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One of the most entertaining and dynamic couples on The Young and the Restless these days is Billy Abbott and Victoria Newman. The young duo certainly have gone through wild and kooky romantic adventures, in-fighting between two of Genoa City’s most prolific families, a 50’s retro-style wedding where the bride got arrested, corporate intrigue and publication trash talk… but nothing of the enormity of what is to come once the truth comes out about their little baby girl, Lucy!

The story goes something like this: Evil and twisted Daisy abandoned her new daughter at a church, where a man who was down on his luck found the baby.  He sold the little bundle of joy for $5,000.00 to Primrose DeVille, niece of infamous baby broker, Rose Deville!  Billy Abbott bought the baby girl from Primrose to the tune of two million dollars, because his wife Victoria had been told she couldn’t conceive another child, and had fallen into a deep depression. So Billy, feeling that his wife’s happiness lies in his hands, came up with a plan to give her a baby. But Daniel, the biological father of Lucy, is starting to figure out what might have gone down!

On-Air On-Soaps visited actors Billy Miller (Billy) and Amelia Heinle (Victoria) at the set of Y&R to talk about their on-screen baby drama, but also to see if their fun and crazy interplay on television transcends to how they are with each other in real life.  And, after reading the following feature, I think you will feel as we do that these two are a perfect match and perfect acting sparing partners! With sizzling sex appeal, snarky and witty banter, and a ‘take-no-prisoners’ style of performing, that is what makes Billy and Amelia two of the best young actors on daytime soaps, and made this interview one of our favorites!

MICHAEL:

When you heard the whole storyline with baby Lucy and how Billy got the baby, was it “Oh, great!”  Or, was it another baby “switch-y deal-y” thing?  (Laughs)

BILLY:

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It is not a baby “steal-y switch-y” thing.  Let see, what went through my mind?

AMELIA:

You are giving him way too much credit. (Laughs)

BILLY:

I thought it was great working with Ellen Greene (Pru) from Little Shop of Horrors.  She was a very nice lady and I was excited to work with her.  Our babies are cute, and what can I say?  At least, Amelia, you did not have to walk around with a foam belly for months!

MICHAEL:

But this proves Billy would do anything for Victoria!  He bought a baby to ease her pain from losing their child.

BILLY:

You know, have you ever lived with a woman?  When they are pissed off, life sucks.  So I will steal a baby if that will shut her the hell up! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Amelia, when they said to you that Victoria would first lose the baby she was carrying, and then she would end up with this child who is really Daniel’s and Daisy’s, what did you think?

AMELIA:

I was thinking, just let’s wait and see how this plays out, as you never know the direction they might choose to go.  You just don’t know.  I just didn’t know if it would be like a Rosemary’s Baby, something very cool or something very typical, or it could be something really bad that you don’t enjoy playing.  But so far, I have enjoyed it.

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MICHAEL:

But you are a mom in real life, so you can image how difficult this would be for a mom to lose a child she wanted to have with her hubby, and then become attached to another child that is not her own.

AMELIA:

Well, I can relate to it, but Billy can’t.  He does not have any kids in real life, but he does have a dog!

BILLY:

Just like every girl I ever dated…manipulative and needy and costs a lot of money.  I am trying not to attract psycho babes.  I need a good veterinarian.  That is what I need. (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

When the powers-that-be told you they were going to pair Billy and Victoria together, what were your thoughts on the pairing concept?

BILLY:

Billy was out of women!  Victoria was like number eight!

AMELIA:

I was delivering my third baby when I found out I was going to be working with Billy. And so, I did not really care about anything at that time. (Laughs)  I was like, “Oh great; just let me have this baby.  I am going to go back to work and look like crap anyway!” (Laughs)

BILLY:

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She is the only woman I know that delivers a baby and still has a six-pack!  I was excited.  I thought it would be fun.  Plus, Amelia had worked on All My Children. And you know, as I was playing the drunken whore, (laughs) you keep wondering who they are going to pair you with next.  And I am eying people going, “Is it going to be Rafe? Jeanne Cooper? (Laughs) Esther?” (Laughs) This is an easy fit for Amelia and me. We are both goofy.

MICHAEL:

Do you think they saw at the studio every day, or noticed that as real life people and actors, you are both fun and wacky and that inspired them to write to that?

AMELIA:

I think I was the last girl he hadn’t been with, so that was it! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

It had to be that you were a Newman and he was an Abbott, too!  It would provide the show with great family conflict within its core families.

BILLY:

Yeah, that was a good idea.

AMELIA:

It worked, and so they liked it and it spun off from there.  So now we are stealing babies together!

MICHAEL:

When Victoria finds out the truth about baby Lucy and what Billy has done, do you think she will be so desperate that she would go on the run with her child and Billy?

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AMELIA:

I would hope so.  I would hope I would not become a “goody-two shoes” in this circumstance.  One would become crazy about their kid.

BILLY:

We can become Bonnie and Clyde with the car and the gun…. and go on the run!

