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THE RAYA MEDDINE INTERVIEW – THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

By Michael Fairman

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TV SOAP:
How did the taping day go, with the wedding nuptials between Victor and Sabrina?  Usually soap weddings take forever to tape.

RAYA:
Honesty, it went very smoothly.  We were all shocked that we were out by 9PM.  We had a joke that day between actors and that was, “Did you bring your sleeping bag?  What color is your sleeping bag? “  We thought we would be staying up really late.  The hardest part for the actors, when you are shooting a wedding, is the vows.  You want them to look natural and real, and not fake.  Once Eric Braeden (Victor) and I got the vows out of the way, the rest was really fun.

TV SOAP:
What is Sabrina’s agenda?  Does she really love Victor Newman?

RAYA:
Something will be coming up, but the truth is Sabrina fell in love with this man.  The last thing she expected was to fall in love with her best friend’s dad.   She wanted to get over her ex- boyfriend, and she wanted to meet someone her own age or older, but definitely not Victor Newman.  So, it hit Sabrina on the head.  It happened, and that’s what love does.  You can’t plan it.  So, Sabrina did fall in love with him.  The nice thing about Victor and Sabrina is that she sees a side of him that other people don’t see.

TV SOAP:
Now, Sabrina’s selfish mom, Zara, pops up on the scene. What’s that been like?

RAYA:
I thought it was fun for me to play.  It’s nice, and it adds conflict and vulnerability for the character to have with her mom.   A mother is usually about unconditional love, but this mother is all about herself and her ego, and she puts Sabrina down.

TV SOAP:
Did you pick out the wedding gown for Sabrina?

RAYA:
I picked it out with the “Y&R” costume designer.  The gown was a Monique Lhuillier gown.  I wanted Sabrina’s wedding dress to be classy and subtle and nothing too over the top.  I didn’t want anything ‘fancy schmancy’, and that is why I picked it.  The wedding was in a barn, so it was supposed to be more earthy and simpler. And personally, I am not so into the whole cliché of weddings that are cultural.  Society always loves to emphasize that a girl spends her life dreaming about her wedding.  And, that’s the day she’s got to be a princess, and it’s the most beautiful day of your life.  I kind of despise that a tiny bit.  I am happily married and I adore my husband.  Marrying him was one of the best things I ever did in my life, but I kind of despised the idea of women feeling that everything revolves around that special day.  I think it’s demeaning for a woman to put all their hopes and dreams into a wedding.  When I was a kid I never dreamt of my wedding.  My life was rich enough, and I knew at sometime I would marry someone I loved, and that was important to me.  It’s not about being a princess.  I am not a feminist, but that’s just me.

Audio

TV SOAP:
Did you like the written vows to Victor?

RAYA:
I loved them!  I felt it was very heartfelt, because at the end of the day, the vows are what it is all about.  You don’t want to use some cheesy fabricated formulas that have been used over and over again.
Sabrina told Victor, “I traveled all over the world looking for a home because I never had that home.  I was lonely, and all of sudden you are it.  You represent my home and my security, my protection and my unconditional love.  Just being with you, and being in your presence, is all I need.”  That is the truth, and why their  bond is so misunderstood by everybody in Genoa City.  The citizens cannot fathom why a young European girl is falling in love with this  rich older man.  They think it must only be for the money and the power. They cannot see what she sees.

Audio

TV SOAP:
But, did you say vows in your own real-life wedding?

RAYA:
My wedding with my husband was different.  We were in Lebanon, and in Lebanon you can’t do civil marriage.  There is no such thing.  You can only get married religiously.  In the Middle East it’s all the same.  In Israel, Palestine, the Arab world, you can be married in a church or a mosque, but not in a civil marriage.  Since we are not religious, but from two different religions, we don’t believe or have religion rule our marital life.  So, we eloped to Cyprus, and got married there in the municipality.  We were in jeans and white tank tops and we had a blast!

TV SOAP:
Fans are always asking, what is your nationality?

RAYA:
I am Lebanese.  I am from Lebanon.  My dad was a diplomat and I was raised all over.  I was born in New York, raised in Italy, France, Canada, North Africa, Lebanon, The Arab Peninsula, Tunisia, and Yemen.  It has been an amazing life!

