Interviews
B&B’s Matthew Atkinson Talks On Thomas’ Vendetta With Brooke & Playing The Manipulative Bad Boy Of The Forrester Clan
Since coming to The Bold and the Beautiful earlier this year, Matthew Atkinson is making his mark in the role of Taylor (Hunter Tylo) and Ridge’s (Thorsten Kaye) son, Thomas Forrester. But while Matthew was a recast for his predecessor Pierson Fodé, his Thomas is quite different. The new Thomas is a bad boy capable of horrific manipulations to get what he wants, and a young man who has caused so much suffering already for the Logans, Spencers, and the Forresters But is there a heart underneath that often volatile exterior?
After all, Thomas went to great lengths to keep Hope (Annika Noelle) in a relationship with him and for her to be a “mother” to his son, following the death of Caroline. So, what did he do? He covered-up and blackmailed many people to keep their mouths shut to the truth – that his sister Steffy’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) little girl, Phoebe, was actually baby Beth, the child Hope and Liam (Scott Clifton) believed had died at birth!
Following the big reveal, and getting a bit of comeuppance, Thomas landed in the hospital with a questionable push from Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) after a fall. After promising to change his ways, looks like Thomas is back to scheming and conniving – this time to make sure Brooke gets payback and that her marriage to his father blows up to smithereens. Meanwhile, Thomas needs to be a better father to his little boy, Douglas (Henry Joseph Samiri), but will the Logans and the Spencers come between father and son?
Michael Fairman TV chatted with Matthew Atkinson to get his take on: the emotional make-up of his incarnation of Thomas Forrester, what his ultimate takedown of Brooke would be, and how he thinks Thomas can find a way back into the family good graces, and more. Here’s what Matthew had to say about it all.
Photo: JPI
Thomas really has a vendetta with Brooke. The scene where Brooke slaps him illustrated just how deep-rooted his issues apparently are with her. What did you think about what Thomas said to Brooke that came to a boiling point with the slap, and what was it like performing the material with Katherine Kelly Lang?
MATTHEW: Katherine rocks every chance I get to be around her. She is such a sweet human being and so fun to work with and takes her job seriously and puts a lot of work in, and I think it shows. As far as the scene goes, every chance that I get to work with her is fun. She’s just a great actress. Brooke basically had this vendetta against Thomas for a while now, and she was the one who unjustifiably went a little crazy about Thomas before anybody knew Thomas was off the rails. So, it’s kind of this interesting culmination of having that where she has built herself up to hating Thomas at this point, and she is just scared of him and what he could possibly do. Then you have Thomas, who has hated Brooke ever since she came in and destroyed his family. There is so much emotion there and so many levels to it. It’s just so much fun to play around with, and in those scenes especially, it is kind of like neither one of them really has a filter. They are both just going at each other.
He is punctuating his plan by telling Brooke that she may, “Have his father tied around her slutty little finger, but her reign of terror ends with him!” I was just like, “Uh-oh.” (Laughs)
MATTHEW: Yeah, and that’s how Thomas sees Brooke. He sees her as this slutty woman who came in and kind of giggles her way into his dad’s life and flirted with him and destroyed his entire family. Thomas sees her and all of her sisters as these air-headed women who are kind of just family-destroying kind of people. They come in, they do whatever they can to get what they want, and he doesn’t care about them at all. I think he has kind of gotten to this point, especially with Brooke … considering what happened with Hope and that he has this genuine love for Hope. Brooke won’t even accept that, or think about that as a possibility with how she views him. It’s that crazy dynamic and those scenes were definitely an emotional peak for both of them.
Photo: JPI
Thomas seems to become obsessed, and laser-focused on people like Hope, and now Brooke. What has happened to him? How are you playing this behavior pattern of his that we are seeing established?
MATTHEW: Some of the most successful people in the world are people who obsess over things. I think Thomas is like that, but I think that since Caroline’s death, his obsessive nature has been so focused on things other than fashion. They aren’t his job and what his talents are, which is where he should focus all of that energy, but instead it’s been on his son needing a mother. So, getting Hope in his life was key to him, and with Brooke, it’s a woman who has destroyed his entire family. He wants his dad to be better off. He wants his entire family to be better off. He honestly feels that they would be better off without Brooke in their lives, and so that is what he is focused on. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad attribute to have when it is focused in the right direction, but for Thomas, since the death of Caroline, his focus has been on things that are a little abstract and are not necessarily objectively sound decisions.
Photo: JPI
What was interesting was that I did not know how they were going to be able to save the character of Thomas on the B&B canvas after all that he has perpetrated. But then, there were scenes in the hospital where he is recovering from his “fall”, and Thomas is having big emotional scenes with Ridge and Steffy. In those moments as the viewer, you say to yourself: “Oh, they’re going to redeem him,” but then they don’t. He goes right back to a new vendetta. What did you think of those plot twists?