MICHAEL:

When your real-life husband, Thad Luckinbill (Ex-J.T.) left Y&R, do you think that because you are a real-life couple, and were also an on-screen romantic duo, it was part of the issue of his departure?  Often, soaps don’t write real-life couples well. What do you think happened to the pairing of J .T. and Victoria?

AMELIA:

I honestly think there is an element to that, but honestly, I think they weren’t inspired to write anything for Victoria and J.T. from the very beginning.  But sometimes they need to see a spark.  Maybe the spark was not there because we are married in real-life.  Who knows?  We have to be at home together and working together, and have kids together, and I don’t know if that played into it or not.

MICHAEL:

Was it challenging at times, because you spend so much time together?

AMELIA:

Some days it was challenging, but I had fun with Thad, and I miss having him here.

MICHAEL:

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Billy, was that odd for you having to kiss Amelia on set, with Thad looming around?

AMELIA:

Thad did not care, they are friends.  But Thad did tell me to stay really far away from him, though. (Laughs)

BILLY:

If you have been in this business and you do a screen kiss, immediately after you break you go, “So, what is for lunch?” (Laughs)  I hang with Thad’s twin brother now more than Thad, because he is single and has no kids and no wife. (Laughs)  So we can go out and get wild. And then we make fun of Thad. (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Amelia, what did you think of the big and dramatic Newman vs. Newman arbitration scenes, and the outcome of the story?

AMELIA:

I thought it was interesting, but went on for a long time.  I still don’t think it’s resolved.  I mean, I know the kids won the arbitration, but I think there is more coming with “Booty of Nature” (Laughs)

BILLY:

“Booty of Nature”!

MICHAEL:

I just don’t understand why Beauty of Nature is the company to have! (Laughs) Victoria won the arbitration and then put on a bunny suit!

AMELIA:

Oh God!  That outfit has been burned.

MICHAEL:

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Does she feel bad about what she did to her father, Victor?  She certainly had her daddy issues with the titan!

AMELIA:

Oh yeah, and that is not resolved either.  I prefer it if they keep us more estranged.  They usually have us make up and Victoria kisses his butt, and says, “Oh, I am sorry.”  And then everything is OK.  I like that we are fighting. We have been fighting for awhile now.  We have not resolved that, and I do not know what the big deal is about, “Booty of Nature,” either. (Laughs)

BILLY:

What is the big deal about it?  Nothing for Billy, but for Victoria, it was her big accomplishment.

AMELIA:

And Adam tried to change the name and Victoria goes, “No. It’s going to be, “Booty of Nature.” (Laughs)

BILLY:

“Don’t you be messing with my Booty?” (Laughs) Victoria is a bit obsessive.

MICHAEL:

Billy, what did you think of the career move to make Billy Abbott the Restless Style guru, after he was just going from job to job and kind of messing up in the corporate world?

BILLY:

He was a rich kid living in a trailer, so it has been fun. It’s kind of interesting that it is a “rag” now, and it goes from smut and sensationalism to hard core news! (Laughs)  What are you on TMZ or CNN?  Figure it out.  Billy puts his face in now with a lot of different people, which has been great.

MICHAEL:

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Let’s talk some of the quirky and kooky classic Billy and Victoria Scenes, ala the Jamaica drunken wedding, and other moments.  What would you say is your favorite of those?

AMELIA:

I kind of like the doorknob stuff and being stuck in the bathroom, and the shower was kind of fun.

BILLY:

(Laughs) And the fireman who decided to ax the door down!  He is staring at me, and I think he has forgot his line or something, but he looks at me and I’m thinking, “What does he want?  Does he want to join in?”

MICHAEL:

You both got pre-nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the Supporting Actress and Actor categories.  Amelia, your castmates Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) and Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe) both told me that you deserve 100% to be nominated!

AMELIA:

They have to say that!

MICHAEL:

How was the process of picking your reels?  Was it impossible or easy?

AMELIA:

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I did not have a lot to choose from, and there is very specific stuff apparently, you need to do.  I did this only once before and I picked some really short scene, and I only submitted that one scene! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Well, that was your first problem! (Laughs)

BILLY:

There is Victoria in the background. Wow, what an amazing acting stretch that girl has! (Laughs)

AMELIA:

I asked my husband for help with my Emmy selection this year.

MICHAEL:

Did you ask Billy?

AMELIA:

No, but you know he had that cool episode last year that was all to do with him, and I don’t have that! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

What do you eventually choose as your Emmy reel?

AMELIA:

When I said goodbye to Reed, because my sister told me people could relate to it, and it pulls at your heartstrings. The acting was not over-the-top so I went with that, and it was simple.

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BILLY:

I don’t have a snowballs chance in hell this year, but I had some folks pick their top three favorite episodes.  I asked Michelle Stafford, and Christian LeBlanc (Michael), and which ever one got the most votes I submitted.  I ended up going with the show after we lost the baby, and I went to Victor’s house and then came back home.  I have been lucky enough to work a lot.  So it’s hard to go through all the shows.  I am sure there is something better.  But, I am not embarrassed by this episode.  Actually, I am going to just have fun at the Emmys, and you can have more fun if you are not nominated.  Last year, I was not nervous because I thought Jonathan Jackson (Lucky, GH) was going to win.  But I was happy last year, and my folks were happy when I won.

