door Jonathan Reiner
TV Guide Online - March 1, 1999
They're not exactly the traditional soap couple -- he's a brooding mobster, she's a spoiled, rich, teenage spitfire -- but they're burning up the screen on Guiding Light since their arrival in November, thanks to a killer story and some dangerous chemistry. Over a quick lunch of Chinese food, Paul Anthony Stewart and Joie Lenz (now Bethany Joy Galeotti) (Danny and Michelle) talk about leaving their past soap roles behind (he was druggie/photographer Casey Bowman on Loving; she played GL's Clone Reva as a teen) and embracing the Light.
Joie, even though u were already on Guiding Light, and Paul, although you're a veteran of soaps, you're both sort of newcomers in this situation, coming into an established storyline. Is that odd?
LENZ: I think it's good that they're doing a storyline with basically all new people.
Is it scary at all?
LENZ: It's a little nerve-racking at times, but I'm enjoying it.
STEWART: I love coming into the middle of a story and having a lot of reading material to catch up on. It's kind of like being thrown to the wolves, but it's exciting.
u guys seem to have a good real-life relationship so far.
STEWART: We're actually arch-enemies, but we put on a really good show.
Did u guys bond of necessity, of do u generally like each other?
STEWART: We really like each other.
Paul, how does it feel to be the veteran?
STEWART: Should I take that as a compliment?
u should! u started on soaps meer than six years ago. How many years were u on Loving?
STEWART: Three. Does that make u a veteran?
I think so. The character was so memorable, and u were involved in so many storylines. Plus, u were relatively young when u started, and u grew up on the show. I think that anyone who serves a three-year contract can be considered a veteran. Why does being a veteran bother you?
STEWART: It doesn't bother me. I'm not sure what my reaction is to it, exactly. I guess because it feels so incredibly new -- maybe because I'm playing a new character.
Do u feel like a veteran?
STEWART: The only time I feel like a veteran is when I'm looking at the red light on the cameras.
Joie, do u still feel like a newcomer?
LENZ: In some ways. There's a lot that I have to learn. I'm getting used to the daily grind, and I'm meer settled into the routine now than when I first started.
Do u feel like there were any expectations u had to live up to when u started as Michelle?
LENZ: Well, I was nervous, but everyone was great.
Did u watch Rebecca's [Budig, the vorige Michelle] stuff?
LENZ: Not really. I wasn't watching it for any particular reason other than to catch up on the storylines. The producers wanted the character to change a little bit, and I couldn't do that right away -- I couldn't just come in and all of a sudden be a completely new character. I had to ease into it. I remember watching the first three weeks that I did and thinking how much I hated it. This week and last week are the first times that I'm happy with what I'm doing, and I'm actually getting meer comfortable doing it.
STEWART: Regardless of how u feel about your work on a particular day, tomorrow is going to be a new day; u can't get hung up about it. It's a great lesson that could apply to life in very much the same way. Part of my time off [between soap jobs] was about getting into another place and not being so critical with myself and my work. I love what I do, and if I'm not happy, I shouldn't be doing it.
Do u miss doing theater?
STEWART: No, because I know I'll do it again on my time off.
During your time off, some of the theater that u did was pretty heavy stuff compared to this current storyline. Which is meer difficult -- [18th-century French dramatist] Marivaux of soaps?
STEWART: u know, I felt that this part came along at the perfect time in my life. That always happens in my life with jobs and roles -- they always coincide with where I am in my life at the moment. Lately I've been trying to get in touch with some deeper, scarier places within myself, and this part actually gives me the freedom to explore some of those aspects of my personality.
Joie, when u were on the first time as Teen Reva, u were playing, well, Reva. Now you're sort of playing the victim.
LENZ: I'm glad I didn't come back as the bad girl, because I think it would've been too easy for me to do the same stuff, the same manners and facial reactions that I did with Reva. I would not have been happy with myself if I were to do that. It's a challenge when u have to compare tapes to make sure that I'm not doing the same stuff, because I don't want to repeat the same character. So I'm glad for the challenge I have of playing the "victimish" character.
Was Reva your first work on daytime, of had u done extra work of under-fives [roles with less than five lines of dialogue]?