MATTHEW: The interesting thing about this character is that I don’t think this guy is a bad guy. I think he is a guy who is doing a lot of bad things, but I think a lot of people can relate to him and the struggles that he is dealing with: being a single father and having a rough childhood with his family being broken up. This is a guy who wants his father to approve of him and respect him and he has never really felt that way. I think a lot of people out there know what it’s like to have a parent who they just want approval from but can’t get it … couple that with the fact that he let his sister down. Everybody knows what it is like to think that they are making the right decision and end up making the wrong decision and possibly hurting someone in the process … and the kind of shame that you feel from doing something like that. I think this makes Thomas an interesting character where viewers could say, “Well, he is doing bad things, and I don’t agree with anything that he is doing, but I can relate to him, and I want him to be better, and I want him to get better and become the good person we all know he can be.” Yet, Thomas just keeps making all of the wrong decisions.
Photo: JPI
I predict that in short order, Thomas will be in cahoots with Shauna (Denise Richards)!
MATTHEW: Okay, we shall see. (Laughs) They have aligned interests; especially at the moment, when it comes to removing Brooke from that situation. I think with Shauna, it’s fun that Denise Richards has come into this role and what she has done with this character.
Denise Richards is doing a great job in the role.
MATTHEW: She’s amazing, but I think that behind the thought process she has is this woman, Shauna, who is not so dissimilar from Thomas, and is willing to blur the lines of what is acceptable and morally sound to make sure that she gets what she wants.
Photo: JPI
When you were taping those emotional hospital scenes where Thomas admits he has lost his way, and reaching out to his dad to try to find forgiveness, how were playing those scenes with Thorsten Kaye?
MATTHEW: I respect Thorsten a lot as an actor. I just love having scenes with him because I feel like we play off of each together so well. When we enter a scene together, we are both in it. When you are both in it, something real happens from that, and those real moments are kind of magical in a way, and it makes you feel great about the work that you do. Thorsten shows up, and he’s prepared, he knows what he is doing, and at the same time, there is this connection between father and son. I think Thorsten and I have definitely done that as father and son, and Jacqui and I have done that as brother and sister.
Since the show usually has you shirtless or sneering in scenes (laughs), I was so happy that they finally let you have some crying scenes. It was at the point that the audience was able to see you bring another emotional level and dimension to the character.
MATTHEW: I think he is not a guy who breaks down and cries very often. It takes something very serious (especially for him) to get to that point. For Thomas, the most important thing in the world is family, and he has kind of destroyed his relationship with his own family with what he has done, and I think that from the inside out is what breaks him.
Photo: JPI
Speaking of shirtless scenes; in a short amount of time you have been with the show, I think you may have set a record there.
MATTHEW: (Laughs) Yep. It’s all the time because the wardrobe sends me mostly pants – no shirts (Laughs).
Obviously, there is the issue of Thomas’s son, Douglas … and will he lose him because Hope and Liam want to gain custody of him. Brooke wants Thomas out of Douglas’ life for good. This poses a major obstacle for Thomas moving forward. Agree?
MATTHEW: Sure. However, Brooke has no legal right to stand on. You can’t just take a guy’s son. There’s no legal way to do that, but they can try their hardest to either sign adoption papers or sign over custody, or something like that, but there’s not a legal way they can go and just take his son. There are a lot of people who I understandably think Douglas would be better off with being raised by Hope and Liam, but I think Thomas has a point of view too, and just because he is going through a bad part of his life at this time, doesn’t mean that he is unfit to be a father. I think Thomas will prove that he is fit to be father and all the while, a great force to be reckoned with,
Photo JPI
But, Thomas hasn’t been so great to Douglas, either. Hasn’t he yelled at his son, manipulated him for his own gain, etc?
MATTHEW: Right, this was kind of right before the truth about Beth came out, and Thomas was on this massive downward swirl where he wasn’t thinking clearly; he wasn’t himself. I think in reality, you have a person who went off the rails, he wasn’t being himself, he found the person he wasn’t, and I think that the “accident” of Brooke pushing him off a cliff, the slip, kind of clarified his intention in life to be a good, standup person from here on out. So, I think his priorities are straight now, and I think he is thinking clearly. I don’t think he is in the same mental state that he was before, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he won’t be manipulative and that he won’t get what he wants, because he will. There was a time that he went through a headspace when nothing was really clear for a minute, and he didn’t really have any moral backbone, but I don’t think that moving forward you’re going to see a Thomas Forrester that would hurt his son. You’re going to see a Thomas Forrester who will stop at nothing to protect his son.
How does Thomas feel about Hope now, especially since Hope wants to raise Douglas?
MATTHEW: Well, here is what I will say; I think that Thomas has always had a love for Hope. I think he respects her as a person, I think he has seen her be a mother to his child, and that is undeniable … how much of a connection that she has to Douglas, and she is incredibly important to him. Thomas can basically discard any Logan except Hope. Hope is kind of his kryptonite. So, going forward, I think you’ll maybe see a guy who wants to discard Hope as a person who he cares for (her and the rest of the Logans), but he may not be able to do that, because she has got a place in his heart that he can’t compartmentalize and leave behind.
