Juliet Mills (Tabitha) and Josh Ryan Evans (Timmy) Chat from NBC Passions: Produced by NBC and Talk City, Inc. on 9/16/00
NBCLive: Welcome to #NBC-Live!
NBCLive: Welcome to our first part of three chats with the cast of NBC's
'Passions'.
NBCLive: Our guests for the evening are ~*~ Juliet Mills & Josh Ryan Evans ~*~
stars of the NBC daytime drama, 'Passions'.
NBCLive: Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Juliet Mills - who
perhaps is best remembered for her role as the sunny Nanny with special
powers in the series 'Nanny and the Professor' - joins the cast of
'Passions' as Tabitha Lenox, the seemingly thoughtful and sweet next-door
neighbor of the Bennett family who also brings a mystic and supernatural
element to the residents of Harmony.
NBCLive: Josh Ryan Evans plays Timmy, Tabitha's "special" friend. His other
television credits include 'Ally McBeal,' where he plays the part of Oren,
a young attorney and arch nemesis of the title character. He is featured in
the upcoming cable television miniseries 'P.T. Barnum,' in which he plays
the role of Tom Thumb. He also guest-starred in 'Poltergeist: The Legacy.'"
NBCLive: Thank you.
NBCLive: Welcome Juliet and Josh!
Josh: Hello, how are you doing?
Juliet: Hi everyone! We're here. You're there. Let's go. :-)
TabbyRulesAll-guest: Juliet, what interested you in playing the role of
Tabitha Lenox? Same for you Josh?
Juliet: It's a wonderful role. It's a very interesting character. She
appears to be one thing and is quite the other. It's a chance to be in many
disguises of many people who appeal to me. It's playing a rather crazy next
door neighbor with extra sensory powers - I thought that would be fun. And
it is.
Josh: Very similar. I was very interested in the many different types of
roles I could play and portray on the scene in the same character. I could
be anything, really because it's a soap opera, for one; and two, I could be
free to act like a kid or an adult. He has no boundaries and is also in a
lot of costumes.
Juliet: We have these fantasies within the show. I have flashbacks and he
has fantasies of what he wants to do and be, and it's always fun to dress
up as other people.
Josh: She dreams of her glorious days, wondering what is going to happen in
the future.
GangStarr-guest: Juliet Mills, how did you get the job?
Juliet: I don't really know how I got it. I had a meeting with the
producers and then I did a screen test. I had never done soaps before. I
just got it the same way most actors get jobs these days. It's a lot of
competition for any role, so I went that route. I had auditions and screen
tests and finally got it.
innocentme: Josh, can you tell us about how you got your first acting job?
Josh: Let me think back that far! My first job was a commercial for
Dreyer's ice cream. It was mainly just a lot of auditions and
finally my agent called. I was living in the San Francisco Bay area at the
time. My agent asked me if I could do the moon walk. I had no idea. In the
commercial, the mom asks if she can get the baby some ice cream, and the
baby jumps up and does the moon walk. The director wanted a Michael Jackson
look. I was watching the tape of the moonwalk over and over. I just copied
it. There are a lot of movements beforehand that I did to warm up in order
to get into the moon walk and the director saw me do that and had them
write that into the script. So, I also choreographed it, which was cool. I
got sent to New York. It was my first job. It was a wonderful hotel. I was
in hog heaven. It was great. It was just a matter of meeting with them and
auditioning with many different people.
GangStarr-guest: How long have both of you been in the business?
Juliet: I've been in the business about 35 years.
Josh: I've been wanting to be in the business since I was 10. I'm 18 now.
I've been actively searching for roles since I was 12. That's when I got an
agent. I got my first job when I was 13. So, I've been working 5 years. But
I call auditions a lot of work.
TabbyRulesAll-guest: Juliet, in what ways is Tabitha like you??
Juliet: I definitely work with my own intuition and my gut feeling. I
believe in ESP and reincarnation and that people have lived lives before
and returned to try and get it right. In that way, we have parallels. The
fact that she has a good sense of humor, even though she is pretty wicked.
She is a giggler. That is like me too. She loves Timmy and I love Josh. I
think that's the end of it as to how alike we are.
