Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

The Bold and the Beautiful has been tearing it up of late with an umbrella story centered around an embittered Rick Forrester (Jacob Young), who after being fed up and being tossed aside by his father Eric (John McCook) in favor of Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) for the CEO seat at Forrester Creations, and never getting the opportunity to take the reins, decided turnabout is fair play and then some!  The new Rick is ready to take down those who get in his way to what he feels is rightfully his, especially after being kicked in the teeth by his then wife Caroline (Linsey Godfrey) who was smooching with sworn enemy number one … Ridge!

In addition, this storyline has given viewers an opportunity to see the acting mettle of Daytime Emmy winner Jacob Young!  So much so that back in December, On-Air On-Soaps named Jacob are pick for the Outstanding Supporting Actor of 2014, and the story has just gotten better and better into 2015.  We caught up with Jacob at the recent on set celebration for The Bold and the Beautiful’s 7000th episode, which included the studio dedication of Stage 31 to Jacob’s first soap boss and current soap boss, Brad Bell (head writer and executive producer, B&B).

Playing troubled, bad, misunderstood, and misguided is nothing new for Young having also played JR Chandler on ABC’s All My Children.  But Rick takes soap revenge to a whole new level, especially when he and his current flame Maya (Karla Mosley) get together for some collusion!  And as for Young’ intense scenes with Linsey Godfrey of late, they have been nothing short of exquisite work in this genre.  Here’s what Jacob had to say about finally being handed the ball and running with it … and more!

Brad Bell has been instrumental in your career, and it seems like both of you are getting your due and the respect you deserve: Brad being honored with the studio dedication in his name at B&B soundstages at CBS, and across the way from where his father the late Bill Bell Sr. had a studio dedication in his name at Y&R.  I saw you being very emotional when Brad spoke of what this meant to him.

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

JACOB:  If there is anything more touching than Brad and Bill Bell Sr.’s father and son connection, I don’t know what it is.  I told Brad that he would be so proud of you to continue his legacy, and it’s like the torched gets passed. I was moved to tears during his speech.  It was absolutely beautiful.

How long have you been with The Bold and the Beautiful now in total, since you left and came back?

JACOB:  I am right under the ten year mark here if you add them altogether. It doesn’t seem like ten, well it does and doesn’t, because I broke up the time being here.  Somebody asked me the other day, “What has been my favorite show to be a part of?” You have special memories of every part you play.  But B&B is where I started.  I wouldn’t have been able to do those other shows, if it wasn’t for this show.  Brad saw that many years ago, and so this by far is home, and it’s my favorite show.

Can you believe the story you have right now?  Rick’s revenge and the dynamics within the Forrester family, and their business turned on its ear, has been must-see TV!

JACOB:  I can’t believe it!  Sometimes it takes awhile to massage a new person back into the canvas. It took us three or four years, but I am running with it, and taking full advantage of it.  I am just going to continue trying to pump out the best work I possibly can.

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Rick is such a jackass right now!  It’s like these circumstances have unleashed his inner-devil.  How has it been working with Karla Mosley (Maya) in this storyline, and Linsey Godfrey (Caroline) in these heavy emotional scenes?

JACOB:  You are right! Rich is such an asshole! (Laughs) Both of those girls are so talented and have really blossomed into those roles. They are so sweet that’s hard to be mean to anybody on this show!

Karla has those big beautiful, but mischievous doe eyes!  She can just go there and play the bitch and turn it on and off, which is fun to watch.

JACOB:  Some of the scenes that are to come are almost unforgiveable, because both of us together are like very … duplicitous! (Laughs)

Did you know this big story was coming down the pike for you?

Courtesy/CBS

JACOB:  They always give you an idea, but then I have not had anything that lasts more three weeks in terms of continuing story.  I have had good start-ups, but there is never a finish line.  And so when I heard this, I thought this was going to be another in and out of the office at Forrester deal.  But, this was all a big surprise to me, and when I saw the material for the first time (that has aired already), and some of the more emotional stuff with Linsey; I said to myself, “It’s now or never!  Take it when you got it.”

You have some really meaty material this year to compete for a Daytime Emmy.  Did you submit yourself?  You better have!

JACOB:  I did!  However, some of this great material will be for next year’s Emmys, but there were some great scenes in the office when I find out originally about the supposed affair between Ridge and Caroline, and those were the scenes I used for this year’s Emmys.

One of the things that was so outrageous about this storyline initially was Ridge’s inability to draw being made into such a huge deal on the show, but shame on all of us for thinking that! Ultimately, it fed into Caroline and Rick’s relationship coming apart at the seams, and a vindictive Rick emerging!

Courtesy/CBS

JACOB:  It was definitely a good connector.  Rick definitely had some lines that were good puns for him, like, “Why don’t you take that the next time you are holdings hands in front of an easel!”

What is so fascinating in your performances of late is that you can even see that there is a sadness and vulnerability to Rick underneath it all, even as he continues on this mission to take everything that belongs to the Forrester family, and make them suffer like he feels he has!

JACOB:  He is the son who has always been pushed down. Rick has never been able to find his footing, and nobody ever gave him that true opportunity, and he was tired of being the underdog.  You can only push somebody down so much, before they finally start swimming … and he is swimming right now!

The recent scenes you had with Linsey Godfrey, where she is trying to reach out to Rick and tell him that they can make their marriage work, even though she betrayed him, and he wouldn’t take her back were heartbreaking!

Courtesy/CBS

JACOB:  They were gorgeous scenes, so gorgeous, and we had talked about those Linsey said, “When we look into each other’s eyes it’s just a trigger.” She found her groove, and she just stuck with it, and she nailed it.  It was unbelievable, and truly some of the best work I have seen, or been a part of on daytime.

So let’s clarify! (Laughs) In real life, you and Thorsten Kaye are buds, and in fact, you go way back to being part of the All My Children gang together!

JACOB: Oh yeah!  We are really close, actually.  So it’s fun to play with him in this way as such bitter adversaries.

What have you thought of the performances of Jacob Young? Do you think this story involving Rick/Maya and Caroline/Ridge and now Liam (Scott Clifton) who wants to take Forrester Creations over, and put Rick out to pasture (as he said on today’s episode) is one of the most rocking stories on soaps today?  Share your comments below!