, only because I just hate water like that, going up my nose! My favorite fight was probably the one where she was in her wedding dress, only because I never stopped laughing the whole time! It was hilarious!
Alaska124 asks: What happened to Rush?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Rush fell off the edge of my balcony.
Sasi- asks: Tracey do you have children?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Yes, I have actually four -- two stepdaughters, and two sons of my own, one age 7 and one is 20 months old.
Elliemaemae asks: Do you visit Germany often?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Not at all. In fact, I'd really love to.
Mastide asks: Hey Tracey how long have you been acting?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I started at age 11 where I was the Mattel Toys hand model, then at 14 I was the Kellogg's Apple Jacks girl.
ATrivolettep asks: Where are you currently located?
TRACEY BREGMAN: In Los Angeles.
STARRDUST18 asks: What has your favorite storyline been as Lauren Fenmore?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Oh boy! That's a hard one... I've had such great stories... I loved my whole storyline with Paul Williams... And I loved the Sheila/Baby Stealing Storyline. My favorite small storyline of all time was when I photographed Paul Williams naked and sent it in for the centerfold, and then with the money I earned I had to buy up all the issues that were out there! To this day, I crack up.
Gete25 asks: Tracey who was worse Mary Williams or Stephanie?
TRACEY BREGMAN: UGH! Stephanie! I'll tell you, Susan [Flannery] makes true contact when she hits you and luckily she's a very close friend of mine because I had to reset my jaw when she slapped me -- just kidding :-)
Busgirl_1 asks: Tracy, do you think you will be on the show for many more years. I hope you are. I have always enjoyed your talent on all of the shows that I have seen you in.
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well, thank you very, very much. I am thrilled that you've watched for so long and I really hope the storylines are fun and entertaining for you.
Dr_Glad asks: Tracy, Hi. I'm a big fan. Wonder if there is any truth to the rumor that you may be coming back to Y&R?
TRACEY BREGMAN: You know? I've heard that rumor too. I'd love to know where it originated. You never know... I'm just thrilled to be working.
SnowChickee asks: what is your most embarrassing moment while on the B&B?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Trying to think... I'm sure there have been many. Oh, I can tell you, I had to do a fantasy scene, years ago, with Ronn Moss in a swimming pool, and Susan Flannery was directing it. We were supposed to go under the water and kiss and come up out of the water kissing. Well, when I went under the water to find Ronn Moss [Ridge] to kiss him, so many bubbles came out of my mouth, my nose, everywhere... that I couldn't see him, or find him! So we're under the water and I can't find him to do this fabulous romantic kiss! And almost drowned! We came up out of the water, laughing and choking, I don't think I've ever laughed that hard. And it took us 10 minutes to figure out how to make that work, without bubbles coming out of me!
Britlovah asks: Tracey, which of Lauren's styles is the most cringe-worthy to be reminded of? (I nominate her late 80's hair and clothes!)
TRACEY BREGMAN: LOL! Well, Lauren was definitely in style in the late 80s but when you look at it in the late 90s, it just SCREAMS 80s doesn't it?
Janeeb8965 asks: Will Lauren be involved with the new men, Pierce and Bailey?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Not that I know of.
nicoleguest_28bc39949 asks: Does Lauren know about Cricket and Paul? how does she feel?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well, at one point, she was a bridesmaid in Paul & Cricket's wedding, which I found interesting, personally. Well, they tell me what to do and I do it. I have to go with the fact that she's okay with it, although I thought that when they were having trouble recently that they should've come to Lauren for help.
Janeeb8965 asks: Will Lauren be doing more singing on the show?
TRACEY BREGMAN: We've talked about it here and there, but probably not. It was just fun thing when I sang on B&B because it worked so perfectly for that moment. I had gone to Brad [Bell, B&Bs Executive Producer] and said I heard this song and said it was Lauren's theme song. So he wrote it in, and what everyone should know is that the pianist behind me was my father, Buddy Bregman. It was a lot of fun.
ANGEL_IAMNOT asks: I think you have a great voice, do you have a CD out ? TRACEY BREGMAN: Oh you're so sweet :) Ronn Moss actually cornered me at a party the other night to actually ask me if I wanted to make an album with him and a few other people. So hopefully, we'll be doing that for you all. I'm really hoping it comes out. He wants to produce it.
KillerQTpie asks: Who is the next person that Lauren falls in love with?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well, it's just like life, I don't know :)
FAITH_14_98 asks: Are you very close with Kimberlin Brown?
TRACEY BREGMAN: We are good friends. And her new baby Nick is adorable, and I hold him during rehearsal a lot.
Wanker17m asks: Why do YOU think Lauren hates Shelia so much?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well, the writings on the wall! How can you ever forgive somebody for stealing your child and giving you a black market baby that didn't make it! And stealing your husband! That's not something that goes down easily.