Josh: I know her personally and she is not at all mean to me. She gave me a
kitty for my birthday. She is really, really nice to me so stop sending
mean letters saying to stop hurting Timmy, because she is not hurting me!
JJ1192: Timmy do you ever get sick of getting beat up in Tabitha's 'schemes'?
Josh: I think it goes with the flow, but, yeah, I wish Tabitha was on the
good side too. I would like Timmy to fight back once. Get a little bit more
courage - not too much - he doesn't want to hurt her. He loves her.
Luis-guest: What is your favorite scene that the two of you have done?
Juliet: We are on our 172nd show. It's hard.
Josh: I like the montages which have shown up in two different scenes. They
are very cute and very sweet. I like the beginning stuff a lot.
Juliet: I like it when I am riding my tricycle and he's in the basket and I
stop suddenly and throw him out.
Josh: I like just talking to each other, like we did today. It's a really
good scene to talk to each other as the characters.
Juliet: Sometimes we are up to no good and don't have a chance to
communicate like 2 people. We both enjoy it when we get a scene like that
to play.
Josh: The montages are my favorite, because they show the real you.
TabbyRulesAll-guest: Juliet, is this the first soap opera you ever worked on?
Juliet: Actually, I did 3 weeks on a soap opera in New York - 'All My
Children.' I played an American judge
which was frightening because I was facing a whole courtroom of people.
A_D_D_I_S_O_N-guest: Hi...Josh...Why don't the fans ever get to see FLUFFY?
Josh: Because it's too scary a sight. The reason is that you almost always
see Fluffy's view.
Ashleyluvsya-guest: Hey I was wondering how it feels to be in the best soap
opera ever. I mean you are working with so many fabulous new rising stars
and I love your character. I was just wondering how it is?
Josh: I'm so honored that you call it that. It's absolutely wonderful.
Juliet: It is wonderful and it's been wonderful to be starring in this new
soap together. All the young people in the show have worked so hard and are
so good. It is really fun, and I feel that 'Passions' is the soap for 2000.
It's different and everybody is working so hard to get better and better.
And I think it shows. We have wonderful writers that give us marvelous
things to do.
Josh: I agree with that. Also when the characters are changing, we are all
growing when our characters grow.
We all moved from different locations to get together and do this project,
so it really feels like a team effort.
starcat-guest: From Tabitha's character's point of view, how does it feel
to be the root of such evil, like keeping Faith away from her twin sister?
Juliet: Tabitha is a bit worrying, but from her point of view, everything
is justifiable. I, the actress, just have to go along with her reasoning
because you can't question these things. Sometimes, I am quite shocked at
her latest projects, but she isn't always successful, so a lot of it turns
into comedy instead of tragedy.
chantelle76: Josh ... you are the greatest actor!!! I admire your work so
much! How did you get to be such a terrific actor? Did you take a lot of
classes or is it just a natural talent that you were born with?
Josh: Thank you for the compliment. It's an honor that you say that. It's
both. You have to have a natural instinct to want to do it. You do have to
work hard to develop it; it isn't automatically there. There is a spark of
it already there, and you just grow on that. It's like when you are a
little kid with a little personality - it just grows.
tashboobash-guest: I love Passions! It's a great show. Can you tell me
what's in store for Tabitha and Timmy?
Juliet: We have no idea.
Josh: We'd have to kill you if we told you.
Juliet: We only know a week or 10 days ahead ourselves as to what we are
doing. It's as much a surprise to us as it is to you.
guest-JesseMetcalfLover: Hey Juliet- I was wondering how you feel playing
someone that is wicked to young kids? and also do you get along with the
cast off the set? Keep up the good work!!! :-)
Juliet: I don't want to promote evil, but I'm not tremendously successful
with all my wickedness. I certainly don't encourage child abuse and I
refuse to hit Josh when he is alive. I only abuse the doll, if anyone
notices. I enjoy giving him a good bash. As far as the cast, I get along
with everyone and we all get on very well. No one holds it against me for
being such a witch.
Josh: We need to give that doll another smack. Its head will get too big
otherwise.
starcat-guest: Timmy, is it fun playing a doll?
