Earlier this month, The Young and the Restless killed-off the character of Cole Howard and, in turn, ended the return of J. Eddie Peck. Cole’s death occurred with his daughter, Claire (Hayley Erin) and the woman he loves, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle), by his side as he passed away due to complications from Legionnaires’ disease. In heartbreaking scenes, played by the Emmy-winning actresses, Claire and Victoria try to come to grips with Cole’s death while grieving his passing in different ways.

Fans of the top-rated daytime drama series are hoping that the next leg of the life of Victoria Newman will propel her into new storylines and a new romance, while viewers are also hoping that Claire is about to return to the dark side. Michael Fairman TV caught up with one of our favorite people, Amelia Heinle, for this exclusive interview where not only does she take us behind the scenes of J. Eddie’s final day, but how she felt back in March when she celebrated her 20th anniversary as Y&R’s Victoria, a role she took over from Heather Tom back in 2005.

Through the years, Amelia has made Victoria her own, with the character becoming involved in numerous romances, raising several children, and being a chip off the old Newman block in the boardroom. While there is much to celebrate, this had also been an extremely difficult time for Amelia and her family when earlier this year she lost her home in the L.A. wildfires. Now figuring out what comes next (as so many people who have been displaced are having to do), Amelia speaks here for the first time on her outlook since the Palisades fire destroyed so many homes in its path. Here’s what Amelia had to share about life in and out of Genoa City.

Courtesy/CBS

What did you think of the whole story beat and having to say goodbye to J. Eddie Peck, who you’ve worked with for some time?

AMELIA: It was hard. It was a difficult to film that stuff because it was sad. It was written-well, and it made everybody very sad. I know how much that role meant to him. I felt for him and enjoyed working with him. You know, it was just one of those things that was really heartfelt. We knew the audience did not want to see him go this way, but we wanted to just try to make it as meaningful as we can. I think J. Eddie felt the same way. He wanted to make it really good and he wanted it to be a good exit.

Courtesy/CBS

Death scenes are hard to do while trying to also make it believable, and you want to make sure it resonates with the viewers. Did you feel the weight of what you were doing?

AMELIA: Dude, it’s not fun! It’s not a fun day when you have to do this type of material. It’s like real life. You can’t fake that kind of stuff. It’s either got to feel real when doing the scenes, or just don’t bother, because it’s a death and it’s like faking being sad for a death, and when you see that, it doesn’t come off. So, you actually have to put yourself there and it’s really hard, but it turned out good, I think. I didn’t see it when it aired, but I felt it (when we taped the scenes).

What is Victoria feeling now? Will she bounce back quickly?

AMELIA: Oh, she’ll recover! Where’s Nate (Sean Dominic)? No, I’m just kidding. (Laughs). I think, Victoria and Cole had good closure and in the writing as well. There was a couple of episodes where she had to get to say goodbye to the picture a couple times and then be like, “You’re not suffering anymore and you’re in a better place.” I think Victoria’s going to need some time to heal, and then in typical fashion, we’ll find her with someone else in town.

Everybody is believing it will be Nate who will pick up the pieces, as you just mentioned.

AMELIA: It might surprise the fans. I don’t know what Josh Griffith (EP and head writer, Y&R) has in mind. Right now, it’s all about Claire and making sure she is getting through it, and being a good mom to the kids.

Photo: JPI

How is it to work with Hayley Erin? Everyone is predicting the “bad and psycho” side of Claire will re-emerge!

AMELIA: Hayley’s great. I feel like it all happened so fast that I had another kid, right? That they bring her back from the dead. Once I wrapped my head around the fact that I have like seven kids on the show (laughs), I’m like, “OK, so another daughter?” However, Hayley was on Y&R before and she was a different character (Abby Newman) as everyone knows. I didn’t really get to know her back then because she wasn’t in my storyline. But, I love working with her. She’s a delight. She is so fun to talk to, and very easy to get along with. Everybody gets along with her. She fits right in. She is a great little actress. I love the fact that in real-life she’s got kids and she’s a mom and she’s a wife and everything at such a young age, which is cool, and I respect that. It reflects on her work. I love the fact that she’s so professional. She can handle a lot! They’ll throw her a lot of dialogue, and she knows it and she’ ready to go! Hayley’s also not fussy. She’s not high maintenance. I would a consider her a friend that I could hang out with.

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When you found out that Y&R was going to flip the original story, and that baby “Eve” that Victoria had years ago that she thought had died in the hospital was actually alive, what was your initial reaction?

AMELIA: It wasn’t me who played the original story, that was Heather Tom, and it was so long ago. I knew the back-story a little bit, only because I think at one-time they touched on it with me and (the late) Kristoff St. John (ex-Neil Winters).  In the story, Neil came back into Victoria’s life and I believe he helped Victoria get through the loss of the baby. So, when I found out more recently, I was like, “OK. How would you do this?” It was written in the story of Jordan (Colleen Zenk) and Claire, and when Hayley and I first starting having scenes together, I knew that we had a good chemistry.