Cornishrex asks: who was your favorite man to play opposite?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well, John McCook is just so hard to beat. He's wonderful and extremely thoughtful on top of that. He writes me little notes, remembers my birthday... All the important things to sweep a girl off her feet, even if I'm only his co-star.
Janie_22 asks: If it was your choice, where would you go next with your character?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I would like some intrigue, I'm hoping that the road with Eric will not be smooth. I'm hoping there will be some detours along the way that will be very interesting for us.
Elliemaemae asks: What are your hobbies?
TRACEY BREGMAN: If I had time to have a hobby... Right now I'm running after two children and last year before school was out, I was soccer mom, den mom for cubs, not to mention classes I take with the baby. Then there's baby gym, so in the two and a half minutes I have free a day I like to stare at my husband. :) And I actually am a knitter.
ANGEL_IAMNOT asks: Don't you think Thorn would make a better mate for you than Eric?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Interesting you should say that...
Faith2963 asks: do you stay in contact with any "Days" actors?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Well, I just spent some time with Josh Taylor [Roman] & Krista Allen [Billie]. I usually have an annual lunch with Kristian Alfonso [Hope]. It's so funny, we try to stay in contact because it's so hard. Between my work schedule and hers, it's crazy. And I like her so much. I speak to Deidre Hall [Marlena] every now and then, she played my step-mom. They're all so sweet over there. Last year I had the chance to speak with Eileen Davidson [ex-Kristen/Susan] who I hadn't had the chance to speak to in a very long time. By the way, the B&B fan club weekend is August 7-9. For info call 213-661-3720 :-)
MOORECAT72 asks: Tracey.. how can you all stand on your feet all show in heels
TRACEY BREGMAN: LOL! Because we're all wearing slippers to the stage and we put our shoes on for tape. Believe me, I am sitting down between takes and I throw those puppies off the minute I'm done!
Panther60_98 asks: What kind of problems do you think that Stephanie will try and create for you and Eric. I am sure it will be a great storyline for the show.
TRACEY BREGMAN: I think the best answer is what problems won't she create for us?
Max_powers asks: Are you ready to kick some Stephanie Booty?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I'm always ready to kick some Steffer booty.
Sweettart9899 asks: What happen to Rushes brother?
TRACEY BREGMAN: That's what I'd like to know. I talk to Tony Addabo who plays Rush & Johnny. I talk to him a lot, very nice man.
Spike_one asks: What are your daily work hours, when taping?
TRACEY BREGMAN: It's not bad actually, it's somewhere between 8:45/9:15 and usually done by 6pm.
Janie_22 asks: What was your best line ever?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I've been on the show for fifteen years, but recently Eric said to me, and this was a line I came up with that was ad libbed by me. Eric said, "I'm happier than I've ever been in a long time." And I said, "What did Steffers finally put out?"
Iron_woman_1998 asks: What was it like when the cast went to Italy?
TRACEY BREGMAN: That was absolutely the greatest trip of all time. It was summer camp for actors. We just had the best time together. Every night we all got together and decided what restaurant we would go to and just have massive fun. At night we would all sit out on Ronn Moss' patio, he was the only one who had this massive patio, and we would all sit out and talk for hours after dinner. My mom came and my then 11 month old baby, who walked his first steps there. I look forward to the next location.
Janeeb8965 asks: Would you like to see Lauren marry Eric, or is it more fun being a single vixen?
TRACEY BREGMAN: It's very interesting playing a single vixen. The only problem when you get married on a soap is happiness, boy that's the kiss of death on a soap opera. So we all get nervous around weddings :-)
Fkamis asks: Do you use Internet at normally?
TRACEY BREGMAN: Yeah, I do. I actually read everything that all of you write on the Digest boards. I think it's hysterical... The Hunterettes, The Brookies, it cracks me up. I think the funniest thing of all time is that everyone complains of Brooke and Taylor being on the show so much, but that's all you talk about! Once in a while another character will be mentioned and there will be thrown a little bone about us! LOL
Dr_Glad asks: Tracey, just want you to know that I totally enjoy you with Darlene. That plane ride to Italy was hilarious (sp)
TRACEY BREGMAN: That was probably one of the best scenes I've ever had the joy to shoot. Working with Darlene in that airplane was so much fun. And the producers just let Darlene and I fly... figuratively, not literally :) But what did scare me about that storyline, was that I had to shoot the plane crash before I left for location and I'm a whiteknuckled flier. I thank God that we shot that we were okay before we left
JenniferLoveYouKnowTheRest asks: What do you enjoy the most about your job?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I happen to work with probably the greatest group of people I've ever had the chance to work with. I truly enjoy these people, they are my friends, we love spending time together and I see a lot of them socially. They are hilarious, and we all have lunch together every single today together. Everybody goes to lunch together!