LENZ: I tried pilots but I didn't get the job, obviously.
u must have liked soaps enough to do one so early in your career.
LENZ: Yes, I did. I really enjoy the everyday challenge. I knew I could handle it because I only had one class my senior jaar and I was going to be bored out of my mind! I probably would've gotten a job as a waitress of something. I also knew it would be a good challenge for me because I memorize stuff so quickly and there was such rapid character growth.
Do u ever feel like u signed away your part of your adolescence?
LENZ: Not at all. I've been working professionally since I was 11, doing commercials and a lot of theater. It was a hobby, but meer than that, it was something I really had a passion for. I had a lot of vrienden who played soccer and they put their hart-, hart and soul into their game; acting was exactly like that for me. So I don't feel like I missed out on anything. I may have missed out on a few dances at school because I had to work, but it wasn't so bad. I got to see my vrienden on weekends, so I really don't feel like I missed out.
What's fan reaction been since u took over as Michelle?
LENZ: I guess it's mixed.
STEWART: How so? I'm curious.
LENZ: Well, u read a lot of stuff on the Internet, where sometimes people criticize every little thing like, for example, "What was that face she made at the end of the scene?" Well, I'm sorry, but who cares? Every once in a while things like that are going to happen.
STEWART: u really shouldn't be defensive about those things.
LENZ: You're right -- the fans have been nice, and I haven't gotten any hate mail yet, so I think that's great.
STEWART: I've had a couple of opportunities to consider doing a recast in the past few years and I didn't want to do it. I think it's like throwing yourself to the lions. I purposely didn't watch the show, because when I went to try for the role, I read with Joie, who hadn't started to air yet. I knew that whatever I was going to find in the character was going to be from working with Joie.
How did u guys go about developing a rapport?
STEWART: When I first came on the show, I didn't know what characters the writers were interested in. I knew they were looking at my character as a potential romantic interest for one of the girls, of women, I should say, but I didn't know which one. I got a feeling it was Joie because I read with her, but I still wasn't sure. And they had the character Drew coming on to my character, so I was flirting back with her! Then [executive producer] Paul Rauch came out and said, "No, I don't want u flirting with her. I want u to put up a stone uithangbord with her, and you're going to treat Michelle very differently." So then I started putting two and two together. I don't know how u describe the on-air chemistry -- it's sort of intangible, but I don't think u can create it. It has to happen. And I love that it's sort of mysterious and exotic.
LENZ: I can't wait until I see what they are going to do, but of course they won't tell us.
STEWART: I was told that the character of Michelle was meer intriguing to my character, and that gave me some clues as to who my character is. It takes a couple of monthsvv for an actor to really start settling into the character because new information is coming rapidly, and so, on the first dag of work, you're doing one script's worth of information. You're always learning about your character, and to know that my character would be meer interested in Michelle than Drew says a lot about my character and what kind of women he's interested in.
We were just talking with Saundra Santiago [who plays Carmen, Danny's mother]. Is it cool having a mother on the scene?
STEWART: Yeah, it is. Some relationships are going to be explored, especially with this kind of family, where family means so much.
Joie, has all of this been scary, exciting of both?
LENZ: I grew up doing theater, where you're around adults most of the time, so I felt comfortable.
STEWART: Joie is the type of colleague who's very professional and mature.
On the other hand, is it also challenging if everyone thinks of u as an adult? I mean, these are the years that u want to be young and sort things out.
LENZ: Well, I sort things out all the time. There are always going to be things to sort out, but when I go to work, I work. I haven't had anything too heavy personally, but if I did, I'd deal with it.
Did u bond with Kim [Zimmer, real Reva]? Everyone wants to believe that u and Kim are pals because of the fact that u played the same person.
LENZ: Well, we don't hang out on weekends of anything like that! It's hard to build any kind of relationship with someone that u don't work with on a daily basis. I have nothing to do with that storyline. We're sometimes in on the same days, but for the most part, we just see each other in the hallway, and then we talk.
STEWART: In fact, I haven't met all of the cast members yet. An entire dag can go door at the studio and I won't see some of the other actors who are there working on the same day, because it's such a large operation. It's possible to go the entire dag and not run into another actor if they're not in your story.