TV SOAP:
Is it true that “Y&R” incorporated your real-life history into the character of Sabrina?

RAYA:
“Y&R” head-writer, Maria Bell, and  executive producer, Josh Griffith, got that from me and thought it was good, and they wanted to make it evolve.  They got that my dad is a diplomat, and that I do speak languages.  It’s incorporated into my identity.  I loved that they used that.

TV SOAP:
What is it like working with Adam, Chris Engen?

RAYA:
It’s really great!  I love it.  It’s interesting, and I have fun, too.  Chris is a very talented actor, because he has a mystery about him, and so does his character, Adam.  He will be saying something and you always feel like there is something going on with him, underneath. You can’t get to the bottom of it and you try to understand.

TV SOAP:
You seem to improvise in some of your scenes with Chris.

RAYA:
I love improvising because, obviously, we stick to the text and we don’t change the storyline (She laughs), and Chris plays along.  I can throw something at him and use it, and he will throw something fun at me, and I will go along with it.

TV SOAP:
Who showed you the ropes your first day at “Y&R”?  Was it Eric Braeden?

RAYA:
Definitely Eric.  As an actor, he had that fatherly influence on me, and making sure I was safe, secure, and happy on set.  We really hit it off instantly.  From the first time we spoke at the audition, I felt like I had known him from a past life.  I really do, and I told him that.

Audio

TV SOAP:
Now, what about what Sabrina did, by sleeping with and marrying her best friend’s dad? Did you think it was odd?

RAYA:
Of course it’s odd.  The problem is not being clear up front.  If, God forbid, I were in a situation where I fell in love with my best friend’s dad, or started having an affair with him, I would go and talk to her right off the bat.  I would make sure she knows and try to get her blessing!  What is important is to try to be as honest or as transparent as possible.
Also, you need to live your life, and you need to honor your feelings and be true to yourself.   It’s not as if Victor and Nikki were together, they were divorced.  So, it’s not as if you went and wrecked a home as a mistress.

Audio

TV SOAP:
If you could write a story for Sabrina, what would you love to see happen to her?

RAYA:
It would become primetime and rated R.  Is that OK? (She laughs)17:05  I would like her to have a secret past; where at night she can be a psychopathic spy who is into leather and S&M… a real dominatrix.  Then, during the day, she is a very sweet housewife to Victor Newman and bakes cookies! (She laughs)

TV SOAP:
Does Sabrina even know how to bake?

RAYA:
She has help to bake it, but if Victor insists, she would do anything for him. (She laughs)

TV SOAP:
What can we tell fans of “Y&R” to look forward to from Sabrina?

RAYA:
We can look forward to Sabrina being anything but what you expected.

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Interviews

B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)

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Crew Morrow and Sydney Bullock

It appears that Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock) has thus far successfully been able to swing Will Spencer (Crew Morrow) over to her side, and have him actually develop strong romantic feelings for her.

The one problem in her way is Will’s mother, Katie Logan (Heather Tom), and there is always the possibility that Will and Electra (Laneya Grace), who were each others first loves find their way back to one another.

However for now, Dylan’s portrayer, Sydney Bullock is confident that her soap opera alter ego’s got her man and that she can handle anything that can come her way Speaking on the red carpet with Michael Fairman TV at the recently completed 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Bullock explained where Will and Dylan’s relationship is at now on the CBS soap opera.

Crew

Photo: JPI

“Dylan is our lovable anti-hero. She’s messy, but she’s a human,” shares Bullock. Adding about keeping Will Spencer as Dylan’s guy, Sydney commented, “I think she can hold on to him for awhile. I think she’s got it in her.”

When asked how it is sharing the screen with young leading man, Crew Morrow, Sydney joked, “Crew, what a doll! It’s a hard job, my goodness! How do I do it?”

Kelly Sullivan

Photo: JPI

In the last few months, Bullock received an on-screen mom when General Hospital and The Young and the Restless alum, Kelly Sullivan (ex-Kate/Connie, ex-Sage, respectively) joined the show as Darcy Dylan.

“I love working with Kelly Sullivan,” said Bullock enthusiastically. “She’s always down to break down the scenes with me, and we go through so much, and she’s really like my mom on set. She’s so amazing.” Sullivan visited the Michael Fairman Channel for a live chat after her B&B debut here.