Kitzguest_38d42224 asks: Are you anything like your character?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I guess after 15 years there are certain crossovers, but I'm not as ballsy as she is. In fact, playing her has made me stronger, but I wouldn't do half the things she does. Nor would I wear half the things she wears, but when I play her I'm able to do almost anything. Very interesting.
Renne98 asks: Which kind of character would you like to play, a villain or a kind and gentler person.
TRACEY BREGMAN: All I can tell you is that when they made Lauren kinder and gentler, they had to poke me to stay awake. I like playing characters that are kind of bitchy, they're the best.
CozyHammock asks: How is the food in Cafe Russe? ;-)
TRACEY BREGMAN: Oh hideous! If you notice, I only eat croutons or the breadbasket! In fact, I had a scene the other day with Eric, it should be on any day this week. They know that I'm a vegetarian, so they finally, after all these years, bring me an asparagus salad. So I go to take a bite and I'm supposed to be eating during this scene, and talk about al dente, I started chomping on this thing and John started cracking up, saying, "Could we get her a louder piece of asparagus?" We couldn't hear dialogue!
Jaguarsrule98 asks: Did you choose the decor for your apt? I adore it.
TRACEY BREGMAN: Actually, it's my favorite set on the show as well. I didn't choose the decor per se, but I did feel that a lot of animal prints were necessary and the two gigantic candles on either side of the portrait of Lauren were my idea.
Janie_22 asks: Will you do any guest appearances on The Young and the Restless?
TRACEY BREGMAN: I haven't been asked to, but I would love to. If [you] would like to see me back on Y&R you need to start writing to Bill Bell and if you want to see more of me on B&B, write Brad. They listen.
SODhost: Thank you, Tracey! And thank you all for joining us!
TRACEY BREGMAN: I want to thank everyone who came to chat with me today. I really appreciate your time and all your interesting questions. It was a lot of fun.
B&B: Maggie -- The Chat
By Jason Bonderoff
BARBARA CRAMPTON
Current Role: Maggie Warwick, Bold and Beautiful
A/k/a: Trista Evans, Days of Our Lives; Leanna Love, Young and Restless; Mindy Lewis, Guiding Light
Birthday: December 27.
Two for One Tale: "Unfortunately, I only get one present for Christmas and my birthday."
Roots: "I was born in on Long Island, but we moved to Rutland, Vermont when I was 11."
Close Pals: Melrose Place star Lisa Rinna and B&B castmates Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren) and Ian Buchanan (James)
Bargain Hunter: "I am a diehard flea market maven. I go to flea markets every Sunday."
Dating Status: "You know, it goes up and down with me. A very smart person recently said to me, 'Don't say anything about anybody until you get married.' After a while, how many boyfriends can you talk about? So now I just say, 'I'm single and dating.' "
Speak Easy Barbara narrates the audio tape of Too Wicked for Heaven, a romance novel by Deborah Martin. Barbara's longtime pal, Gregg Marx, produced the project.
Bold and Beautiful star Barbara Crampton spills the beans about Space Truckers, Ian Buchanan, Dom DeLuise, Rodney Dangerfield and her Wicked trip back to 18th century London!
DIGEST ONLINE:How did you first become friends with Gregg Marx? Was it back on Days of Our Lives when you were playing Trista Evans and he was David Banning?
BARBARA CRAMPTON: Gregg and I have known each other for a long time. I came on Days in 1983, just as he was leaving, so I've known him for almost 15 years. I actually recommended my acting coach, Darryl Hickman, to him, and Gregg became one of Darryl's students.
DIGEST ONLINE: Why do you think Gregg thought of you to narrate his audio tape, Too Wicked for Heaven?
CRAMPTON: He said he was watching all the different shows one day, and thinking, "Okay, who could I get to do this audio tape?" Then, he happened to turn to Bold and Beautiful and listen to my voice. When he called, he said, "I think you'd be good for this particular novel, because the heroine is kind of young. She sort of grows up through the novel, and you have a young, clear quality to your voice."
DIGEST ONLINE: It sounds like a very different kind of challenge than doing a soap role.
CRAMPTON: I had to play all the different characters. I had to play Althea, the lead character, and the guy that she falls in love with, plus her uncle, and the uncle's fiancee. I'd never narrated a book on tape before, and I was really nervous about it. We probably had about six rehearsals. Gregg would come over to my house and work with me for about an hour at a time. We'd go through all the different characters, and I'd work on creating a different point of view with my voice for each one -- changing pitch and tone and volume, that sort of thing. At one point, I was so nervous, I said, "I can't do this, you'll have to get somebody else! I think I'm really not the right person for this project." But he calmed me down, and we recorded the audio tape in two four-hour sessions.
