| As Halloween approaches, it's only fitting that Eileen Davidson's character, Ashley, has taken on one of Genoa City's scariest villains, Terrible Tom. In real life she'll have a superhero to protect her when her son Jesse dresses up this year. "He's going to be Batman," she shared. "He's not into wearing anything on his head, but I'll have to bribe him." Regarding last year's Frankenstein costume, she recounted, "It was so cute."
Playing pretend on-screen has been equally enjoyable. "I love working with Roscoe [Born (Tom)] and Christian [LeBlanc (Michael)]. It's great. It's been fun trapping him and everything. Even from the first time Roscoe first came on I was never quite sure where this was going to go. So, I'm feeling my way through it. I just don't know what's going to happen next." Fans are also trying to discover what will happen next and Eileen did her best to help by answering their questions as posted on the community boards. Are you looking forward to working with Kimberlin Brown? EILEEN: Absolutely. I always look forward to working with talented people. When you returned to Y&R a few years ago, was it easy for you to slip back into the role of Ashley? EILEEN: I was a little more trepidacious than anyone else around here because it had been so long, but I felt comfortable after the first week – after I started to own it again and making slight changes. She had changed a lot in ten years. It's a character that I know pretty well so it was pretty simple. Having returned after a few years absence, are there any positive or negative changes that have surprised you or affected your work? EILEEN: Absolutely. Both. Ashley had changed a lot and in some ways I didn't recognize her. So, I had to let go of preconceived notions I had about her and I also had to reshape certain things that I felt strongly about. There were certain things that bothered me and some things I decided to put the effort in to try to fix and other things I just let go because some of the changes were good in terms of her being more fallible and having made so many mistakes with men or whatever in those ten years. So I chalked that up to what would happen in her life for real. A lot of things can happen. Would you like to see Ashley in a romance triangle with Victor again, fighting for him against Nikki? What would you like to see next for Ashley? EILEEN: I would just like to see something really intense, a really nice arc that brings you through the range of motions -- whether it's with Paul, if they decide they want to invest in that because I do love working with Doug Davidson, or whether it's with Ashley and Victor which is, frankly, unfinished business. Eric [Braeden (Victor)] and I both agree that this is a storyline that has so much potential because of the history and it's never really been handled the way it could have been in terms of Abby and the love they had for each other twenty years ago. So, either way if they went with either one of those I'd be really happy. BTW, your baby boy, Jesse, is too adorable for words! EILEEN: Thanks! Recently, Ashley has had difficulty balancing work and family. Do you ever find yourself having that same problem? EILEEN: Yes! Everyday it's really a challenge to make sure I spend enough time with Jesse and my stepsons and working all the time. I bring Jesse in sometimes if it's been too many days in a row that I haven't been with him in a long time just because I miss him. Also, we're moving Jesse into his own bed now, he's been sharing our bed, and that's been a challenge. So, YEAH! How fun was it getting to slap Roscoe Born? Did you do anything special to prepare for those scenes? EILEEN: It was fun, but they had a stunt coordinator. I thought I'd be a lot better at it than I was so he gave me some pointers. Who is your favorite person to work with? EILEEN: I love working with Peter Bergman (Jack). I love the whole Jack and Ashley thing, and I love working with Jerry [Douglas (John)] and Don Diamont (Brad), Roscoe and Doug... So, I guess I'm lucky. And do you miss having more scenes with Don? EILEEN: Yeah, but actually we've started working together more now. Out of all the people you've worked with over the years, is there someone that you miss that use to work on Y&R? EILEEN: There's a lot of people. I loved working with Rod Arrants [Dr. Steven Lassiter, 1986-88]. That was so long ago, but really a lot of the people are still here. How did you handle the adjustment from working with Terry Lester, to working with Peter Bergman? As an actor, are there certain techniques you use to make the transition easier with a different co-star? EILEEN: There's not really any techniques. There had been a lot of time since I worked with Terry. Peter is such a terrific actor and his portrayal of Jack is really fabulous. So, no, I haven't had any problem at all. Peter and I as Jack and Ashley have just as much on-screen chemistry as I think Terry and I did. Do you think Ashley could be involved in a more comedic storyline sometime in the future - if so, what sort of story could you envision? I truly think you are a genius - how you juggled those Banks characters on DAYS was nothing short of incredible!!! EILEEN: Thanks! I would love to do that again or any kind of comedy but I don't think it's in the cards for this show. It's not the kind of show it is. Do you miss the insanity and complete campiness of DAYS? EILEEN: Sure. Sometimes, but it's hard to pull off on a long term basis, that kind of campiness. What's it like marrying into a family of actors? EILEEN: It's a lot of fun. I have to say I really enjoy it. I get to see my in-laws in all sorts of theatrical productions and different shows. Everybody understands the business so well and they have so much history that it's exciting. If you could change one thing about Ashley what would you choose? EILEEN: That's a good question. It's hard to say. She's been kind of stupid where men are concerned. That might be the one thing I would change. If you could have played any other actual character, past or present, who would it be? EILEEN: If I was a guy, probably Jack because that's a great character. Do you want Gloria to be exposed? EILEEN: Yes. What's it like working with Judith Chapman (Gloria)? EILEEN: It's terrific. I think she does a great job. Do you like the idea of Michael & Ashley teaming up to protect their families? EILEEN: Yes. I think it's appropriate considering the circumstances. I just wanted Eileen to know that every time I hear the song "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners, I think of her! You're a great actress! EILEEN: Oh, thanks. I haven't heard that song in years. My husband sings that song. By Chelsea P. Gladden Y&R? EILEEN: There's a lot of people. I loved working with Rod Arrants [Dr. Steven Lassiter, 1986-88]. That was so long ago, but really a lot of the people are still here. How did you handle the adjustment from working with Terry Lester, to working with Peter Bergman? As an actor, are there certain techniquesou use to make the transition easier with a different co-star? EILEEN: There's not really any techniques. There had been a lot of time since I worked with Terry. Peter is such a terrific actor and his portrayal of Jack is really fabulous. So, no, I haven't had any problem at all. Peter and I as Jack and Ashley have just as much on-screen chemistry as I think Terry and I did. Back in the Days as Kristen. Do you think Ashley could be involved in a more comedic storyline sometime in the future - if so, what sort of story could you envision? I truly think you are a genius - how you juggled those Banks characters on DAYS was nothing short of incredible!!! EILEEN: Thanks! I would love to do that again or any kind of comedy but I don't think it's in the cards for this show. It's not the kind of show it is. Do you miss the insanity and complete campiness of DAYS? EILEEN: Sure. Sometimes, but it's hard to pull off on a long term basis, that kind of campiness. What's it like marrying into a family of actors? EILEEN: It's a lot of fun. I have to say I really enjoy it. I get to see my in-laws in all sorts of theatrical productions and different shows. Everybody understands the business so well and they have so much history that it's exciting. If you could change one thing about Ashley what would you choose? EILEEN: That's a good question. It's hard to say. She's been kind of stupid where men are concerned. That might be the one thing I would change. If you could have played any other actual character, past or present, who would it be? EILEEN: If I was a guy, probably Jack because that's a great character. Do you want Gloria to be exposed? EILEEN: Yes. What's it like working with Judith Chapman (Gloria)? EILEEN: It's terrific. I think she does a great job. Do you like the idea of Michael & Ashley teaming up to protect their families? EILEEN: Yes. I think it's appropriate considering the circumstances. I just wanted Eileen to know that every time I hear the song "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners, I think of her! You're a great actress! EILEEN: Oh, thanks. I haven't heard that song in years. My husband sings that song. |
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