MICHAEL:

Do you show your Emmy to the women in your life when they visit your home?  Or, is it away in a box somewhere? Or….?

BILLY:

It was on my mail pile waiting for the plaque to come in so I could send it to my parents, and then my best friend had a custom case made for it. Then since it was too large, I could not send it to my parents.  So it’s very cool and it’s in my office.

MICHAEL:

When you look at the Daytime Emmy now, do you go, “Wow, that was a cool moment?”

BILLY:

It was very cool.  I did not think I had a chance in hell, but something happened when I was walking the red carpet.  It was at that time I thought; maybe I did have a chance when people were yelling my name. Then I thought, “Oh, wait. I might win. And I don’t have anything to say.” You get thirty seconds. You see the little light flashing while you are up there making your acceptance speech.  I am a good b**s artist, so I think to myself, I can talk myself out of anything in two minutes, but thirty seconds is pushing the limit!

MICHAEL:

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I remember you had a very touching and great part of your speech when they announced you as the winner for the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series. What was going on in your head at that time?

BILLY:

I was sitting there thinking what if I do win, what am I going to say?  That is when I got nervous.  And I won and I was happy with the speech.  And my best friend who died… we were like brothers, and that night happened to be his birthday.  So it was kind of cool to honor him with that Emmy and mention him.

MICHAEL:

Amelia, what would you say about working with Billy?

AMELIA:

He is socially awkward. (Laughs) But he is a lot of fun, because he does not take this seriously at all, but actually, he does take this very seriously.  Billy has a nice balance of having fun and really good time, and it is contagious. And from that, it is relaxed on set and people are having fun, and then sometimes something really good comes out of it in our work in scenes. I think that is what makes Billy and Victoria such a great couple, because we are having so much fun.

MICHAEL:

Billy, what would you say about working with Amelia?

BILLY:

It is like every morning I have to come to work and put on a clinic!  I have been leading Amelia to the Promised Land, and she finally gets pre-nominated for an Emmy! (Laughs) I am only joking.  Seriously though, she is a lot of fun.  She is also the only performer that can come in with her hair out to here, and her socks don’t match, and baby puke on her shoulder, and then ten minutes later glam up and you go, “Damn!  She looks good”! She knows what she is doing besides her hair having her own dressing room, and that is in her contract.  J-Lo insured her booty, and this one insured her hair! (Laughs)

AMELIA:

Well, everyone always wants to know why my hair is so messy, because it is in my contract for it to be. (Laughs)

BILLY:

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I will tell you the secret; the people here work hours on Amelia’s hair to make it look perfect. Then she is like a little kid.  She undoes it and laughs, and that is why I love her!

AMELIA:

It looks better messy!

MICHAEL:

So we all know big trouble and heartache could be just around the corner for Billy and Victoria.  Oh the lies! So many people’s lives will be affected by the fallout of the realization of who baby Lucy really is, and what Billy did to get her!  What exactly would you preview for April?

AMELIA:

More baby drama, and let me just add that we are in “babyville” for awhile.

BILLY:

We are like a real married couple!  We are like, “C’mon, let’s just get drunk and naked!” That’s all we want to play. (Laughs)  In all honesty, things are percolating.  Billy made some mistakes and they are about to come out.

AMELIA:

This is really going to test their marriage and their relationship.

BILLY:

I mean, who would they replace me with as Victoria’s love interest if she were to dump me?

AMELIA:

Peter Bergman (Jack)!

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MICHAEL:

That’s interesting!

AMELIA:

That is who they originally brought me on the show for!  We even did photo shoots together. What other girls have you not done?

BILLY:

Phyllis!

MICHAEL:

By the way, what did you think of the 50’s wedding of Billy and Victoria, with Elinor Donahue presiding over their Father Knows Best style wedding?

AMELIA:

It was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I thought it might be a bad idea, but it turned out to be okay, and pretty cute.

MICHAEL:

Do either of you follow at all what fans say on the message boards about Billy and Victoria, or you as actors?  Or, do you stay away from that type of thing?

BILLY:

No, that would drive me crazy.

AMELIA:

People will say mean things and it can be really hurtful.

BILLY:

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I don’t care about that.

AMELIA:

Yeah, well you would care if people said, “That Victoria!  She is really ugly!”

BILLY:

I think we are doing a really good job, because I am receiving a bottle of scotch from a fan every month.  God bless you!  I don’t know who it is.  But I would like to say this to the fans, “Hi. My name is Billy Miller.  I enjoy fine whiskey and scotch.  I am also a wine and cigar connoisseur, as well. Thank you.” (Laughs)

AMELIA:

You are putting out there what you want?  Well, I want… Louie Vuitton bags…Prada shoes, and I am a size 8 in my shoe. (Laughs)