DIGEST ONLINE: Two four-hour sessions of practically non-stop reading aloud. It sounds exhausting!
CRAMPTON: There were times when I got really antsy, and times when it was almost like I couldn't concentrate. I was looking at so many words, speaking for so long. We'd have to stop. Sometimes I would get through a whole page, and sometimes I'd only get through a paragraph. I'd stumble over stupid words, like osmosis. For some reason, you can't say them when you're reading something out loud. It's almost like your mouth gets garbled up or something. It's really strange. There were other times when I felt like something really great was happening; I was truly feeling at one with the book. I would read almost for ten pages, and no one would stop me because it was going along beautifully. You can study a script and know exactly what's coming at you, exactly what you're going to say on camera. You know your motivation. But you can't memorize a book like that. You have to discover the meaning and the feeling of it as you go along. You have to get into the rhythm of it. By the end, I was having such a good time that I wanted to keep going. I loved living those characters in eighteenth century England.
DIGEST ONLINE: Tell us about your friendship with Lisa Rinna.
CRAMPTON: We did a little movie together called Robot Wars. I've done eight science-fiction movies for this company called Full Moon productions, and when they were casting Robot Wars, they said, "Who you think could play your best friend on screen?" Actually, Lisa is my closest friend, but for some reason I didn't think of her, because I didn't think the role fit her. The way they described the role wasn't her, the character was like a reporter or something, and I just didn't see her as a reporter, so I actually suggested my friend Caryn Richmond [ex-Elena, Texas] who used to be the Gidget girl. I suggested her and a couple of other people, but Lisa got submitted for the role anyway, and they called her in to read unbeknownst to me. Well, Lisa and I have such a good rapport that they completely changed the part because we were reading the script like we were friends, which we are. So they cast her, and because of our relationship and our chemistry together, we had a lot of fun doing that movie. It's a movie really that's geared toward 13 and 14 year old boys -- in that one I played an archeologist. In From Beyond, another of my sci-fi movies, I played a psychiatrist, and in the old cult classic favorite Reanimator I played a college student whose boyfriend was sort of led down a wrong road by a crazy scientist friend.
DIGEST ONLINE: Tell us about some of your other films.
CRAMPTON: Castle Freak is a new one that's playing on Cinemax a lot. I play a mom with two kids; actually, one died and my husband is responsible for the death, and we're trying to rebuild our life together. We move to this castle in Italy which he inherited, so that we can start over, and he's an alcoholic and I'm a devout Catholic, and there are a lot of problems. There's a castle freak who lives in the castle and he wreaks havoc on all our lives.
DIGEST ONLINE: Didn't you also do a movie last year with Dennis Hopper called Space Truckers?
CRAMPTON: We shot that in Ireland. It was just reviewed in Variety I think, and it got a really good review. It stars Dennis Hopper, Debbi Mazar and Stephen Dorff. It's an independent movie, and it played at Sundance. It looks like it's going to be bought by Universal, but the two producers who own the rights to it and put most of the money into it, have been fighting over who owns more of the profits, so [the release] has been held up a bit. But I think they're going to settle that. The film is set hundreds of years in the future. I play Debbi Mazar's mother. When she was like three years old, I got an incurable disease and they froze me. Then, about 30 years later, they wake me up, and she's all grown up. So we're like the same age. Dennis Hopper falls in love with me at the end of the movie, and we go off together.
DIGEST ONLINE: Any other film projects we should know about?
CRAMPTON: I did another movie recently with Dom DeLuise and Rodney Dangerfield called The Godson. It's a comedy takeoff, a la Naked Gun on The Godfather. It was hysterical; we had so much fun making that movie, and Dom DeLuise is really a fine actor. He comes up with great suggestions of things to do in a scene and is very helpful without being pushy and egocentric. He's just a very lovely man, a very generous person.
DIGEST ONLINE: How do you fit all these film commitments into your B&B schedule?
CRAMPTON: Well, you know, I work on a great show. We have a half hour show, and we don't have the difficult schedule like a lot of other people have. Really, my character works two, three days a week, so I would say I regularly have two days off during the week. I feel like I have a part time job.
DIGEST ONLINE: Do you do much socializing with the rest of the cast?
CRAMPTON: On our show the actors all really like each other. We get together for dinner outside of work about every two weeks.
DIGEST ONLINE: Do you get together at different people's houses?
CRAMPTON: No, it's always at a restaurant. We like to get waited on! [laughs]. We just decided that we really like each other, so why not get together for dinner? It's become kind of a group -- right now it's myself, Ian Buchanan, Tracey Bregman and Susan Flannery [Stephanie]. That's the core, and then whoever else wants to join us, we invite. We've been inviting other people to come with us, but we're the planners of these events. Last Tuesday, we went to the Chateau Marmont -- it's kind of an old Hollywood place and we sat outside in the garden; it was lovely. As I say, we really like each other. I have a great job.