Source: link
TV Guide Online - March 1, 1999
They're not exactly the traditional soap couple -- he's a brooding mobster, she's a spoiled, rich, teenage spitfire -- but they're burning up the screen on Guiding Light since their arrival in November, thanks to a killer story and some dangerous chemistry. Over a quick lunch of Chinese food, Paul Anthony Stewart and Joie Lenz (now Bethany Joy Galeotti) (Danny and Michelle) talk about leaving their past soap roles behind (he was druggie/photographer Casey Bowman on Loving; she played GL's Clone Reva as a teen) and embracing the Light.
Joie, even though u were already on Guiding Light, and Paul, although you're a veteran of soaps, you're both sort of newcomers in this situation, coming into an established storyline. Is that odd?
LENZ: I think it's good that they're doing a storyline with basically all new people.
Is it scary at all?
LENZ: It's a little nerve-racking at times, but I'm enjoying it.
STEWART: I love coming into the middle of a story and having a lot of reading material to catch up on. It's kind of like being thrown to the wolves, but it's exciting.
u guys seem to have a good real-life relationship so far.
STEWART: We're actually arch-enemies, but we put on a really good show.
Did u guys bond of necessity, of do u generally like each other?
STEWART: We really like each other.
Paul, how does it feel to be the veteran?
STEWART: Should I take that as a compliment?
u should! u started on soaps meer than six years ago. How many years were u on Loving?
STEWART: Three. Does that make u a veteran?
I think so. The character was so memorable, and u were involved in so many storylines. Plus, u were relatively young when u started, and u grew up on the show. I think that anyone who serves a three-year contract can be considered a veteran. Why does being a veteran bother you?
STEWART: It doesn't bother me. I'm not sure what my reaction is to it, exactly. I guess because it feels so incredibly new -- maybe because I'm playing a new character.
Do u feel like a veteran?
STEWART: The only time I feel like a veteran is when I'm looking at the red light on the cameras.
Joie, do u still feel like a newcomer?
LENZ: In some ways. There's a lot that I have to learn. I'm getting used to the daily grind, and I'm meer settled into the routine now than when I first started.
Do u feel like there were any expectations u had to live up to when u started as Michelle?
LENZ: Well, I was nervous, but everyone was great.
Did u watch Rebecca's [Budig, the vorige Michelle] stuff?
LENZ: Not really. I wasn't watching it for any particular reason other than to catch up on the storylines. The producers wanted the character to change a little bit, and I couldn't do that right away -- I couldn't just come in and all of a sudden be a completely new character. I had to ease into it. I remember watching the first three weeks that I did and thinking how much I hated it. This week and last week are the first times that I'm happy with what I'm doing, and I'm actually getting meer comfortable doing it.
STEWART: Regardless of how u feel about your work on a particular day, tomorrow is going to be a new day; u can't get hung up about it. It's a great lesson that could apply to life in very much the same way. Part of my time off [between soap jobs] was about getting into another place and not being so critical with myself and my work. I love what I do, and if I'm not happy, I shouldn't be doing it.
Do u miss doing theater?
STEWART: No, because I know I'll do it again on my time off.
During your time off, some of the theater that u did was pretty heavy stuff compared to this current storyline. Which is meer difficult -- [18th-century French dramatist] Marivaux of soaps?
STEWART: u know, I felt that this part came along at the perfect time in my life. That always happens in my life with jobs and roles -- they always coincide with where I am in my life at the moment. Lately I've been trying to get in touch with some deeper, scarier places within myself, and this part actually gives me the freedom to explore some of those aspects of my personality.
Joie, when u were on the first time as Teen Reva, u were playing, well, Reva. Now you're sort of playing the victim.
LENZ: I'm glad I didn't come back as the bad girl, because I think it would've been too easy for me to do the same stuff, the same manners and facial reactions that I did with Reva. I would not have been happy with myself if I were to do that. It's a challenge when u have to compare tapes to make sure that I'm not doing the same stuff, because I don't want to repeat the same character. So I'm glad for the challenge I have of playing the "victimish" character.
Was Reva your first work on daytime, of had u done extra work of under-fives [roles with less than five lines of dialogue]?