So, what’s ahead for Dylan and will be exciting? Hold the phone! Sydney explained, “Oh, man! Is it going to get exciting?! Dylan, she’s a survivor and we’re just going to keep seeing her surviving. She finds a lot of ways to do that.”

In the end, Bullock has high-praise and love for her B&B character: “I think she’s super strong and I’m really honored to play her.  I’ve been rooting for her, and as for the fans, I think they will be (rooting for her) too.”

You can check out our Daytime Emmys red carpet chat with Sydney Bullock below, and for more interviews with your favorite stars from the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards, click here. 

In addition on Wednesday, BBTV posted a new video with Crew Morrow and Sydney Bullock about the pairing of “Dill.” You can also check that out below.

So are your rooting for Dylan to keep Will all to herself? Do you think she will have to fight and claw to keep her man? Are you enjoying Sydney Bullock’s portrayal of Melissa Dylan? Let us know in the comment section below. 

 

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Favorite Amanda Setton Talks Brook Lynn and Chase’s Divorce, Jude Jacks, Baby Phoebe, and What’s Next (Exclusive)

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Amanda Setton

On General Hospital, Brook Lynn Quartermaine’s (Amanda Setton) life as she knows it has turned upside down. First, she and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed divorce papers while in  the Dominican Republic. As much as they loved each other, they just couldn’t get past all the trust issues between them.

Then, right after that, Jude Jax (Wil Traval) shows up at the Q mansion and demands to see his daughter, baby Phoebe! Brook Lynn is thrown for a complete loop. Is this guy claiming to be the biological father of Delilah Wilson’s daughter, which had been adopted by Brook Lynn and Chase, telling the truth? Brook Lynn is on her way to getting to the bottom of his claims.

Meanwhile, Brook Lynn’s portrayer, Amanda Setton just celebrated her first-ever Daytime Emmy nomination, and in the very competitive Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category. While Amanda ultimately did not take home the gold statuette, that honor went to The Young and the Restless’ longtime veteran, Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott), she was in great spirits when Michael Fairman TV caught up with her on the red carpet.

Photo: ABC

THE END OF THE LINE FOR BROOK LYNN AND CHASE

When asked how she felt about Brook Lynn being the first (between her and Chase) to put pen to paper on their divorce papers, Settton recalled, “She did. But I’m like, ‘Did she or did he kind of?’ They did it (both of them).”

Getting a new co-star and cast member can go one of two ways, great or not so great, but Amanda had nothing but high praise for Wil Traval’s entrance and performance as Jude Jacks!

THE ARRIVAL OF JUDE JAX

“Wil Traval is fabulous to work with. His debut was so amazing the other day, wasn’t it? He was just such a force and everybody’s faces and reactions when he says that he’s, ‘Jude Jacks, Jerry’s son.’ It was so good and well-played! Wil’s awesome. I’m excited for what’s to come. We’re going to have a lot of stuff together.”

Photo: ABC

According to Amanda, Brook Lynn will have her hands full in the months to come: “There’s a lot of stuff coming down the pike with Baby Phoebe. Will Chase and Brooklyn work together? Will they not? Is it really Jude’s daughter? Lots of questions!”

GRATITUDE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY HER PEERS

For Setton, being an Emmy nominee meant the world to her, and to finally be acknowledged by her peers in a television career that spanned daytime and primetime including her performances as Kimberly Andrews on One Life to Live. But most importantly for her work in 2025 in the emotional rollercoaster of a story where Brook Lynn learns Gio (Giovanni Mazza) is her biological son.

“It means so much to me,” expressed Amanda. “It really does. I keep using this line, but I really mean it. It feels like a big hug. You know, not everybody who votes for these categories works with you. It’s really a very humbling feeling to know that your work actually touched someone and moved someone enough for them to vote for you. And getting to play the storyline that I got to play was such a privilege. It really was, with the actors I got to play it with. To be a little rewarded for it feels so nice.”

You can check out our chat with Amanda Setton on the red carpet at the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards below. Then make sure to check out all the Michael Fairman Channel red carpet interviews from daytime’s biggest night here.