DIGEST ONLINE: Did you and Ian become instant buddies when you first joined B&B?
CRAMPTON: I adore him so much. We just have such a great loving relationship. When I first started on the show, I was told that eventually, I was going to be paired up with him. I'd never met him and I was really intimidated because I knew him from Twin Peaks and from General Hospital, and I thought he was such a good actor -- you know, this model turned actor who had very little training and yet was amazing. So I was intimidated and I thought, "Oh, how am I going to break through to this man? How am I going to relate to him? What level am I going to relate to him on?" And it took a little while, because he doesn't take to people easily or quickly. But I broke through and now he's never getting rid of me!
DIGEST ONLINE: Days was your first soap, wasn't it? What are your fondest memories of your Salem experience?
CRAMPTON: I'd have to say my fondest memories are connected with working with John de Lancie [Eugene]. He was just so funny. He's one of the most spontaneous actors I've ever worked with. He taught me how to let go as an actor and just go with the moment. He was a good person for me to work with when I first came to Hollywood. Days was like my first TV job. I'd done a lot of theater and was used to analyzing things and figuring out exactly what I was going to do in a scene before I went on stage. He taught me how to just throw all that away and kind of go with the moment, which couldn't have better for television and film work. He probably doesn't even know he helped me with that, but he did.
DIGEST ONLINE: Was your fan experience on Days different than the response you encountered on other shows? Days is known for its zealous fans.
CRAMPTON: You know, this was almost 15 years ago for me, so I think the fervor of the Days of Our Lives fan phenomenon was just building at that point. I think it all started [a little later] with Deidre Hall [Marlena]. She was going to be fired, and she got the fans all rallied behind her. I think it was her doing, that she created this fan worship stuff. But I also I think Days of Our Lives really does cater to love and romance, and maybe to 18 to 25 year olds, and those are the fans who'd be the most fervent, who'd buy the most magazines. It seems to me that they cater to those people, because they have the most beautiful actors and a lot of their characters are 18 to 25. They do that really well.
DIGEST ONLINE: What was your character, Leanna Love, like on Young and Restless? Wasn't she an advice columnist?
CRAMPTON: Oh, she was everything. She was a crazy lunatic psychotic woman. When I did research on her problems, I figured out -- although this never came out on air -- that she had a borderline personality. That's what I was playing the whole time, and nobody knew that. They didn't tell me she had a borderline personality; they just said she was crazy. I said, "Well, what kind of crazy?" They said, "Well, you know, figure it out -- just play her crazy." So I went and spoke to a psychiatrist, and I interviewed some borderline people, and thought, "Oh, this is interesting; I'll play this." Leanna loved men, hated women; she was involved with Victor, she was involved with everybody. I started out as a three-month character and they extended it to five years. At the end of it, Bill Bell said to me, "Barbara, I don't know what else to do with you; you've been with every man on the show." But I was glad I had such a long run, that was truly my favorite role.
DIGEST ONLINE: I would have thought you'd say Maggie Warwick is your favorite character.
CRAMPTON: Well, she's my favorite now because I'm doing her, but if I look back on what I've done in movies and everything, Leanna still would be my favorite role.
DIGEST ONLINE: I get a feeling Mindy Lewis on Guiding Light was never in the running. It seemed like the role went through a lot of hands, and TPTB were never quite sure who or what they wanted Mindy to be.
CRAMPTON: No, especially when I was there; but Guiding Light was a great experience because I got to wear all the designer clothes. It's hard for me to say much about Guiding Light because at that point they were going through so many changes. They didn't know what to do with anybody. Everybody was really frustrated. I hate to say it, because right now I think Guiding Light is a much better show and doing so well. I always turn it on in the morning when I'm getting ready to go out. I love watching it. But when I was on the show, there was just a lot of tension and problems. Everybody was really wonderful to work with, but they were all frustrated because nobody knew who the chief was.
DIGEST ONLINE: That's not the way a Bill Bell show works, is it?
CRAMPTON: No. On a Bell show, there's one cook in the kitchen. As I say, I feel blessed to have such a great job. I really do.
Phyllis Diller Celebrates her 83rd Birthday with The Bold and the Beautiful!
Watch out! Phyllis Diller is back as The Bold and the Beautiful’s favorite beauty guru, Gladys Pope on August 8 and 9. CBS.com was at the set on July 10 to see the comedienne in action - as well as celebrate her 83rd birthday. (Since her birthday was coming up on July 17, B&B decided to throw her a surprise party.) But before she could cut the cake, Diller had to tape her scenes with ASHLEY CAFAGNA (Kimberly). "I love to do this," Diller enthused of her B&B acting gig. "I just love to think that I might be acting."
