This week, two of the stars of Beyond the Gates, Daphnee Duplaix (Nicole) and Keith D. Robinson (Ted) talked about the state of the relationship of the soap opera’s Ted and Nicole Dupree Richardson, when after Ted got drunk and slept with none other than Dana/Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant), any chance of a reconciliation went south.

In addition, Robinson, just released the music video for his single Forever Bae which not only was featured on an episode of the CBS soap, but also features Daphnee Duplaix in the story of the video keeping it within the ups and down and struggles of Ted and Nicole.

During their livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel, Daphnee and Keith answered a myriad of questions including: Robinson being the first recast in the young series history, working with scene stealer Trisha Mann-Grant who has turned their on-screen worlds upside and down, plus their previous roles including Keith starring opposite Jennifer Hudson as her brother, C.C. White, in the movie adaptation of Dreamgirls (2006), and Daphne’s ‘dream true come true moment’ when she was part of the cast  One Life to Live as Rachel Gannon (2009-2010) and more. Here are some excerpts below.

Photo: CBS

Daphnee, what was your impression when you first met Keith and did you think he was the right pick for the role of Ted?

DAPHNEE: We had to do a chemistry test together. I did have to test with, I think it was about four great actors. Then, I was asked my opinion, you know, if I had 2 cents in it (who would I chose). And for me, Keith had stole the role. It wasn’t my (ultimate) decision, but they listened. In the story, we fell in love with Ted immediately just the way he loved his wife. and he also holds himself up in this very regal way, like king, stature. Keith definitely had both of those things when he came into the character, and he showed up like day one. His day one, he was thrown into the fire.

Keith, you came in at a pivotal point in the storyline; right after Leslie and Eva (Ambyr Michelle) revealed themselves at Ted and Nicole’s anniversary party and its fallout. Did you know the gravity of the scenes you would be stepping into when you debuted?

KEITH: Honestly, I wasn’t aware of the stakes. I just wanted to get through scene. I didn’t go beyond it, I was really focused having a great scene with my scene partner. So the stakes were not even in the equation. As I got further away from it, I realized now that the stakes were mighty high. But I’ve always approached it like that. I never looked down. I just look forward. So I just came in and just wanted to get through the scene without tripping.

Photo: CBS

What has it been like working opposite Trisha Mann-Grant?

KEITH: All the actors on the show are exceptional. I think Trish has such a toolbox, a treasure box. You never know what’s going to come out of her mouth, or how she’s gonna take the information, and spit it back out, deliver it. She’s a bit of a magician in that way. So, I mean, she’s talented. She’s the Jekyll. You don’t know what you’re gonna get, or how she’s gonna deliver it. You just kinda gotta be ready. She finds things on the page that you don’t really see until she says them.

Photo: JPI

Daphnee, you were the last actress to play Rachel Gannon on One Life to Live, the on-screen daughter of Emmy-winner, Hillary B. Smith (Nora Gannon Buchanan). What do you recall about your time in Llanview, and what it meant to you, personally?

DAPHNEE: I remember my first day. and I was an ABC girl. I grew up watching All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. So, I’m literally sitting there staring at Victoria Lord, like she’s speaking to me, and I’m like, “This is not real right now! It’s Erika Slezak this is not real! This is not happening.” And then there was Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian), and Hillary B. Smith. I’m just like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I’ve literally been watching these people my entire life and now I get to work with them.

Photo: Paramount

Keith, tell what is was like to work with Jennifer Hudson and play her brother, in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls?

KEITH: It was awesome. She really was like my sister. She was new to the business and I was fairly new. I was about five or six years in, and we kind of took that experience on with each other. We were the ones that were kind of like, “It’s Beyonce, she’s coming down the hall. Is that Eddie Murphy?” We were kind of like in this amusement park, like we had won this walk on roll with these stars. That’s how it kind of felt in the beginning. So we kind of grew into our roles. To see where Jennifer went after that was amazing. I think we all got to go home and Jennifer was on the road promoting the movie and she got that hardware (The Oscar), which was well-deserved.

Photo: VeVo

The music video for “Forever” Bae features Daphnee, for obvious reasons, and you have said the song feels like it’s about the everlasting love of Ted and Nicole, even though dark times.

KEITH: There was no other person who could have done it and who I wanted to do it. It made perfect sense. The song is serendipitous because that’s my actual wedding song that I played at my wedding, but didn’t get a chance to play the whole song to my ex-wife named Nicole. So, I thought I would never play the record again. And then I pulled it out and it fit perfectly for this. So I was like, I have to have Daphnee star in my video. Thank you, Daphne. Thank you!

Photo: CBS

The million dollar question; is there any hope for a reconciliation for Ted and Nicole, any time soon, or are we looking years from now?

DAPHNEE: We are taping about four months in advance. I believe that there is hope. This is what I will say. I believe that there will be hope for some sort of reconciliation; when I have no idea. The world we live in, they literally could drag this out for five years, and then we’re back together for five years, and then we are broken up again for five years. That’s how this world works. I think it’s going to be a constant rollercoaster ride.

KEITH: That’s going to be a huge episode though, if we ever get the chance, if Ted and Nicole ever give in to one another, that’s going to be a cliffhanger!

Now below, check out our livestream chat with Daphnee and Keith which includes additional topics then covered up on the Michael Fairman Channel.

So, place your bets; do you see Ted and Nicole finding their way back together anytime soon? Could you see them married to other people, and then at some point, something happens that throws them into each others orbit, they can’t resist each other, they want to get back together, but now they are tangled up in other relationships? Thoughts? Let us know in the comment section.