Sunday, July 4, 2010

Red Carpet Interview: Crystal Chappell At Daytime Emmys

We Love Soaps had the honor to speak with 2010 Emmy nominee Crystal Chappell, who won an Emmy in 2002. The beloved actress and producer of VENICE, took extra time on the frantic red carpet to stop and chat with us, and previewed what's coming on VENICE in Season Two.  Given today is Independence Day, let's celebrate with a true pioneer of independence and groundbreaking creativity.

We Love Soaps: I am with the Emmy winning and Emmy nominated Crystal Chappell.  You are in many ways the fan favorite and critic’s pick to win tonight.  But no pressure or anything. 
Crystal Chappell: No pressure at all!

We Love Soaps: You are the last lead actress for GUIDING LIGHT to be nominated.
Crystal Chappell: That’s true.  And that, in and of itself, is an honor.  That’s a piece of trivia that even I might remember. 

We Love Soaps: Those scenes for which you are nominated, with Olivia and Natalia in the graveyard, tore the hearts of everyone who watched.  How did you rev up for those scenes?
Crystal Chappell: That was a long time coming where you knew that was coming.  The tension that we built, and the relationship that Jessica [Leccia] and I built.  And the writers, it starts with them.  You were waiting for that moment, or I was anyway.  Jill Lorie Hurst is just a wonderful character writer.  She and Ellen [Wheeler] took great care of this story line.  But it was all on the page.  When you have words that are all there and you don’t have to think about it, that makes an actor’s job very easy.  But again, I was waiting for Olivia to tell Natalia how she really felt.

We Love Soaps: One of the things I think you have always excelled at in your career, going back to your first day on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, is how much emotion you convey that is not on the page.  There is so much going on in your head, so much behind your eyes. 
Crystal Chappell: Well thanks.  That’s what we all do, that’s a human being.  And that’s ultimately what we want to give people is a human story, and a human experience. 

We Love Soaps: And speaking of human experience, what can you tell us about Season Two of VENICE?
Crystal Chappell: It’s going to be true to pure soap opera.  I realize that different people have characters they want to follow just like on a daytime soap.  You’re definitely going to see Ani [Jessica Leccia] and Gina [Chappell's character] get much closer.  Gina figures it out, I’ll just say that. 

We Love Soaps: She’s going to get a clue?
Crystal Chappell: She gets a clue.  She buys a clue.

We Love Soaps: Anything you can tell us about that body in the basement [at the end of Season One]?
Crystal Chappell: It’s going to come back to haunt somebody in a very big way. 

We Love Soaps: And what’s coming up for Carly on DAYS OF OUR LIVES?
Crystal Chappell: She and Chloe [Nadia Bjorlin], who are currently at odds on air, weirdly and wonderfully enough become friends.  They become friends, they’ll get closer, that’s all I can say.

We Love Soaps: Well they are rivals on DAYS, and there’s competition between the two of you on VENICE as well. 
Crystal Chappell: Oh yes there is going to be competition.

We Love Soaps: What is it with you and Nadia?  Why do you keep getting into these roles where you are in competition with each other?
Crystal Chappell: Because she’s beautiful, she’s fun, she’s smart.  I like to surround myself with people who are beautiful, fun, and smart.  You should come play on the show. 

We Love Soaps: You tell me when and I will be there.  Again, I really respect you as an actress, a producer, and as a leader.  I admire how you have taken charge of this production.  If you win tonight, who is going to be the first person you thank?
Crystal Chappell: GUIDING LIGHT.  The fans, the crew, the cast.  Even if I don’t win, they are my family.  I was lucky enough to not only have a job for ten years, but to have a job on a show where I really love the people.  I think that’s a gift. 

We Love Soaps: Is there anything you want to say to the fans who miss seeing Olivia on their screens?
Crystal Chappell: I miss her too.  So much.  But who knows?  Maybe we’ll create another web series and bring a little of that old bitch back. 

Related Items:
-WLS TV #33 - Interviews with GUIDING LIGHT Daytime Emmy nominees
-Transcribed interview with Crystal Chappell from Day of DAYS (in 11/09)

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist seeing individuals and couples in New York City at Mental Health Counseling & Marriage And Family Therapy Of New York.   He is also the author of "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve".

5 comments:

  1. Crystal is a true pioneer and an independent spirit. Thanks for this, Damon!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What is not to like about Crystal Chappell? Gracious, funny, and skilled at her craft! On her down time, she is advocating for equal rights ,participating in community projects and charities! Might not have won the emmy, but sure have won a place on my freaking "what makes a human being a super hero" list! Thanks for the good read!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Venice Season 2 starts shooting today. Go CC! Make all our lil' Gina/Ani dreams come true. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love CC.. what I can say! and can't wait for Season 2 of Venice!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey they're blogging behind the scenes photos of Day One shooting, over at the Venice site:

    http://www.venicetheseries.com/blog/category/vblog/

    CC looks great!

    ReplyDelete