So how did the comic get involved with B&B? Well, Diller first met Lee Phillip Bell, co-creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, in Chicago on Bell's talk show The Lee Phillip Show. "I just admired her so much," recalls Diller of the first time she met Lee. "I would be on her show to promote what I was doing [at that time]. I always knew she had a husband who was a writer. Obviously, it was for a soap opera. He's a master."
While Diller gets a kick out of acting - she makes frequent television appearances and currently has a recurring part on the Canadian series, Emily of New Moon -- her first love is still standup comedy. Diller takes her act on the road several times a month. "I'm booked into 2001 - bet you can't say that about your mother!" she quipped.
Best known for her one-liners, Diller has this advice for the characters of B&B: “If after sex somebody draws a chalk outline of your body, you know you're bad in bed!"
Bold and Beautiful's ANDREA EVANS
July 19, 1999
SODhost: Digest Online welcomes B&B's Andrea Evans!
ANDREA EVANS: Hi everybody!
dreamplayer1 asks: What's the height of Ridge?
EVANS: I don't know! I haven't the vaguest idea! I think he's tall! :-)
smiles_1999_us asks: What was your favorite scene?
EVANS: I have a couple of them. I think the scenes where Amber's baby died were very memorable. There was one early on when Rick first comes over to Tawny's trailer. It wasn't really written in the script but the director let me do this: Rick was coming over and Tawny wanted to look nice, so I had her looking into her reflection in her table knife, because there was no mirror nearby. I thought that was such a fun little bit of business.
mahal94 asks: How is it like working with Brooke and Amber? Are we going to see more fireworks with you and Brooke soon?
EVANS: I would suspect you will, because I think Tawny and Brooke have a nice little antagonism. And I think the audience always enjoys a bit of that.
skip_13_99 asks: do you like playing the role of a person who broke the law by not having to get the baby adopted by amber?
EVANS: Again, technically, I don't believe Tawny is the one who broke the law. I think it's the midwife technically that broke the law. But I enjoy the character. She's doing a very bad thing but for a very good reason, and I like playing those characters. I call them gray characters. They aren't good or bad or black or white. That makes for an interesting character.
Shetland1998 asks: Will Tawny move closer to LA and Amber, to keep track of Amber and the baby? It was great when Tawny stayed with Amber.
EVANS: I think that's very possible. We joke on the set that Tawny is going to hitch up her trailer behind the Forrester mansion!
jxlvr asks: I heard you got married. Congrats to you. And I just want to say I loved you as TINA on OLTL. Please come back to ABC
EVANS: Well thank you, on all counts! That's very nice. But right now I'm very happy at B&B. I really am enjoying the character, and truly, it's one of the nicest sets I've ever been on.
Debilee asks: Do you think your character on B&B is anything like Tina on OLTL???
EVANS: Yeah, I do. I think Tawny in many ways is a much more economically challenged version of her, but they're both very strong women, very ambitious women, and these gray characters I discussed, who do the right thing in the wrong way. They share an underdog quality where they are trying to fit in with moneyed society and somehow, they are always just a hair off.
JAY_JC asks: Have you made any new pals during your time on Bold and The Beautiful?
EVANS: I've made a lot of pals with a lot of the crew, but I certainly am enjoying working with some of the different actors. John McCook (Eric), Susan Flannery (Stephanie), Adrienne Frantz (Amber) is wonderful. Dendrie, who plays the midwife, and Marissa (Tait), who plays Becky.
MarkyB_01 asks: Andrea, I am totally in love with you and admire your work. What has been the greatest challenge starring on The Bold and the Beautiful? And then, will you marry me??
EVANS: Well thank you! That's very nice, but I would have to ask my husband. I am already married, just recently married, but thank you very much, that's very flattering. My greatest challenge is playing the mother/daughter relationship because I have not been fortunate enough in my own life to have a child at this point, so it's drawing on feelings and emotions that I have not experienced yet, so it's been very challenging and very rewarding.
dakotah_007 asks: what is your favorite TV show?
EVANS: Hmmm. I have very strange taste! I love The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on PBS, and Mystery on PBS, and I'm also a huge fan of Sex and the City on HBO. And I like all the news programs. Plus, I'm totally addicted to, and never miss it even though it's on another network, Good Morning America. I have a huge crush on Charlie Gibson. :-)
JAY_JC asks: Will your character be getting a love interest soon?
EVANS: I hope so! She's lonely! Tawny needs a man! I do hope so, very soon. I would like to see Tawny with a man. I would like to see her expand that way and see how those kinds of relationships play out with her.
skylarleigh2000 asks: If it won't get you in trouble - who is your favorite actor/actress on the show?