So, do you think Brook Lynn and Chase will unite to keep baby Phoebe away from Jude Jacks? What do you think of Wil Traval’s performances thus far as Jude? How do you see this story for the custody of baby Phoebe playing out? Were you rooting for Amanda to take home the Supporting Actress gold? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Interviews

B&B’s Crew Morrow Talks Will and Dylan Romance, Heather Tom’s Success, and Dad Joshua Morrow’s Inspiring ‘Y&R’ Performance (Exclusive)

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Crew Morrow

The Bold and the Beautiful’s Crew Morrow (Will Spencer) is one of the brightest younger male leads in the world of daytime drama. Crew has quite the soap pedigree being the son of The Young and the Restless’ long-running star, Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman), but similarities aside, is forging his own path and success.

Currently on the CBS soap opera, Will is falling for Dylan (Sydney Bullock), after continued interference (by many) put a wrecking ball through this relationship with Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace). Now, it seems Will has softened towards Dylan, despite his mother, Katie Logan’s (Heather Tom) warning of mistrust of the young woman.

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Crew on the red carpet at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards  where he weighed-in on: the future of Will/Dylan, finding out his on-screen mom, Heather Tom, had the opportunity to become the winningest actress in Daytime Emmy history, and his thoughts on his dad’s touching performances in Nick’s drug addiction storyline.

Crew Morrow and Sydney Bullock

Photo: HuthcinsPhoto

WILL’S SECOND CHAPTER AT LOVE

When asked if it’s real love brewing for Will with Dylan, Morrow expressed, “Love is a tricky thing. He does love her. It’s been a journey for Will moving on from Electra. That’s always the most difficult thing is acceptance, and the courage to move on, because it’s so easy to be comfortable with someone. Everybody has fallen in love. Everybody knows what it feels like to be in love.”

Crew added, “And that was Will’s first love and as it was Electra’s, as well. So, we’re in a new chapter for Will. He’s found new love and not without its own difficulties. because now he’s got to convince his mother (Katie) that Dylan is not a bad egg.”

Speaking of momma Logan, Crew was surprised to learn that on-screem mom, after winning six gold statuettes, was in the running for what would be be her record-breaking 7th on Emmy night! Heather’s career has spanned roles on The Young and the Restless (ex-Victoria Newman) to One Life to Live (ex-Kelly Cramer) to The Bold and the Beautiful.

Heather Tom and Crew Morrow

Photo: JPI

LEARNING YOUR TV MOM IS ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE EMMY RECORD BOOKS

“Wow. That like almost makes me tear up,” an emotional Morrow shared. “That’s so amazing. I’m so proud of her. I came upon a scene of her and my father from Y&R. It’s just the weirdest thing in the world, because I do see the resemblance, and my dad had some swag back then. But, he doesn’t anymore (laughs), but he used to have swag! I’m just kidding, he does!”

Next, Crew shared a behind the scenes story of an exchange that went down between father and son; just before Joshua Morrow took to the sound stage to perform the scenes where Nick admits to his father, Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) that he has a drug addiction.

Crew recalled, “In the drug addiction storyline, I was just telling my dad, it it was one of the most inspiring pieces of television that I’ve seen in a long time. And I don’t know if it’s because I’m so close with him, and I feel a lot of the same things that he does, but the scenes where he confesses that he has a drug issue to Eric Braeden as Victor were amazing.”

Nick and Victor

Courtesy/CBS

CREW AND JOSHUA MORROW TALK THROUGH NICK’S ADMISSION TO VICTOR

The Nick/Victor moment is one of the most memorable moments from the soaps thus far in 2026. Crew shared just how proud of his dad he truly was. “I was with him that day and we were talking about it and I was like, ‘What’s the process like?’ And we just began talking about it and I asked him, I go, ‘Dad, what if I had a drug issue? What if I was addicted?’ He looks at me and he says nothing and that was it. Then, I saw him go out to set and perform that scene, and he looked at me the same way that he looked at Eric Braeden, and it was just really special. He was incredible.”

Check out our conversation below with Crew Morrow from the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards now on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Then let us know: are you rooting for Will and Dylan at this point as a couple? What did you think about Crew’s reaction to learning some Emmy factoids about his on-screen mother, Heather Tom, plus the exchange Crew had with his dad Joshua Morrow, before the moment Nick admits to Victor he has a serious drug addiction? Let us know via the comment section.

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