Photo: JPI
What can you say about working with Annika Noelle, because you as Thomas had been terrorizing Hope for many months?
MATTHEW: Well, she’s a sweetheart, but also, secondly, she is a badass. She could kick my butt any day of the week. So, I just had to make sure that in between takes I said, “You understand that I wouldn’t do this to you.” She’s so sweet, and she was actually one of the first people to talk to me about taking over a role on the show, because she had been one of the most recent people to take over a role, and that was something that was really hard for me. Coming into a character that has already been there for 30 years, you have a lot to live up to. She was amazing from the beginning just helping me through that process.
On that note, what did you think of the epic fight scene on the rooftop opposite Scott Clifton; right before all the truth came out to Hope that Beth is alive and Thomas was lying to Hope and up to no good?
MATTHEW: So much fun. The shots they got were incredible. Shooting those fight scenes was so much fun and I love Scott to death. So, every time we get to work together it’s fun, but just getting outside and literally pretending to beat the crap out of each other is a blast. We got to go out to Malibu, and I got to fall over a cliff. What else can you say about that? (Laughs)
Photo: JPI
There is another interesting relationship Thomas has on B&B, and that is with his friend, Vinny. How has it been creating the on-screen dynamic with Joe LoCicero (Vinny) as these two scheming dudes?
MATTHEW: I like it, and I love Joe. This dynamic between these two guys is really funny because you have this shrewd, alpha male, Thomas Forrester, who is extremely driven, and insanely smart, but also very manipulative and he has got a thousand things going on. On the flipside, you’ve got Vinny, who is just this guy who he has been friends with for a really, really long time, who just kind of lives life. He is living in his apartment in Venice, he sells some not so legal substances just to his friends, and he’s a decent guy. It’s just fun when we have these scenes together, because essentially you’ve got him looking at me like I’m an alien creature, and thinking, “I don’t understand this guy. I don’t know why he is acting this way, but who cares; I’m going to eat my Chinese food.” (Laughs) I think it kind of grounds some of those scenes especially when you see Thomas going off that rails, and his friend doesn’t even seem to notice. (Laughs)
I know! (Laughs) Thomas has got his own sidekick.
MATTHEW: I think Vinny wants to give sound advice, but he gives all the worst advice. He’s like, “Well, the way you described it Thomas, it sounds like a good idea, so yeah, go ahead with that,” but maybe doing a little behavioral cognitive therapy and questioning would be good for Vinny. He just kind of goes, “okay,” (laughs) but I think that’s what makes those scenes so much fun.
Photo: JPI
Having appeared on The Young and the Restless previously you know how soaps go. There is always this fear of: “Will they kill me off if my character has gone too far?” Did at any point in Thomas’ storyline, and as you got the scripts and read all the terrible things Thomas was doing, that the character might get murdered, kicking off a murder mystery, and you’d have to make an exit?
MATTHEW: I’d had discussions with Brad Bell (executive producer and head writer, B&B) and I kind of knew where the character was going, so I kind of knew that he was going down a rabbit hole, but that Thomas wasn’t a lost cause. I knew that he would at least be present for the upcoming short future that I know of, that Thomas wasn’t going to find his demise, which was very nice of Brad to give me that insight into the character to not only know what was coming up, but also know where his head is at by this point. It helps me with the character work that I do for each scene and prep for each day; because I know where Thomas’ head is going to be at two weeks from now.
Photo: JPI
Have you had any interactions with fans, or are you checking out on social media what the viewers are saying about Thomas? Do they love him? Hate him? Is there a great debate going on? What is your take on where Thomas sits with the audience?
MATTHEW: Oh, yeah. I definitely pay attention. The fans are the reason I have the job that I have. All the feedback that I have seen is positive, and by positive, I mean that it is emotionally effective. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that people are happy with Thomas because most people are not happy with Thomas. They don’t like what he is doing, and that obviously gets them angry or sad or whatever, but that is kind of the point of the show. If you’re watching a bunch of characters who are all great people and who all do nice things, then it wouldn’t be that much fun to watch. You’d be watching 40 Liam’s talk to each other, and it would be like, “Yeah, it’s just another day in Happy World.” (Laughs) I think that Thomas especially has been such a driving force in the last couple of months and caused a lot of drama. I think there are a lot of storylines that people have connected to in the past that are really making people enjoy the drama happening now. You have the people who hated Ridge getting together with Brooke in the beginning that are happy with what Thomas is doing now. You have the people who are pro – Liam and Steffy. Thomas has been a big advocate of that since the beginning. There are some people who just can’t stand Thomas and don’t like him, and he makes them mad, but the reality of it is that there is a thin line between love and hate. So, as long as they love me or hate me, I’m happy.