Josh: Yes. It's interesting. You can definitely say that! The character can
feel pain and also not feel pain. It's really up to how it's written that
day and how I feel that day. I think characters should feel upset about
something or not. I don't play the character as a doll, more as a boy -
like Pinocchio.
guest-EZguest574: Are you both excited to be nominated for Soap Opera
Digest awards? I love your characters on the show!
Josh: I am thrilled and honored. It is going to be really fun just going. I
will be very happy and shocked if I win.
Juliet: It is an honor, especially as it is voted by the viewers - you the
people. We are both thrilled!
Josh: I may not be able to carry the award off if I win. It may be too
heavy.: -)
lala_orange-guest: What do you mostly like about being the villain of the
show?
Juliet: When I get up to no good all the time and when I am constantly
trying to cause trouble. That is more fun than being Miss Goody Two Shoes,
anyway.
tashboobash-guest: Can you tell us the recipe for Mar-Timmys?
Josh: It's a secret. I will tell you how it is prepared. Shaken, not stirred.
guest-casualchatter: What is a typical day on the set like for you?
Juliet: Long.
Josh: Long. There's nothing typical. There are never a routine two days in
a row.
Juliet: Every show is different. It starts early and ends late.
Josh: We have uneven call times every day and leave at different times
every day. I may be able to go to the store by 6 and I may not.
Juliet: I have quite a bit more time in hair and makeup than Josh.
Josh: I have a lot more wardrobe.
Juliet: Yep. It takes you awhile to get dressed. I have a lot of hair work
going on. It takes awhile to get ready. One tries to keep a semblance of
normal life going or the soap takes over your life. You have to keep things
in perspective, like all jobs, or it can take over.
Josh: Every day I have to get "dolled" up and at the end of the day, I rip
the doll stuff off and become Josh again and go home. Some days are really
fun and those are special days.
PAXIESHAWAN: Why can't Tabitha go in church if she's lost all her evil powers?
Juliet: I think she has a past history. A past that she is worried about. I
think the church and holy water just terrify her. I think she is frightened
of the thought of going to church.
Josh: I think she may be endangered if she goes into a church. She may not
have the benefits of an evil witch, but she still has the responsibilities.
guest-timmyfan: Josh, how are you coming along on the children's books you
are writing? Are they in stores yet?
Josh: No, they aren't in stores. This show has actually postponed the
children's books. I've been working also on a film "How the Grinch Stole
Christmas" with Ron Howard, so I've been busy. I also have all of the other
things that teenagers do - high school and chores. I hope to think about it
and get back to it perhaps this summer, or the beginning of next year.
mpjkwcw: What is the best thing about being on 'Passions' (for Josh and
Juliet)
Juliet: The best thing is A) it's a regular job, which is nice when you are
an actor; and B) playing the character and having the fun of doing
something new every day. It's not like being in a play, where you do the
same thing every day. It's a different play every day, and it makes it more
fun, although it is harder work because there are new lines to learn every
night. That's the hardest thing for me - the homework. It's not going to
work and doing it; it's the work that goes ahead of that, which is the work
at home, at night, through the weekend. It's never away from you. You are
never without that script. If you are not prepared, then it isn't fun.
Knowing the lines is the trick.
Josh: My benefit is my new friend sitting right next to me, Juliet, and my
other co-stars. I've really gained a family working here and it's all the
different new and exciting things I get to do. I get to go to interviews
and have a lot of fun on the set. I get to do a lot of different things.
I'm learning how this whole game works and it can be a very fun game, but
also very bad if you are losing. But I won't talk about that right now.
Lynn-guest: Juliet, I am a your #1 fan! What new storyline would you like
to see your character in?
Juliet: I like the idea of Tabitha and Timmy invading the Crane household.
I'd like to have a few scenes with Julian Crane. I think that would be fun.
Josh: I wouldn't mind having some fun in the posh surroundings of the Crane
household. Timmy likes fine things just like Josh likes fine things. I
think he could be very materialistic. Instead of being sewn up with
polyester, he could be sewn up with silk for a change.
srwolk-guest: Timmy is the most original character on TV. Is it fun to play
him or just a lot of work, especially with the elaborate costumes?
