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The word “epic” can now be added to Days of our Lives sensational baby- switch storyline, which has had so many twists and turns that it had many veteran soap pundits and long time fans left in shock and awe! At the epicenter of the latest and most heinous development in the story of MIA baby Sydney, are Sami and Rafe, who just last week finally reconnected and professed their deep love for one another. Well, that just does not sit well with Rafe’s enemy, EJ. So, the vengeful Dimera decides to make Sami and Rafe believe that kidnapped baby, Sydney is dead!

These high stakes circumstances have given actor Galen Gering a chance to shine. He has won viewer’s hearts with his strong and emotionally charged performance as FBI agent Rafe Hernandez, who back in October of 2008 came on to the Salem canvas to guard Sami while she was in the witness protection program. What followed was an explosive and sexy pairing for the duo. Galen’s sensational performance when baby Grace died left no doubt that this handsome and talented star has got the acting chops to make us fall in love with him all over again and again. Formerly the star of the whacked-out soap Passions as Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, Galen has played many a crazy plot. But he tells us this is very different this time around at DAYS. Gering is married to actress Jenna Gering, and the couple have two sons, Dillon and Jensen, which make the sad and sordid tales of children gone missing or found dead in Salem a bit tough for any parent to play.

Galen’s on-screen presence did not go unnoticed to his DAYS cast mate Crystal Chappell (Carly) who sought out him out to play her on-screen brother, Owen, in her hotter than hot web series, Venice. And, as the popular and sensational online soap heads towards its season finale, we get a glimpse and preview of the ending for Owen and the Venice experience. So with Galen’s popularity sailing to new heights, On-Air On-Soaps sat down with him to get his insights into the delicate circumstances DAYS’ Rafe finds himself now, trying to figure out what to do with all the new and planted evidence that points to baby Sydney being dead, and if Sami and Rafe can withstand any more heartbreak. Here’s Galen on that subject, and so much more!

MICHAEL:

Last week Sami and Rafe reconciled and now there is a terrible twist in the storyline that will impact their reunion. What do you think about it all? Quite heartbreaking!

GALEN:

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Rafe is in a very interesting position with Sami, trying to balance his personal life with his professional life. Obviously, not knowing if he is going to be able to bring baby Sydney back, and his belief in the system. He is trying to get the baby back and be there for the woman he loves. This child has been taken from her and it’s been tough.

MICHAEL:

You know there were those very sad scenes a month or so back, where you looked at Sami and knew that if you did not get Sydney back the relationship would be over.

GALEN:

He still is carrying the weight of the world around in this situation. In my opinion, he is crazy, too. He has taken this case, and to be the lead person in the case is setting him up for failure. I mean if he succeeds, OK, but anything short of that, and even the journey that they go through to get her… there could be scars from that. So it’s a precarious position that the two are in right now, and stressful for both of them.

MICHAEL:

But the fact that Rafe is a ‘playing by the book’ FBI agent has caused trouble. Can you tell us in your own words how the trust between the couple got broken along the way?

GALEN:

Originally, Rafe did not know there was a ransom note. He then discovered there was a ransom note, and now it’s like, “Wow, OK, they did not trust him enough.” So he has to deal with that, and clearly when it went bust it was tough for him to deal with… from the stress, the failure, the guilt, and trying to remain optimistic in the face of adversity. It’s tough!

MICHAEL:

Rafe, was so profoundly affected by baby Grace’s death. And your performances were sensational and gut wrenching. I do hope you are submitting those scenes for Emmy consideration.

GALEN:

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Yeah, I am submitting those scenes for the Emmys. Those scenes were intense. It was a heavy journey we all went on, but the thing with that, Michael, is this guy, as much as he hated EJ and what he stood for, there was a lesson learned for him and that was; this child had died and he was keeping the real father from knowing his own daughter and she died! I mean fortunately, it was not really his child. You talk about guilt, as much as he hated the guy, Rafe really being a ‘guy’s guy’, it really affected him even more than some of the other things that had happened. Now he is in a situation where he has some guilt over that, and he wants to respect the fact that EJ is the father. He has got to acquiesce and give in at times, and this is one of those times. They are the parents. So, what is one to do?