So, have you been enjoying Matthew’s portrayal of Thomas? Do you think he will rip Brooke and Ridge apart for good and succeed in his plans? Do you think he should somehow pay for his manipulations? Share your thoughts on the current B&B storyline involving Thomas via the comment section below.
Bad Boy? What a farce! Creepy is more like it!
I LOVE his Thomas. It took me a while because I adored Pierson but I’m one of those who is loving watching him go after Brooke. Now if only they’d give him a decent love interest and move him past anything Hope related.
They need to move the whole show past anything Hope related. No matter who is saying what to who, it always comes back to what Hope went through because of Flo. I know what happened was horrifiic, but enough is enough. And one final note,Brooke should be grateful that Ridge got Flo out of jail, otherwise her sister my not have had a donor as quickly as she did
Very creepy, and a child abuser as well. Not physically, but most definitely psychologically. (I know I probably did not spell that right). One minute he is telling Douglas that he loves him and is sorry, and in the next breath he is telling him it is his fault that Hope did not marry them because Douglas told about Beth. He is one sick ticket. And while I am ranting, Brooke needs to jump down from that high horse she has been riding for too long and get a grip.She has the audacity to call Shauna a slut, when all she has to do is look in a mirror to find another one. To not even show some form of Grace after Flo helping Katie is ridiculous. I am hoping that Shauna and Ridge have a fling to give her controlling butt a taste of her own medicine. And one more thing and than I promise I will shut up, I hope they don’t separate Wyatt and Sally so he can go back to Flo. I love him with Sally and I am hoping the show doesn’t decide to get rid of her again. I would rather watch her than Brooke and Hope complaining about Flo and Shauna. I have said my piece, thanks to all who read my dribble, and happy viewing one and all
Your comment wasn’t dribble. It was well written, intelligent and I enjoyed reading it!
I did not read every word above, but what I did read was enough to convince me that M.A believes deep down that this evil, despicable person is good and righteous in what he’s doing. Of course Thomas learned a lot at his mother’s knee. Growing up, Brooke, who is not entirely blameless, was bad mouthed at every turn. The Thomas character was not always as hateful as he is now. The way he treated his little boy, calling him a traitor, among other things was so bad and disturbing that I could not watch. I still do not watch the days Thomas is on, and can’t wait until he’s gone from the show.
I don’t want Thomas to succeed in what he plans. Ridge and Brooke are meant for each other, from of the beginning. So please let them be together. And heal Thomas again. Don’t let Thomas be the EVILone anymore.
I love Thomas. I love that somehow he will make Brooke pay for once and I hope she goes down for the count.
Thomas is what keeps B&B interesting.
You keep watching honey. I guess you feel as M.A does in the above story,when he calls Liam boring, but I’ll take that any day than this disgusting person whose blinded father is willing to give up his marriage for. Like father like son. Ridge first broke up his brother’s marriage to Caroline and fake married her and than Thomas played copycat, coming between Caroline and his father. I still have doubts who Douglas’s real father is.Oh, did I forget to mention Ridge taking Brooke away from his father, and carrying on with Quinn when she and his father were newly married? Thomas calls Brooke slutty, well he and his father are worse!
I Think Matthew is doing a great Job as Thomas but wish he had stayed wish Sally but I hope you will finally get back to normal for your son sake
Thomas is doing a great job getting Brook out she has gone with all the men on the show .Brook wants her cake and eat it too.Thomas need to be a better attitude.in sick ofHope and Brookyou would think that Hope is an angel she took advantage of Liam she’s jealous of Steffy she kept on until she got Liam in bed to get pregnant she didn’t like Liamcwith Kelly.
Do not like the way you have ridge and brooke at odds. Can’t u leave them a couple after all these years
I believe with Thomas obsession with hope he killed Caroline JMO he is a nutcase.what an excellent actor he is.
I don’t like how the writers completely changed the character of Thomas. It seems with every actor portraying him he became a different guy. Thomas was brought up by Brooke when his Mom Taylor was presumed dead. Any animosity he had as a child was dissuaded by the kind way Brooke treated him. The first adult/teen Thomas was a wholesome boy next door. The second Thomas was a model type who ate poison berry’s on an island with Broke and fell in love with her. Has it ever been mentioned that he once loved his fathers wife? You wouldn’t know it now. The third Thomas vied with his father for Caroline and Douglass. Does Ridge remember this, because now he’s on his son side, when previously he wasn’t. I really hate how the writers change history for the sake of story. Oh Bills not bad now, so we have to make another character bad. Looks and acting wise, Matthew is my favorite Thomas since the first boy next door Thomas, but because I remember Thomas that way, I will always hate what they’ve done with his character.
stevie g
Do you remember years ago when Thomas was still very young and he ran off and married the Forrester’s maid? I thought they were really sweet together, but mama bear Taylor stepped in, had the marriage annulled and had the poor girl deported back to Mexico. He also had a thing with Amber, when she seduced him. Personally, I liked the previous Thomas, character and actor that dumped Sally to go back to NY with Caroline.