EVANS: LOL! Hmmm... There are a couple: John McCook and Susan Flannery are incredible and great to watch and always bring something special to even the smallest thing. Plus, I had a crush on John McCook years ago when he was on Y&R. I said that to him the other day and he wanted to hit me!
lscotto40 asks: What was your Favorite job?
EVANS: Like I said, I've really only had one: acting! Of those, it's funny, I did a really tacky horror film that I loved doing because I love bad cinema. I love to watch Mystery Science Theater, so it was one of my all-time favorite jobs, a bad horror film called The Ice Cream Man, and I loved it! It was campy, we'll put it that way. :-) B&B fans might like renting it because it also features the actor who plays my brother on B&B, Uncle Joe! Clint Howard [brother of Ron] played The Ice Cream Man.
Shania_Twain1999 asks: Do you like Shania Twain's music?
EVANS: Sure! I like her clothes! She wears a little leopard number in one of her videos that I love!
koz4380 asks: B&B is a great show and you are a wonderful actress. I was wondering if Tawny will be on the show for awhile
EVANS: Well, I signed a year contract about a month ago, so yes, sounds like she'll be around at least for a little while!
toenvmore asks: How do you like working on this soap?
EVANS: I'm having a great time. The people, everything... it truly, truly is one of the nicest sets I've ever been on. There don't seem to be any big egos or prima donnas or anything like that. It's sort of a nice family atmosphere.
JAY_JC asks: Will your character be linked to the Spectras anytime in the future? Perhaps you and Clarke could get together. Would you like that?
EVANS: You know, somebody wrote to me and asked me that, and I thought that was a sort of interesting pairing! That could be very interesting. If I could get new clothes, I'd be all for it! Either him or Eric, because then I could get a better wardrobe! :-)
lhensley1 asks: where were you born?
EVANS: I was born in Aurora, Illinois! Right outside of Chicago.
loveable_14305 asks: I love Sex and the City!! If the producers ever asked you to make a cameo would you?
EVANS: In a heartbeat, especially if I got to work with Big, Chris Noth!
Amy_Sweethang asks: If you stuck on a deserted island, what 3 things would you bring?
EVANS: A really good, really long book; a big thing of iced tea because I'm addicted; and my lip gloss. Probably, being redheaded, I should have said my sun block, but... :-)
Paige_Malotte asks: What is your favorite color?
EVANS: That's an easy one: blue.
odiepodie14 asks: What kind of pets do you have and how many?
EVANS: I have one dog and one cat, a Dalmatian and a little red and white cat. I shouldn't say little; he's rather fat. He's a fat cat.
punkinsusu asks: Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) can play such a mean person. Is she as nice as I think she is in real life?
EVANS: She is VERY nice in real life. I don't know many people that play bad people that are bad themselves. She seems very pleasant, very nice.
Angel_with_the_GreenEyes asks: How does your significant other handle your love scenes?
EVANS: Actually, my first day on B&B I had a little bit of a love scene, Tawny did, with a trucker in some flashback scenes. And oddly enough, the gentleman playing the trucker turned out to be one of my husband's friends! So that was odd. But he's cool about it. Like in films or whatever, he just doesn't watch them.
smiles_1999_us asks: If you could be any other Character on B&B which would it be? And why? :-)
EVANS: I would be Eric Forrester because I like to be in charge.
skip_13_99 asks: Does your husband act?
EVANS: No, thank God. :-)
P1RAE asks: Why are there no ugly people on B&B?
EVANS: There are no ugly people on any soaps! It just seems to be the nature of the beast, you know? I think people want that beauty and romance and money.
Kaya1Love asks: Can you give us any hints about what will happen in the future on B&B?
EVANS: I wish I could! I can only tell you that I have been assured there are going to be a lot of fun twists and turns in the plot. I have been assured that by Bradley, and I think that's what makes for a good soap, and I think B&B certainly is that! And hopefully, a love interest for Tawny, because she is so lonely. :-(
SODhost: Thank you Andrea for joining us today! This was fun! And thank you fans for being here with us!
EVANS: Well, thank you!
Andrea Evans is guesting Regis and Kathy Lee:
Regis - Now she's back for a visit in N.Y.
Kathy Lee - To tell you how long that's been, that was 2 months before Cody was born.
Regis- Is that right?
Kathy Lee - Yeah
Regis - Wow that's a long time ago, anyway now staring in a popular daytime drama The Bold and The Beautiful, here's Andrea Evans
(Andrea rides in with two surfers carrying her.)
Andrea - Thank you guys.
Regis - Later guys, hi how are you?
Andrea - Fine thank you.
Kathy Lee - How are you Andrea?
Andrea - Fine thank you.
Regis - Andrea Evans has returned, my gosh, 9 years ago we sent you off on a surf board.
Andrea - Yeah and I have to thank you for those two guys, I never had to gt a car, they've taken me everywhere.
Regis, Never left your side?
