OLTL's Robin Strasser on Gay Rights, Obama & Slezak

In an interview with Dustin Fitzharris for Out.com, soap legend Robin Strasser chats about preparing to get hitched along with 21 other gay couples in a groundbreaking mass gay wedding on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. She also discusses her thoughts on the Obama administration, gay rights, working with Erika Slezak and more.

What do you say to critics who say you are making a mockery out of same-sex marriage?
I can’t listen to critics. Not because I don’t feel that their opinion is valid, but if I made an active survey or fact-finding mission about how my work is carrying out the storyteller’s vision on our show or was going to impact -- if that in any way shaped what my acting choices were or my commitment to the material -- then I would be in big trouble. And I don’t let anything "bleep" with my work.

What is another issue you were hoping President Obama would come through on?
Well, I’m a product of the ‘60s. Amongst the promises besides his commitment to gay rights was the idea that we were going to go get the boys and girls, men and women fighting for us home. I’m deeply concerned that what’s being discussed is how many more we are sending. Vietnam -- they said we want to bring them home with dignity and honor. How about bring them home alive? -- there’s a concept. Or, if they are wounded, give them everything they need to heal. If someone has died, see that their family and their children are taken care of in the sense of no foreclosures. I don’t think there should be foreclosures on military families -- period. It should be impossible in any financial agenda that a family that has a husband or a wife, son or daughter fighting for us, die for us, that they can’t get a 24-month grace period to dig themselves out of some hole that was crafted by questionable banking and lending practices.

Over the years you have been candid about the plastic surgery you have had. What is the greatest compliment you can receive?“You’re still very passionate and energized.” I smile and say, “thank you” when people try to put one over on me by saying, [puts on a thick New York accent] “Oh, you haven’t changed in all these years!” That’s not true. And I don’t think looking young is the compliment you want to be pushing on people.

What’s one of the hardest things about playing Dorian after 30 years?
If you’re going to tape your performance at 9:30 in the morning, you better be ready -- especially if you’re working with Miss Slezak [Viki]. She knows your lines at 9:30 in the morning, and she’s only read the script twice! Ugh!