Thomas is bad but he makes the show interesting. You just gotta watch the next episode . I really hope he stays on B&B. He’s the guy you love to hate. .
First let me say i love the bold &beautiful,that being said thomas is a great character i cant imagine all the work these actors to memorizing lines an positions etc..the twists an turns are what keeps us coming back.I however do wish they would pick one power couple who stays permently together..namely steffy an liam.All are great characters.i love ridge an shuana together an eric an quinn.My hope for lil douglas is that he remains with his dad an thimas get the help professionally he needs,without hope.I would like liam an steffy to reunite an have a lil boy living a good life.Of course with drama tho.Thank you Mr.Bell for a soap that beings me to the television every day to this make believe world,but Mr.Bell lets do an hour show!!! Happy writing!!
Matthew’s doing a fantastic job and his portrayal of Thomas in this incarnation has been mesmerizing to watch. With that said, I’m surprised at Matthew’s views of his character.
To say Thonas ia guy with a “point of view too, and just because he is going through a bad part of his life at this time, doesn’t mean that he is unfit to be a father” is ludicrous! Yes, Matthew, a human being who lets a grieving mother who he claims to love go on suffering, grieving, the “death” of her baby…is UNFIT to be a father.
A man who drugs another, threatens others who want to tell the truth, forges a letter from a dead woman to pull on the heartstrings and manipulate a grieving mother into thinking fate (and Caroline) have brought she and Douglas together, a man who chased a woman (Emma) on a dark road, blinding her, sees the crash, looks on without emotion and carries on like nothing happened…is UNFIT to be a father.
A man who emotionally manipulates, abuses and scares his son (ghosts on the wall) to manipulate Hope’s maternal instincts…is UNFIT…too mentally unstable…to be a father.
A man who calls his son a brat because he told the truth and roughly grabs his arm? Again…unfit. That type of twisted thinking and behavior doesn’t change overnight. Not sure how Matthew doesnt see that about “Thomas.”
My compliments on a wonderful performance but I think the show needs to have meetings with their actors on their character’s emotional state, mental makeup. There shouldnt be a doubt as to whether Thomas is unfit. He scared his son, used his son, manipulated his son, abandoned his son (when he went to Vinny’s and didnt get in contact or even check on Douglas). He’s always in an obsessive, manic state when things don’t go his way…unfit is an obvious understatement.
Still…great performance and Matthew is a terrific actor, addition to the show. Looking forward to more Thomas scenes whichever direction they take…
OK…you know what: Thomas is so RIGHT ON…Brooke IS an airhead!!!!! I mean…through the years, how many times has Brooke been married?!?!? Oh wait…I know…WAY TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT!!!!! Oh…and Matthew Atkinson makes Thomas FUN TO WATCH…TOTALLY!!!!! KUDOS TO MATT!!!!!
General Hospital
GH’s Finola Hughes Chats on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, New Directions for Characters in Port Charles, and Anna’s Love Life
In four out of the last five years, General Hospital favorite, Finola Hughes (Anna Devane), has almost become a perennial nominee having once again scored a Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress for the upcoming 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.
Hard to believe, but Hughes won her one and only Daytime Emmy back in 1991, and has amassed a total of 11 Emmy nominations during her enduring daytime drama career. As those who have watched GH know, throughout any calendar year, you can find numerous stellar performances by Finola that could be tops on any Emmy reel.
Michael Fairman TV chatted with Finola during the 10th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special to get her reaction to landing in the field of six fantastic women vying for gold, what scenes went on her now Emmy-nominated reel, what she thinks of how GH is shaking things up under new head writers, Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte, and the future of Anna’s love life. Here’s what she shared below.
Photo: ABC
What scenes did you wind up submitting that landed you in the running for the Daytime Emmy in this year’s Lead Actress category?
FINOLA: The whole Charlotte (Scarlett Fernandez) shooting and the accident and that whole thing. Then, talking about that with Sonny (Maurice Benard), and then a bit of the breakup with Valentin (James Patrick Stuart), and then finding out that Valentin had lied.
Who helped you put the reel together?
FINOLA: One of our producers at GH, Michelle Henry. We have these amazing producers. They’re sort of the unsung heroes. They’re in the booth all day when we’re shooting. They do this wonderful thing where they earmark something, if they think that it’s been a good performance. So, they just have this sort of little list (that helps come Emmy time). So, that’s how that worked with Michelle.
Photo: ABC
Now you’ve had a string of recent Daytime Emmy nominations. Do you think GH is writing more for your strengths in the last several years?