MICHAEL:

So now, it seems as if its Karma coming back to Rafe as EJ fakes Sydney’s death this week. What can we expect as the fallout? And don’t you feel that now EJ is crossing the line to be completely irredeemable?

GALEN:

Yeah, I think it’s problematic. I think James Scott (EJ) can pull it off more than most anyone out there. So, if there is anyone that can do it, it’s James. Clearly, he is a lucky bastard… his looks and his charms…. he does it all, and it’s pretty amazing. What will be interesting to see is how he does this, and if he can do it, and if there is some sort of redemption that comes from characters with a lot of guilt and regret. I worried about that when Rafe was basically guilty to a certain degree of leading the Sami character down a path of the father not knowing the child, and I was like, “Guys, I think people are going to freak out.” But, if you look at the character of Nicole, it’s the same thing. Characters have a way of getting through things if they feel guilt for the things they do. There is some sort of catharsis for people. It’s definitely very delicate and well played, though.

MICHAEL:

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What did you think when you first read or heard of the plot twist that EJ would allow Rafe and Sami to think that Sydney is dead?

GALEN:

I thought, “OMG, how are they doing it? How is this possible? How can this even be the case?” And more importantly, how are these characters of Sami and Rafe going to be able to endure more after what they have been through with so much scar tissue there? It’s being built up, and not only the situation being horrific, but also what manifests from it. The elephant in the room is that the child is missing or dead. It’s tough, and the odds are not on our side historically to withstand things of this nature.

MICHAEL:

We have Sami and Rafe having just gotten back together, Anna on the fence about coming clean with her part in the kidnapping, and EJ’s machinations. Would you say that the real teaser for DAYS fans is, will this latest development implode Sami and Rafe, or will it make them stronger?

GALEN:

I would completely agree with that. You have a missing child and you have bloody clothes that turn up that are recognizable that the child was wearing when she disappeared, or at least had worn. Then, you have a positive DNA and the results from the blood, and the clothes are found in the river, and clearly this child can’t swim and so it does not look good, not just for Sydney, but for this couple.

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MICHAEL:

So, do you see Sami and Rafe as a long-term couple to root for? After all, there is still the Ejami fan base and the possibility that Rafe could end up with another woman on the DAYS canvas when all this conflict is resolved or unresolved.

GALEN:

Yeah, this is a couple to root for. Are you kidding me? They love each other and they have a really great time together and they can go toe to toe with each other. They are an awesome couple, without question. But can they withstand this entire BS that is being thrown at them?

MICHAEL:

When NBC and DAYS came to you with the character of Rafe Hernandez, did you suspect this character would have so many facets, and the emotional ride and journey you would get to play out?

GALEN:

I knew when I got the first few scripts and I saw the writing. I thought I was going to have a lot of fun with it and it would be cool. I don’t know if you can foresee the future of what is going to happen. I have had such a great time, and I know Alison Sweeney (Sami) really enjoys the working relationship we have. So I hope it continues. The fans have responded in a positive way, and that is a great thing. One thing I do hope is when times are good I would like to see Sami and Rafe have some really nice times and not be so dark. Their cards have been down for such a long time that you really don’t get an opportunity to see that spark that makes them special. So, I hope at some point we can get back to that. How long can this go on? I think there is a special chemistry between these two characters when they sit in the room. There is a competition between them, too. I hope they can get back to that, without them being abused by EJ.

MICHAEL:

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You seem to have grown significantly as an actor since your Passions days. What changed for you in terms of your acting technique? Or, is it just a significantly better written role to play?

GALEN:

I do know that I had six months after finishing the Passions gig and coming to DAYS. And during that time, I was studying the whole time with Lesley Kahn, a great coach, and working with a lot of great actors and writers and great creative people. I feel I was able to get better as an actor. Passions was very problematic for an actor to have consistency and to make sense of everything. We were sort of all over the place at times, and it was hard as an actor to believe things. I had some great moments over there, but I don’t know if it was that convincing, which is not the case at DAYS. It’s clear and concise and well driven and well written, but I really like this character, Rafe.