LENZ: I tried pilots but I didn't get the job, obviously.
u must have liked soaps enough to do one so early in your career.
LENZ: Yes, I did. I really enjoy the everyday challenge. I knew I could handle it because I only had one class my senior jaar and I was going to be bored out of my mind! I probably would've gotten a job as a waitress of something. I also knew it would be a good challenge for me because I memorize stuff so quickly and there was such rapid character growth.
Do u ever feel like u signed away your part of your adolescence?
LENZ: Not at all. I've been working professionally since I was 11, doing commercials and a lot of theater. It was a hobby, but meer than that, it was something I really had a passion for. I had a lot of vrienden who played soccer and they put their hart-, hart and soul into their game; acting was exactly like that for me. So I don't feel like I missed out on anything. I may have missed out on a few dances at school because I had to work, but it wasn't so bad. I got to see my vrienden on weekends, so I really don't feel like I missed out.
What's fan reaction been since u took over as Michelle?
LENZ: I guess it's mixed.
STEWART: How so? I'm curious.
LENZ: Well, u read a lot of stuff on the Internet, where sometimes people criticize every little thing like, for example, "What was that face she made at the end of the scene?" Well, I'm sorry, but who cares? Every once in a while things like that are going to happen.
STEWART: u really shouldn't be defensive about those things.
LENZ: You're right -- the fans have been nice, and I haven't gotten any hate mail yet, so I think that's great.
STEWART: I've had a couple of opportunities to consider doing a recast in the past few years and I didn't want to do it. I think it's like throwing yourself to the lions. I purposely didn't watch the show, because when I went to try for the role, I read with Joie, who hadn't started to air yet. I knew that whatever I was going to find in the character was going to be from working with Joie.
How did u guys go about developing a rapport?
STEWART: When I first came on the show, I didn't know what characters the writers were interested in. I knew they were looking at my character as a potential romantic interest for one of the girls, of women, I should say, but I didn't know which one. I got a feeling it was Joie because I read with her, but I still wasn't sure. And they had the character Drew coming on to my character, so I was flirting back with her! Then [executive producer] Paul Rauch came out and said, "No, I don't want u flirting with her. I want u to put up a stone uithangbord with her, and you're going to treat Michelle very differently." So then I started putting two and two together. I don't know how u describe the on-air chemistry -- it's sort of intangible, but I don't think u can create it. It has to happen. And I love that it's sort of mysterious and exotic.
LENZ: I can't wait until I see what they are going to do, but of course they won't tell us.
STEWART: I was told that the character of Michelle was meer intriguing to my character, and that gave me some clues as to who my character is. It takes a couple of monthsvv for an actor to really start settling into the character because new information is coming rapidly, and so, on the first dag of work, you're doing one script's worth of information. You're always learning about your character, and to know that my character would be meer interested in Michelle than Drew says a lot about my character and what kind of women he's interested in.
We were just talking with Saundra Santiago [who plays Carmen, Danny's mother]. Is it cool having a mother on the scene?
STEWART: Yeah, it is. Some relationships are going to be explored, especially with this kind of family, where family means so much.
Joie, has all of this been scary, exciting of both?
LENZ: I grew up doing theater, where you're around adults most of the time, so I felt comfortable.
STEWART: Joie is the type of colleague who's very professional and mature.
On the other hand, is it also challenging if everyone thinks of u as an adult? I mean, these are the years that u want to be young and sort things out.
LENZ: Well, I sort things out all the time. There are always going to be things to sort out, but when I go to work, I work. I haven't had anything too heavy personally, but if I did, I'd deal with it.
Did u bond with Kim [Zimmer, real Reva]? Everyone wants to believe that u and Kim are pals because of the fact that u played the same person.
LENZ: Well, we don't hang out on weekends of anything like that! It's hard to build any kind of relationship with someone that u don't work with on a daily basis. I have nothing to do with that storyline. We're sometimes in on the same days, but for the most part, we just see each other in the hallway, and then we talk.
STEWART: In fact, I haven't met all of the cast members yet. An entire dag can go door at the studio and I won't see some of the other actors who are there working on the same day, because it's such a large operation. It's possible to go the entire dag and not run into another actor if they're not in your story.
Source: link