FINOLA: Yes, and I think it’s become stronger recently. I think writers really take the lead sometimes from an actress or an actor who’s going through something or moving through something in their life. Maybe, that’s they were just seeing, you know, different layers and colors and so they started to write to that. I’m not sure. It certainly felt like I’ve had some things (material) that resonated with me.
What I have loved about Anna is that she is very complex. She often wrestles with herself over her past as a double agent, or certain guilt that she carries around. It’s interesting when the lines are blurred for her and things get messy.
FINOLA: I do well with complex and I like messy.
So, what do you think about the nominees in the Lead Actress category with you?
FINOLA: They are great. I don’t know Annika Noelle (Hope, B&B) very well, but I hear she did wonderful work and she sent me a lovely message. Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, B&B) I obviously reached out to, Tamara Braun (Ava, DAYS) reached out to me, and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R) and I just got on the phone last night and congratulated each other on our nominations, and of course, Cynthia (Watros) is here with me at GH.
Photo: JPI
You do like do like the fashion of it all for Emmy night, correct?
FINOLA: God, I I live for it. I’m as shallow as that. I might play some complex on television, but I’m that shallow in real life.
So, do you go by the trends of what to pick out to wear for a red carpet, or you just kind of go off what you think looks good on you?
FINOLA: I do like the trends. I really like the fact that the sleeve is having a big moment right now since the film Poor Things. It sent it into the stratosphere.
It’s been 33 years since you won your last Emmy. Do you think you’re a better actress now than when you were even 10 years ago?
FINOLA: I have no idea. It feels like a game of golf always for me, because get on set, like today, I was doing some work this morning and I just doubt myself. I’m like, “Did I really bring it?” I do think I’m harder on myself now than I was when I was younger, because I really didn’t know what I was doing at all. It’s a very hard question to answer. I feel like it’s different, but I’m constantly in battle with myself as to whether something works or not.
Photo: ABC
What are your thoughts then on being Emmy-nominated, at times, for more than three decades?
FINOLA: At this point in my life, I just find the whole thing encouraging and extraordinarily sort of affirming, and sweet and lovely. It’s extraordinary to even be acknowledged. That’s the truth.
Currently, on-air, Anna is taking a harder line with Sonny. There’s been a shift.
FINOLA: Yes. That’s been really interesting. I was talking about this with Steve Burton (Jason), and we actually were working together today. We found like this level between the two of us when it comes to Sonny. It was just really like another whole level as to what I’m doing. I think what’s happened is people’s roles in Port Charles are becoming delineated, you know, where there’s less gray. It’s like we’re sort of moving into areas, right? All of us. That’s kind of great because then you’ve got the hospital, you’ve got the police station, you’ve got the mob, you’ve got the Quartermaines you’ve got Curtis’ nightclub, and so there’s these different areas. Then, your character becomes very specific. I had those scenes with Genie Francis (Laura) that aired the other day, and it makes sense that we are sort of waking up because unfortunately Sonny’s going through something which we don’t know about, but he’s not behaving well. So, therefore we are like, “If he would do that, then we need to wake up to that Sonny has always been like that.” But, it’s not true. Sonny hasn’t always been like that. We still deal in the gray, because we are searching for the gray in ourselves, which is interesting. And then we have to make a decision, such as, “Where do you stand? Who are you actually?” I think posing those questions to the actual characters is kind of interesting.
Photo: ABC
Now, who’s going to be the man in Anna’s life?
FINOLA: Well, I want to do some more stuff with James. Obviously, James and I text all the time about how we’re not working together. We all know what Valentin’s up to. However, Anna doesn’t quite know.
I was originally thinking they might put John “Jagger” Cates (Adam Harrington) in a romance with Anna?
FINOLA: Oh, I know. I love Adam. He’s so wonderful, and so is Charles Mesure (Brennan). Obviously, Laura Wright (Carly) has been working with the two of them as well. They’re both looking like they are in love with Carly, so what can I do? I’ll just take the leftovers. However, I’m hoping that I get to play Valentin. The thing that’s interesting is that he’s a Cassadine. His father has now passed on, so he’s now at the front of the wagon of the Cassadines. It’s in his blood. So, I don’t know what they’ll do.
Photo: ABC
What was our family’s reaction when you told you are an Emmy nominee?
FINOLA: We had just taped three days of a very big event on the show. I was really tired yesterday and I was sort of laying down pretending to take a nap, as I never can nap in the middle of a day. Then, Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital) called me to say that, Cynthia Watros and myself, had been nominated for Lead Actress. So, I actually got up and I walked outside and my three kids were sort of wandering around doing kid teenage stuff. I sort of told each of them individually. I was like, “I got nominated.” They actually said, “Congratulations!” So, I think it actually resonated through the haze of online extravaganzas that teens are looking at it.
Make sure to check out the 2024 Daytime Emmy Nominations Special from this past Friday night below, where several of this year’s Daytime Emmy nominees stopped by the Michael Fairman Channel to share their reactions and more on going for gold come June 7th.