Josh: It is very fun to play him and it is a lot of work, with all the
elaborate costumes, costars, everything. It's great to play him but you
don't know what is going to happen. You think the scene will go one way and
it goes the opposite direction and you have to be OK with that and go with
the flow. It is all with the input that I get from the other people. It's
hard with the gloves I wear to handle things. It is hard to hold the
martimmys, but I've gotten used to it. I didn't used to work this hard. It
was easy to go onto a stage and just act. Now, sometimes, it is harder than
that, even though it is still always fun.
ARKBLUEBIRD: Josh, I love to watch you play Timmy! You are a great actor!
Juliet is a wonderful actress, and you and she are a great combination for
the show! Do ya'll have a lot of retakes? The lines are so funny!
Josh: No. Like today, I didn't know it was filming and thought it was a
rehearsal. We went through it and it was perfect. Between my great co-stars
and my lines, sometimes it works.
Juliet: We don't have much time for re-takes. You do try to get it right
the first time. Sometimes, if you are working with props or cameras, we
have to do it again. It's as much for the cameras and lights that we have
to do it again.
Josh: It's an interesting process in that all of the pieces have to fall in
place in order for it to work. We have a great crew that is on top of what
we do, because sometimes we ad lib - we don't do what is in the script; we
will add or change it. They get hold of that and notice it and they follow
us. That's proof of a great crew. I think the lines are just so good that a
lot of times it is just so easy to say them. If I were Timmy, I'd actually
say some of that. They are very much like us. We have changed them so that
they are.
EZGuest786: Juliet, did you or your sister Hayley receive any encouragement
from your father to go into acting or did he discourage you?
Juliet: No. He didn't discourage us. They couldn't discourage us
considering that it was their business and they had a wonderful life. My
father had a wonderful career as an actor. They did make us aware that it
is not easy street. It's not something that you go into half-heartedly. You
have to be prepared for setbacks and rejections. You don't always get the
parts you want. Sometimes when you do get the part you want, you get
terrible reviews. They always made us aware of the business. You've got to
love it passionately to do it and be able to take the knocks. We both came
into the business fully aware of the pitfalls. I thank my parents for that.
A lot of young actors come into the business and think "That's it! I'm a
star." That's a mistake because sometimes there are peaks and valleys. In
that way, it was very good for us that we were told by somebody who knew,
like my dad.
Josh: I didn't know this stuff. I did have a passion for it. I heard rumors
that it was fun, but I realized very quickly that it was a lot of hard work
and rejection. If you didn't get the part, it was either not for you or it
was a bad part or it was bad casting, but it wasn't your fault. You have to
keep positive and roll with the punches.
TimTabandTiff: Hi Josh! I was wondering if you ever feel offended by some
things you have to do on the show.
Josh: I wasn't too happy about going into the washer. I never actually went
into it, but I had to be totally soapy afterwards. I wasn't too happy that
the doll was thrown into the harbor. It wasn't me, but I did have to do the
next 5 days of filming wet because I was playing the doll. There's been
some mean things done to the doll. I'm not offended, though. I would try
hard not to have it in the script, because I don't want to offend anyone
else who might think the same as me, and wonder if it is offensive. They
haven't been too bad at all.
miss_elfie: Hello! Do you feel that your show has a positive reaction among
younger viewers?
Josh: Oh, yes. Definitely. Most definitely.
Juliet: Yes, I do. I know from reactions of people that we meet. It's
surprising how many young teenagers watch this show and enjoy it.
Josh: The time it came on was the best time for us because it was summer
and the kids were home and watching TV and we gave them something good to
watch. Something entertaining and that made them laugh. When people laugh,
they like it. Kids like to laugh. 'Passions' really goes the full array.
I've had a 3 year old write to me and a grandmother write to me. The full
spectrum of people.
gayz: I started watching 'Passions' because of you, Juliet (been a fan
since Nanny & The Professor), and I got hooked - it's a wonderful role! Do
you think Tabitha will meet up with any other witches (other than Alice
Ghostley! LOL)
Juliet: I imagine that there will be others. I don't know for sure, but
it's an interesting aspect of the character - that she is a witch and has
witch friends from the past. I imagine there will be a few other hags
popping up.
Josh: She has many friends and many enemies.
Juliet: I go back hundreds of years so they've got a lot to choose from as
to my associations from the past. I'm glad you enjoyed Nanny. It's very
different from this character but in some ways, it's like Nanny's gone mad,
somewhat.