Kathy Lee - Comes in handy in L.A. everybody drives.
Andrea - No, no problem parking, it's great.
Regis - So you did the right thing by leaving?
Andrea - Yeah I think so, I'm real happy, I'm on a new show, The Bold and The Beautiful.
Regis - Not only that, you met the man of your dreams.
Andrea - Yes, well, you were taken. (Laughing)
Regis - Oh gosh.
Kathy Lee - I always sensed a whole lot of sexual chemistry and tension, I really did.
Andrea - It's hot, it's it, got Regis here.
Kathy Lee - It's still possible.
Regis - Here's the thing, her best friend had an attorney, right?
Andrea - No actually it's my best friends boss.
Kathy Lee - And he's an attorney.
Andrea - Right, so I went to have lunch with my friend and met my husband.
Regis - Oh my gosh, just like that?
Andrea - Yeah, my friend was upset, he's like you're gonna marry my boss?
Kathy Lee - That could work in his favor.
Andrea - Good job security.
Kathy Lee - Yeah.
Regis - How is married life?
Andrea - Married life is good.
Kathy Lee - How many months have you been married?
Andrea - 18
Regis - 18 and now here comes this new assignment on The Bold and The Beautiful.
Andrea - Yes and having a great time. I have to tell you, the husband doesn't fit on the surf board, the two of us being carried around by the guys. (Laughing)
Regis - You're gonna have to make that trip alone.
Andrea - Yeah.
Kathy Lee - Is he still L.A. based and you're in N.Y.?
Andrea - No, no I'm L.A. based.
Kathy Lee - Oh, B&B is in L.A. I see.
Andrea - Yeah I'm just here for a visit.
Regis - And you're playing anybody like the old Tina gal?
Andrea - Well, she's not nice, kinda like the old Tina gal.
Kathy Lee - That's more fun to play then the good girl?
Andrea - Yeah, much more fun to play, and she's economically challenged.
Regis - Meaning she's poor.
Andrea - Yeah to be politically correct.
Kathy Lee - So she's one of those that might do certain things just to get a man with money?
Andrea - Well, you're right of course, if you're economically challenged on one of these shows that's the object to get the money honey.
Regis - Forget the neutering
Andrea - Forget that.
Regis - Confidence.
Andrea - Oh no.
Regis - Since of humor.
Andrea - Oh no, go for the bucks.
Regis - So how does it feel to be back working again?
Andrea - It's wonderful, I'm having such a good time. It's such a nice group of people and hi to all my friends on OLTL. Including Howey the camera man, he's here with me.
Regis - Oh yeah, Howey was always with you.
Andrea - Howey's here, he's here somewhere.
Kathy Lee - Does the husband mind Howey?
Regis - Trouble explaining that...
Andrea - (laughing)
Kathy Lee - Most of us come into a relationship with some baggage, but we've got a couple surfers and Howey, I don't know.
Andrea - Howey, surfers...
Regis - Surfers and a camera man, that takes a lot of explaining.
Andrea - Then there's my crush on Reg. There's a lot to explain.
Kathy Lee - He must be a big guy to be able to handle all that.
Andrea - Yeah
Regis - So what else is going on? You just got back from a cruise.
Andrea - I just got back from a cruise with my mother and we had a fabulous time and unfortunately for the surfers I ate a little to much. But...
Regis - You picked up a few pounds
Kathy Lee - Boy you can do it. That's why they have those beautiful spas on board now and work out areas.
Andrea - Actually my favorite thing was running on board. I loved that.
Regis - They always have a track around the top of the ship.
Andrea - Oh it's so cool to be running out in the middle of the ocean. It's very neat.
Regis - Did that bother you, and to hear about the old days on the soaps and things?
Andrea - Most of the time people are very nice. In fact the people they sat with us were so nice, they were so sweet, not until the end of the cruise did they come and say we were such big fans but we realized you were on vacation. So we respected your privacy.
Regis - That's terrific.
Andrea - Yeah it was really nice.
Regis - So things are going good for you?
Andrea - Things are going absolutely fabulously.
Regis - The Bold & The Beautiful, the husband, the cruise with the mother.
Kathy Lee - And the surfers and Howey, everything swell.
Andrea - Plus I have my own jewlery line, which I'm starting to create and stuff.
Regis - It's on all the shopping channels?
Andrea - Yeah
Regis - Good for you.
Andrea - Yeah, so that's going very well, it's called Platinum By Andrea.
Regis - Platinum By Andrea, well excuse us...
Andrea - Nothing but the best, Platinum.
Kathy Lee - Not available at Wal-Mart.
Regis - Welcome back and good luck on CBS.
Kathy Lee - Good to see you again Andrea.
Regis - On 1:30 in the afternoon on CBS, The Bold & The Beautiful, the lovely Andrea Evans...