Now let us know, are you happy Finola was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series? Who do you hope Anna winds up with romantically down the line on GH under new head writers, Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
Who says you can’t go home again? In the case of Another World favorite, Stephen Schnetzer (ex-Cass Winthrop), he has proven that it is true, and you can go back to your soap roots and where it all started for you.
Last week on April 11th, Schnetzer, along with several other key returns were on set at Days of our Lives taping all-new episodes of the Peacock streaming soap opera, centering on the funeral of Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes), and as part of the iconic soap opera’s 15,000th episode.
Stephen is reprising his first daytime role as Steve Olson, the brother of Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes). The last time Schnetzer appeared on a DAYS set was during his one and only run on the show from 1978 to 1980. Clearly, viewers will be in for some very emotional scenes when Steve returns to Salem to be there for his sister, Julie in her time of need. In real-life, Susan has been going through her own grief, having just lost Bill back on January 12th at the age of 98.
Photo: NBC
Michael Fairman TV caught up with Stephen during the 15K episode celebration ceremony, and during a break from taping the gut-wrenching funeral scenes, to get his thoughts on being part of these highly-anticipated moments that will air later this year in December. Here’s what he shared with us below.
What has this been like for you to work with Susan Seaforth Hayes after all of these years?
STEPHEN: She’s a dream and she’s so bright. We ran lines yesterday and we ended up just visiting for about 45 minutes and just catching up and telling tales about each other’s career. She even dropped off the autobiography that she and Bill did. And being back here at DAYS, every time I turn a corner, there’s another familiar face. When I was on the show 40 more years ago, a bunch of the guys, played softball on a team together. This is really a trip down memory lane as I knew it would be.
Photo: JPI
Taping Doug’s funeral must be a hard day for Susan. Are you checking in with her to help hold her up through this?
STEPHEN: I am and I’m checking in with Amy Shaughnessy (Susan’s assistant), and she’s holding her up more than anybody. We’re there for each other.
There will obviously be some major hankie-inducing moments when Steve comes back to Salem to console his sister.
STEPHEN: Oh, wait till you see it in December. It’s going to be great.
Were you surprised you got this call to come back to the show decades later?
STEPHEN: It was out of the blue! I was completely surprised. They should have called me decades ago! That’s what surprised me. When Another World went down, I thought I’d land somewhere else and it never happened. That was more of a surprise.
Photo: JPI
Cass is such an identifiable character for you. As well, you and Linda Dano (ex-Felicia Gallant) are so synonymous together as best friends Cass and Felicia from Another World. When fans heard you were reprising your role as Steve Olson on DAYS, they are now hoping there will be more of you on the show to come.
STEPHEN: Steven Olson is a real “Cassian “character. I cut my teeth on Steve Olson and that’s how Cass was introduced. He was kind of a roguish charmer. And then when the character stuck for Another World, they rehabilitated me, and turned me into one of the shows heroes. And that’s what would’ve happened if I stayed as Steve Olson probably. So, Steve is the ‘pre-Cass’, Cass.
Photo: JPI
As the story goes, you originally decided to leave Days of our Lives?
STEPHEN: I was never on contract. I was doing a day and a half a week and I got a Broadway play directed by Franco Zeffirelli starring Joan Plowright and Frank Finlay. I was able to it as I didn’t have to break a contract or anything. I cut loose and went back to New York for that.
How well did you get to know Bill Hayes during your first time around on DAYS?
STEPHEN: My first episode was with Bill and Susan, as her long lost brother coming into Salem. They were so good to me. They were so kind. I had been doing eight years of classical repertory theater, never been in front of a camera. I tell everybody, it took me longer than any other actor I’ve ever seen to get comfortable in front of a camera. And they were very supportive at that time in my career. Coming back to honor Bill now in 2024, and to be see Susan, I am just so happy to be here.
Looking forward to seeing the scenes between Stephen and Susan Seaforth Hayes come December and Doug’s funeral and surrounding episodes? Do you hope that DAYS might bring the character of Steve Olson back for a longer stay? Comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
Matthew Ashford and Melissa Reeves Talk Return to DAYS for Doug’s Funeral, Susan Seaforth Hayes, and Their Enduring Friendship
Last week, Days of our Lives celebrated the taping of their 15,000th episode which is tentatively scheduled to air on December 3rd. The story will feature emotional and heart-tugging scenes of Doug Williams funeral and honor his portrayer, the beloved Bill Hayes, who passed away on January 12th at the age of 98.
While the actors, producers, and crew took a lunch time break to pose for some pictures and speak with the press, they knew they would have to get back to taping the funeral, which was going to make it a tough day, but also cathartic for all who loved Bill Hayes.