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Back in March, you celebrated your 20th anniversary as Victoria Newman on The Young and the Restless.

AMELIA: A true gift for my anniversary would be the fact that maybe Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Victoria really aren’t related (laughs) and they can be together, finally!

I mean, when they run out of story maybe they’ll play that!

AMELIA: Oh, we’ve been pushing it for so long, so long. But I don’t think it’s going to happen. I don’t think the audience is ready!

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Well, you know, shocking things on daytime are kind of what works these days, you know, instead of a constant repetitive pattern. So, I think anything like that is good, you know?

AMELIA: Right. It wakes them up a little bit. Everybody was watching Game of Thrones. I’m going to use that as example because a lot of it was, “What? Wait! Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe they had this happen.” One of the storylines was about a brother and a sister, and it worked for that show. They were one of my favorite couples.

Photo: JPI

So, you had mentioned that there will be a new man in Victoria’s life, but do you ever get to make suggestions to the powers-that-be, or do you have to just play that into your scenes if you’d like to work with somebody?

AMELIA: That’s a really good question. I don’t ask for anything. It’s not my job. I have made jokes in the past, like, “Wouldn’t it be nice if, so and so from The Bold and Beautiful came over to our show?” Of course, I’m ‘tongue and cheeking’ it. Now, if they put somebody in your storyline path, you could always try to play (an attraction). I guess if there’s chemistry, but that doesn’t really happen for me that often. I’m just usually with the same people. The other day I had a scene with Jason Thompson (Billy) and I’m like, “Huh, I haven’t had a scene with him in a while!” I mean, we always play love beneath our relationship though, because he’s the father of Victoria’s kids and we’ll always love each other, and I know Jason always plays it too.

It would be nice to see Billy and Victoria kind of revisited. Don’t you think?

AMELIA: It’s been a while and we’ve had a nice time out. So, yes that would be good.

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After J. Eddie filmed his final scenes and said goodbye to everyone, was it tough to watch him finish up? I knew as you were saying, he really wanted to come back to Y&R as Cole.

AMELIA: It was hard for that reason, because I knew it meant a lot for him to be there. He had an opportunity to give a little speech at the end of his last scene and it was touching. He said it was really the happiest time that he’d had in a long time. Every time I would talk to him, he would say, “I’m just so grateful to be here” J. Eddie was a really gracious person. So it was hard, in that respect, to see him go. I might have to do the same thing for myself one day. It’s just hard to watch. I know how he must feel. I thought he did a great job and I really thought he really gave it his all.

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Do you think if Claire goes off the deep end that Victoria would figure it out and know what’s going on … or do you think she will be in the dark?

AMELIA: I loved when Hayley first came on and she was kind of fooling us all in the office as Claire. I think her personality layered that really well, because Hayley is kind of cut and dry when she talks in real life. It kind of lends itself to that sort of a story. I was disappointed when they started making her so good and, “I love kids.” I’m like, “No! I want you to be bad. You were so good, bad!” It’s more interesting. I hope they go back that direction. I think when they do, Victoria will figure it out, obviously, but it’ll probably take her awhile, because Victoria’s always a day late and a dollar short. But they write that! (Laughs)

Victoria’s a shrewd business woman. She can outsmart and maneuver people. However, in her home life, she’s not so much!

AMELIA: Hey, you know what? It’s a lot like real life sometimes. where we meet people that are really good in business and then terrible in their personal life, where you go, “Hey, she’s seriously dating that guy?” However, I would love to see Victoria figure out what is going on with her daughter.

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Let’s talk about your 20th anniversary on Y&R. I can’t believe that many years has passed. When you knew you were coming into fill Heather Tom’s shoes as Victoria, were you worried at all being a new actress in the role and being accepted by the cast and the audience?

AMELIA: Yes. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to bring the same thing as Heather and I was worried. Ultimately, it worked out great. Heather was a great Victoria, and then I got to bring something different to it. I just kind of had to have faith in that. I just knew it was going to be a little bit of a rocky transition because it was so different. I knew people, at first were going be like, “Well, you’re not tough enough. She was so tough and she was so ballsy.” I even had somebody say that to me once, and I’m not going to say who it was, but it really made me mad. I was like, “I can’t wait for them to eat their words.” The person who said also said, “Oh, you’re going to have to just toughen up.” Maybe, they thought that that’s what I should be, but what they needed to see was what I ultimately ended up doing with the part.

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Was there a moment when you felt you fit in or clicked with the actors who play the Newmans? Did you find right away that Eric Braeden (Victor) and Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) were welcoming, or did you have to win them over?