Lynn-guest: Josh, what was it like working with Jim Carrey?
Josh: I didn't really work with him because I'm playing a younger version
of whatever he is in it. It was interesting because they had me come over
just to watch him, and he is absolutely amazing and astonishing. He is a
genius. He did one scene, and it looked perfect, but he did it 5 times, and
each time it looked perfect. He did it one more time and I don't know what
he did, but he made it 10 times funnier. It's amazing. To play him is a lot
of hard work because if they want Jim to do anything, he'll do it. He is
tuned into what they want. He is very professional but 'out there' with his
comedy. At times, I had to basically crumble like a pretzel in a manner of
seconds. A lot of his stuff gets cut out - his own ideas.
passions310-guest: How has your life changed since you two started the show?
Josh: We have no other life. Our life has become a soap opera in itself. I
had moved from 2 different locations, first to a hotel then an apartment.
Now I'm in a house. This is all within a 6 month period. It's very crazy. I
go from doing nothing for weeks, and now I'm up from the crack of dawn
until after the news is over. I'm a very active person now, and if you are
lazy, that's not a good thing to do.
Juliet: For me, the difference is that the show has taken all my focus. I'm
not looking for another job or reading plays. It's just like blinkers -
-it's all about 'Passions' and trying to work in one's personal and social
life and look after the family at the same time. You have to try and work
that in, but 'Passions' is full-time. That's the difference.
Josh: You have to be really focused on it.
Lynn-guest: Juliet, what was it like wearing that mermaid costume? Was it
hard to move around in?
Juliet: Absolutely impossible to move around in. Extremely uncomfortable.
When I did move around on the floor, I had to put my arms down and heave my
behind along. I had very stiff shoulders and neck for a few days, but it
was fun too. I enjoyed playing the scenes when the kids came in. But I was
glad I only had that tail on for 3 shows. That was enough.
Josh: I found it amusing. But nobody realizes how tight those bunny ears
are. They were so tight, I thought my head would pop like a pimple. But I
did feel sorry for you, Juliet. :-)
Maria_k: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Josh: What free time? I really don't have that much free time. When I do, I
rest and play video games. I play with my cats. I watch movies and TV a
lot. And sleep. That is a new activity that I hadn't realized the joys of
until I started working here.
Juliet: I enjoy cooking. I love to cook for my family and my friends. I
love to garden. This weekend I was gardening all weekend. It's therapy for
me. I try to do things for myself that I know I should do to stay young and
energetic. I do exercise. I run a few times a week. I do yoga 2 or 3 times
a week, which is hard when you are working at this pitch. But I do find
time to do it. I believe in yoga and meditation as help in my life. I love
to go to the movies with my husband on a Friday night date and dinner
afterwards.
Josh: I would enjoy that too :-)
snubys: Juliet or Timmy, what is the most embarrassing thing that has ever
happened to you on the set?
Josh: One day, no matter what was written, I could not get the words out.
That was very embarrassing to me.
I know that Juliet was having some problems with it that day.
Juliet: I think we were just tired. I don't think there was anything else
in particular.
Josh: I can't think of one in particular, but a few have been. The first
time I saw Timmy's outfit, I was...GULP....I have to put this on?
guest-passionsfan: Have the winners of the 'Passions' contest started
working yet? When will we see them on TV for the first time?
Josh: They haven't worked yet that I know of. I got a memo recently saying
perhaps this summer. I have not met them yet.
NBCLive: Looks like we are almost out of time for tonight. Thank you Juliet
and Josh for joining us. Do you have any last words for our audience?
Josh: Thank you for all of the support and keep watching.
Juliet: Keep watching, all you guys. We are doing it for you!
Josh: Keep drinking your martimmys during the show.
NBCLive: A very special thanks to Juliet Mills & Josh Ryan Evans for
participating tonight.
NBCLive: Do you have comments or questions about this chat or anything
you've seen on the NBC television
network or www.nbc.com? e-mail us at NBClive@nbc.com
NBCLive: All of us at NBC.com and Talk City wish you a fantastic evening,
and we look forward to seeing you soon!
NBCLive: Produced by NBC and Talk City. All rights reserved, copyright 2000.
NBCLive: Good Night!
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