Several returns have thus far been announced including; Melissa Reeves reprising her signature role of Jennifer Horton (a part she first played in 1985), and Matthew Ashford as Jack Deveraux. Reeves had last appeared on the show back in 2021, and she was replaced by Emmy-winner Cady McClain in her absence when Jennifer was in storylines. In real-life, Melissa had moved full-time to Tennessee along with her husband, Scott Reeves (ex-DAYS, GH, Y&R). Now, and as previously reported, Reeves will first appear back on DAYS for the Thanksgiving episodes with the Hortons.
Photo: JPI
Michael Fairman TV caught up with Matt and Melissa during the 15,000th episode celebration to get their take on: being back for these special episodes, how it has been working with and watching Susan Seaforth Hayes portray Julie’s grief over losing Doug, and how they have supported each other through the years. Check out what they shared below.
Melissa, you are back on the set of Days of our Lives for this very emotional and special moment in the series history. How does it feel?
MELISSA: Oh, my goodness. I am honored. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but to be here for Bill. He was like my real-life dance partner. He taught me how to ballroom dance. And to be here for Susan, of course, who’s just been our sweet hero this whole week. We’re just following her lead. She’s just been this incredibly strong example for us in the midst of this trial and season of her life. She is like just lifting us all up with her. It’s been incredible.
I was at Bill Hayes memorial service which was truly incredible and I know at the time you were in Tennessee. It was moving and celebratory of his life, all at the same time.
MELISSA: That’s all I have heard. I have to watch it on You Tube. They said it was just a real celebration of his life and I love that.
Photo: JPI
This must be difficult for Susan Seaforth Hayes depicting the death of Doug, when she is still grieving the loss of her beloved husband. (Susan pictured above with the returning Stephen Schnetzer who plays her on-screen brother, Steve Olson).
MELISSA: I’m sure Susan has those moments at home by herself, but she’s so good at being a leader and leading all of us. We’re following her, you know, and she’s like, “This is how I want to feel today.” And we’re just going along with her, you know? It’s so sweet.
Photo: JPI
How is it to see Matt Ashford again live and in-person?
MELISSA: You know, Matt and I can go years without talking, or seeing each other, and then the minute we see each other we’re chatting away.
MATT: Melissa was out on set doing a scene yesterday on the phone talking to a stage manager; as she was telling some really tough news on the phone. I’m like crying in the background, literally, I’m off-stage crying.
MELISSA: And then we get like back into normal life, and we’re like, okay, “What’s happening? What’s happening with this … or what’s happening with that?”
I had read, Melissa, that you were in touch with Matt about if there night be a possibility for you to reprise your role as Jennifer for these special episodes?
MELISSA: Yes. Well, Matt was like, “Hey! Would you want to come back? “And I was like, “Matt, you know, I would always come back. ”
MATT: Every time I come here to Days of our Lives, they ask, “Where’s Missy? How’s Missy?” Everybody backstage says, “I miss her.” All of the crew is asking about her and saying, “It would be nice to see Missy. Nothing wrong with you Matt, but …” They said, “Where is she?” I said, “She wants to come!”
Photo: JPI
There are some beautiful photos of Missy and Bill and Susan thorough the years that I found. It just reminded me of just the deep and entrenched history we all have had with the show, personally and professionally.
MATT: Missy is roughly the age where Francis Reid (ex-Alice Horton) was when she started the show, which is just crazy.
Photo: JPI
I’ve always said Missy was going to be the next generation Alice. Do you feel that Jennifer is the heir apparent matriarch of the Horton family?
MELISSA: Yes. I mean, this has been greatest blessing of my life, and that would be great. I told Ken Corday (executive producer, Days of our Lives) when I was 17 that this show would be my life. Ken always told me, “This is your home,” and I’ve always felt like that.
How have gotten through the scenes watching Susan Seaforth Hayes as Julie go through the loss of Doug?
MATT: Susan is bringing her best performance life for her and Bill. I mean, she’s a showbiz baby. She always has been one hundred percent, and she’s doing it for him, and this is who they’ve always been. So, you’re seeing this amazing performance colored by her life. She has her private life as Susan, but she has enough plugged into Julie that she’s done amazing work. The director, producers and writers are giving her room to live in these moments and it’s quite wonderful.
Photo: JPI
Have you already broken down in tears during the taping?
MELISSA: Yesterday, but today’s taping of the actual funeral I think they want us to try and be just more celebratory.
MATT: I mean, it is a beautiful long life for Bill Hayes and his character of Doug Williams, and so it will be about that. Then, you get a bunch of us together in the church pews, and there’s going to be hijinks.
MELISSA: We all have been through the waves of grief. You have that awful cry and then all of a sudden you feel okay. There are those family situations we are portraying where you’re like, “What do we do? What do we do now? You know, no one knows what to do. But, it’s so sweet. I’m looking forward to seeing how the scenes all turn out.
So, are you glad that Matt and Melissa are back for the 15K episode and Doug’s funeral? From what we can tell, it’s going to be quite an emotional journey for Days of our Lives fans, and especially the performance of Susan Seaforth Hayes,
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