MICHAEL:

Rafe…I like the guy! He is not so wimped out, like other leading men on the soaps. This is a testament to you.

GALEN:

Thank you. I want him to be a smart character, but I want him to be a fun character, and at times fragile. I think as a testament to the writers, they have put a lot of that in there as far as storyline goes. I have been given a lot of different opportunities with him.

MICHAEL:

Being a father in real life, hasn’t it been hard to play all the death and kidnapping of infants and how this affects parents?

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GALEN:

It has, definitely. A lot of time in my work, I am not relying on my real life but calling on the circumstances of the imagery characters circumstances. But with that said, with having kids, it can’t help but creep in there and even with the Grace storyline and death. When my second son was born at three in the morning, they came in and told me he needed a spinal tap because they thought he had meningitis. Eventually, everything turned out fine, but the urgency of that situation was reminiscent of the whole Grace storyline! Holy cow! It was a very realistic portrayal of what can happen with children and it can happen!

MICHAEL:

You have been nominated for a Soap Opera Spirit Award by TV Guide Canada for Outstanding Performance by a Duo with Alison Sweeney for the “Death of Baby Grace”. Were you aware of the nod? You have some stiff competition from your cast mates, Crystal Chappell (Carly) and Louise Sorel (Vivian) and Jeanne Cooper (Katherine) and Jess Walton (Jill) from The Young and the Restless!

GALEN:

I did not know that. Oh, very cool! All my fellow nominees in the category are strong actors and people who have been doing it for a long time.

MICHAEL:

You work with soap and NBC super star, Alison Sweeney (Sami). Many people do not get to hear or read interviews from her very often. So what can you tell people about Alison that they may not know?

GALEN:

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I think people don’t get to see who the real person is. She is very much a workaholic and a perfectionist. She is hard on herself, and she has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I have ever met in my life. She is extremely protective of the people she loves and those who are around her. I love the friendship we have right now. Her family and my family are all going up to Mammoth this week. I am really close with her and I love working with her. She is a warm person, and not a very open person. The funny thing is my wife is similar in that regard… perfectionist and workaholic, and closed to a degree… until you get to know the person. I don’t think closed is the right word, and she has a big heart.

MICHAEL:

Does your wife watch your work?

GALEN:

Yeah, she thinks I am very talented. The irony is everytime I am with her, I have a make out scene and I am making out with Alison! (Laughs) That is not all that often. I don’t think we have these ad nauseam love scenes.

MICHAEL:

James Scott and you…are you friendly rivals? Do you get along well off set?

GALEN:

Yes, we do get along off set. I don’t think there is really rivalry. We totally mess around.

MICHAEL:

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Do the two of you try to one-up each other in rehearsal?

GALEN:

Yeah, and that is how you’re going to discover stuff, right? I mean, if you are not taking chances and doing ridiculous stuff, you may never find those great moments. I think it’s hard for the two of us right now. EJ has to play his cards so close to the vest and has no room for error, where as before we are just vying for the girl’s interest. Right now this guy has super high stakes, and so everything is put on hold and it’s so close to the vest. James does a great job with that.

MICHAEL:

Fans of yours can also currently see you on their computer screens in Crystal Chappell’s Venice. You were the third recast for the role of Owen, following Daniel Cosgrove and Jeff Branson. You were aware of that?

GALEN:

I thought I was the second, oh geez! Oh, yeah, I am the third. (Laughs)

MICHAEL

So we heard that Crystal just came up to you at DAYS and said, “Hey do you want to do this?” And thus, you got the part. True?