AMELIA: No. I did not have to win them over. They would have their jokes and they all had their camaraderie that I slowly had to tap into, because you can’t just throw yourself in there and try to pretend like you’re one of them. But, it didn’t take that long. I just observed and I was very cautious about not wanting them to think I think I am all that. I wasn’t desperate because I just wanted them to like me for me. So, I waited and then it paid off because they do. It’s an inseparable little family that we have.

What was Joshua Morrow’s reaction when he first saw you? Was he like, ‘She is going to be my sister?” (Laughs)

AMELIA: We just recently watched a video clip that was when we had our first scene together. Joshua came over to me, and he’s like, “Oh, my gosh! We have so much chemistry, like the wrong kind of chemistry. in that first scene!” I’m like, “I know, I know.” I remember the producer came down and said, “You guys look great together, but you have to remember your brother and sister. Right? Just remember that.” Watching that scene again recently, I could still see it. So unprofessional. (Laughs)

Photo: CBS

Y&R had put together that very touching tribute to you for your 20th anniversary where many of your castmates congratulated you. The takeaway for me after watching it was that it was clear that you are their favorite person at the studio and in real life.

AMELIA: I was touched. I sent it to my parents because they don’t watch the show and they didn’t know it was my 20th year. My dad called me and he was almost crying and he doesn’t cry. He is a cowboy, and he said, “I was so happy to see that video because that’s exactly what I’ve always said about you.” It was so sweet and it makes me emotional right now just talking about it, because that meant so much to me; that he was happy that people that are in my world and in my life felt the same way about me, and that he does.

It was so touching because Y&R just taped your castmates off the cuff remarks about you, and it was all so complimentary and exemplary. They kept speaking of your nature as the sweetest girl and the one who cares about everyone.

AMELIA: I am lucky. I fell into a great group of people that just vibe with me and I vibe with them. It’s a blessing to be around all these people. I guess that’s why I lasted 20 years. That makes me feel so good, and it made feel better while I’m going through a hard time in my life.

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How are you doing now with processing losing your home in the devastating Palisades fire earlier this year?

AMELIA: Actually, it’s been kind of liberating to sort of start over, especially when you sadly lose all your belongings. I don’t want it to happen to anyone else. But for me. it’s actually kind of okay because you realize, what do you really have? Stuff doesn’t last anyway. The things that are important are the things that we have still. So, yes. I think I would’ve liked to have held onto my wedding dress. I was going to give that to my daughter, Georgia, one day, but that’s okay.

Are your two Daytime Emmys gone?

AMELIA: They were gone, but we were able to replace them.

I know you are a very private person and not on social media that much. Many have been watching the horror and the ravishes from the fires play out through Cameron Mathison (Drew, GH), who also lost his home. He’s been very public about what happened to him and his family and sharing his grief.  You are an example of how people dealing with these types of catastrophes, and who suffer personal loss, grieve in all different ways.

AMELIA: They do, and you can’t fault anyone for it. Although, sometimes I get annoyed when some of my friends that lost their homes were showing a little too much with it. But then, I realized they’re grieving in their own way, too. Just because I wouldn’t do it that way, it’s helped them. It’s cathartic for them. Some people are private and some take the other route which is fine. No judgment at all. Thad (Luckinbill) is that that way, too. He’s super private. So, I guess I kind of followed his lead a lot. I don’t know if it would make me feel any better to talk about it with anyone.

Photo: JPI

If you were to just tease what’s to come for Victoria and where she’s at emotionally in her life, what would you say? Where does she go from here?

AMELIA: Victoria is picking up the pieces and moving on, making sure her daughter’s mentally okay, while a little worried about her. I think Victoria’s focus is clear right now on Claire and her other kids. She’s probably not thinking that far ahead.  I think that she wants to get back to work and focus on ‘Newman.’ Whenever anything gets hard or goes wrong for her in her life, she kind of defaults back to ‘Newman’ and throwing herself into work. So, that’s where you will probably see my character coming up.

Photo: JPI

As we close, what would you say to the fans who stuck with you for 20 years as a Victoria Newman and have remained in your corner?

AMELIA: I would like to say, “Thank you for giving me the chance all these years. Victoria has had different boyfriends, and different situations and everybody’s always been so supportive. I really am in awe of how everybody just is so lovely. I know there’s a lot of mean things that people could say, but people have always been so supportive and kind. It is humbling. The fans are basically the only reason that we’re still on the air. I meet them in the airports, and I meet them here and there, and people are just great. They’re so genuinely kind about our show and so we’re blessed.”

So, what did you think of Amelia’s performances after Victoria watched Cole die? Are you rooting for Victoria to end up with Nate? Billy, or someone else? Do you agree at Amelia does that she would love to see Claire become a bad girl, again? What has been your favorite story of Victoria’s as played by Amelia during her 20 years on Y&R? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, in case you missed it, check out the very touching tribute to Amelia (referenced in our conversation above) featuring her Y&R co-stars from a few months back below.