GALEN:

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Yeah, but our first day together on DAYS with this storyline was when she just came back to the show. She had to give me mouth to mouth. So Crystal jumped right in there and it was great. I went, “I love this girl.” She is like a real actor. She is really strong, and I love women with strong personalities. The next day I had this respect for her and I thought this girl could be on ER right now. Crystal is present, high stakes and does not overact. I just loved it and so for whatever reason, I don’t think I was cracking that many jokes, because my character was so banged up. Then Crystal calls me into her room and says to me, “Hey, I just want to ask you something. I am doing this show, and do you want to do this part and play my brother?” I said,” yeah” and then I said, “what is it? “ I basically said yes without knowing anything about it. I was like I am totally on board with this thing. It turned out to be such a great time.

MICHAEL:

How was working with Gina Tognoni as your love-interest, Sami, in Venice?

GALEN:

Gina Tognoni was great. Most of our scenes were on a day when this windstorm hit and it was insane. She was a joy to work with.

MICHAEL:

So what is Owen’s deal?

GALEN:

Owen’s deal is he’s the cliché LA actor. He is a bartender who is always trying to get a gig. He is successful, and his dad is a complete jerk and his sister is a lesbian. Her dad can’t stand it, obviously, and it’s kind of freaky. You know, because of the fact his dad is so terrible, Owen feels super close to his sister. I kind of have a similar relationship with my sister and my culpability with Crystal. We had such a great time.

MICHAEL:

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You and Crystal worked so well on camera as brother and sister in Venice. And I liked that he was very accepting of her sexuality.

GALEN:

Owen was accepting of Gina’s (Chappell’s character) sexuality. He was not judgmental. I told Crystal that I wanted to have a fight over the same girl. A total smack down again, like with my sister. (Laughs) She would always have these friends over and ultimately I would hook up with them. Then, they did not want to hook up anymore because I was such a jerk, and she would say, “My friends don’t want to come over because you are here.” It was a similar thing, but different. So I thought in Venice it would be really cool if she brought a girl home that maybe I had dated. (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Were you a womanizer in your day?

GALEN:

I won’t say that I wasn’t. (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Venice is wrapping up and season one is coming to a close on Friday March 5th. Is there a cliffhanger for Owen?

GALEN:

I don’t know if it’s so much of a cliffhanger. As the season ends, things are looking good for Owen. Everything he wanted is starting to happen with his career and his love life. And the only thing that is going awry is what is going on with his family.

MICHAEL:

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Jordan Clarke plays your father. He is an amazing actor. He won a Daytime Emmy for playing Billy Lewis on Guiding Light and has been knocking it out of the park in the web soap. How was playing his son?

GALEN:

He blew me away. We had these scenes that are going to be in the final episode. I am sitting there and going, “I am shooting an Alan Ball feature.” It’s so dysfunctional, and Jordan Clarke meanwhile, had a stroke! Are you kidding me? He is a pure actor. He is not acting, he inhabits the character. It was a clean fit for him. We had a great scene and I will never forget it.

MICHAEL:

I think what Crystal has done is very smart, in that she cultivated the LGBT audience she garnered from Guiding Light, and then gave them and the rest of the world a web soap about people… all kinds of people.

GALEN:

It was clearly smart and it did not feel like she was gratuitously pandering to this audience.

MICHAEL:

I have to say you looked amazing on screen in Venice. The label “Soap Hunk” or “Heartthrob” comes to mind. Do you feel objectified or does the sex-symbol label feel real or awkward for you? Knowing you as I do, being a fun goofball, I want to hear your honest response.

GALEN:

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(Laughs) I don’t know. Not as much as I used to do. I don’t wake up and go, “God, I look good today.” I really don’t feel the sex symbol thing. It is totally not who I am and I have to say, I am continually surprised by it, as naïve as it may sound. It does not fuel who I am. It’s not me. I don’t wake up and spend time in the mirror. There are a lot of things I want to get going and do with my day. I am blessed to have fans and people thinking that. I would not want it any other way, but it’s not who I am. I know it is clearly physically who I am, but I think there is a lot more to me as a person, rather than my looks.

MICHAEL:

In closing, for the next couple weeks on DAYS with EJ/Sami/Rafe, will we need our hankies or will we want to throw things at the TV?

GALEN:

Both! These are trying times for them and not the situation any couple wants to be going through. It will be interesting to see how they deal with them.