Friday, April 15, 2011

Catching Up With Crystal Chappell

WE LOVE SOAPS TV had the opportunity to catch up with the beautiful Emmy-winning Crystal Chappell in New York City last February as she promoted the wonderful book, "DAYS OF OUR LIVES 45 Years: A Celebration In Photos." Please join us as she discusses why fans of DAYS will enjoy this fascinating new book, Carly's current tribulations on DAYS, how Carly is different from GL's Olivia, as well as a sneak preview of season three of VENICE!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I’m here with the profoundly and gorgeous Crystal Chappell.  Welcome back to New York!
Crystal Chappell: This is my home. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You have been promoting the Days Of Our Lives 45th Anniversary Book.  How has it been for you?
Crystal Chappell: I was here in December and the reaction that we got yesterday was just as big.  People are loving this book.  Some people came back and bought the book a second time just to meet the DAYS cast.  They are really having a good time. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: That is a testament of DAYS fans and your supporters.  There is so much devotion and loyalty from DAYS fans.  I think that is true partially because there is so much continuity between the past and present.   Carly has been a big part of that.
Crystal Chappell: Yes she was part of the past, and the present (laughs). 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: DAYS fans can be "unique" as far as how they express themselves.  What have been some of the more interesting reactions?
Crystal Chappell: They are so excited to meet us! With the advent of social media people are aware of where we are and they are connecting with us.  I think that’s a really positive thing.  They are watching the show, they are a very important part of the show.  It’s nice to be able to meet them.  They cry and tell me, “I used to watch this with my grandmother, my daughter watches it with me now.” It’s wonderful to see people with their families showing up.  That’s the cool thing about the book, they can sit there and look at it together and remember when things happen. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: For those of us from multigenerational DAYS families, it bring back memories of loved ones as well. 
Crystal Chappell: It is a way to connect.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You have so many passionate fans from GUIDING LIGHT, VENICE, and DAYS.  Does anyone ever confuse you with any of your characters?
Crystal Chappell: I have to say that everyone to my face has been very supportive.  When I played Olivia [on GL] who was the bad girl, I got a lot of finger wagging.  I think someone even snarled at me once.  There was snarl involved.  I just called security (laughed). 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: It’s an interesting time for Carly.  She has always had at least one, and sometimes two or three, men vying for her attention.  This is the first time we have seen Carly not in a primary relationship.  It’s interesting to see her single, after having been in such a long-term abusive relationship, and the ending of her idealized relationship with Bo.
Crystal Chappell: I love that relationship between the two of them.  But I’m very excited about what they are giving me.  It’s really the first time she has been Carly without Bo.  I think that is so important.  I had that experience a lot with Olivia because she was always the satellite character who floated around.  What that gave me was the opportunity to work with a lot of different people.  It fills in who a character is and makes them more full.  I feel like that is what we are doing with Carly now.  She was in this horribly abusive relationship, she was really held prisoner.  But she is also a doctor so she puts on her armor and goes out there and doesn’t let the world see what’s really going on.  Bo was sort of the tipping point.  He was the thing she thought she had and it got away.  Now she’s unraveling.  As an actress this is so delicious!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Bo was always the question mark in her life.  Now they’ve gone there and she sees it wasn’t all that.  Can you preview for us what is coming up?
Crystal Chappell: She’s going to isolate herself from the people she cares about.  The audience will see her unravel.  She has a very hard struggle ahead of her.  It’s truthful and it’s really well written.  I’m having a really great time.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Going through an abusive relationship for 16 years can be quite traumatic, and we haven’t really seen that part of Carly. 
Crystal Chappell: She’s had the bruises, she’s had broken bones.  When your life is threatened, and your child’s life is threatened...I think to myself, “She killed a man, how does she live with that?” But psychologically that’s what led up to that moment.  She is still haunted by that, literally.  My husband [Michael Sabatino as Lawrence] is coming back for a day. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Speaking of her kids, I have been wondering where the heck is Nicky?
Crystal Chappell: Nicky? Nicky?  How old are you, 38? Where are you? He’s older than me now (laughs).  Actually they hired an actor to play Nicky on the phone.  She did kill his father and even though he witnessed all that abuse, it is still hard for him to deal with it.  Their relationship is not doing well.  It is just another thing in Carly’s life that she has to deal with it. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I think that is such an interesting story to play out.  Plus when he was on the show as an adult he had a thing going with Kate. 
Crystal Chappell: Oh that Kate.  She’s hot, but, you know?  What are you doing with little Nicky?

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: She did quite a bit with him.
Crystal Chappell: No, don’t tell me that!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: What would you like to see happen to Carly?
Crystal Chappell: I want to see all of this stuff work itself out.  Eventually she’ll heal but an addict is always an addict.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: What is she addicted to?
Crystal Chappell: I didn’t say “addict” did I (laughs)? She’s addicted to pain, I guess.  We’ll see what happens.  She will always have that cross to bear.  Eventually I’d like to see some handsome doctor come into her life and find some romance. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Any thing happening with Daniel [Shawn Christian]?
Crystal Chappell: Maybe someone in a white coat.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Hopefully as a colleague and not as her own doctor.  She won’t need to be treated by the white coats!
Crystal Chappell: Mmmm, we’ll see. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I have been saying how much I have been enjoying VENICE THE SERIES,  especially Season Two.  Congratulations of VENICE winning two Indie Soap Awards
Crystal Chappell: Yay!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: What can you preview for us about season three?
Crystal Chappell: There’s a lot.  We’re going to take a trip back.  I want the audience to see how Gina and Ani [Jessica Leccia] met and why their relationship ended with Gina breaking it off.  There is going to be someone new in Gina’s life played by the lovely Dot Jones from GLEE.  Lara [Nadia Bjorlin] still has her work to do.  She is not going to get all better.  She is going to rebound a bit but not in the way people might think.  Sami [Gina Tognoni] is just scrubbing those pots a little too much isn’t she? We’re going to see why she does that.  Owen [Galen Garing] finally has it out with his dad [Jordan Clarke].  This is the season you will see these two people go at it.  Richard [Peter Reckell] will come back into Gina’s life.  They will have a wonderful understanding but there is a secret there.  There is something one is not telling the other.  Guya has to deal with that creepy ghost in her life.  There’s a lot. 

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: The show has been so rich with reality based story lines.  Lara’s alcoholism felt very familiar for me in terms of people I have known.  Gina’s scenes with her father were some of the most moving scenes I have seen in daytime or anytime.  The chemistry with you and Jordan Clarke is beautiful.
Crystal Chappell: And that relationship continues.  It’s not perfect, but they have things to say to each other.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Crystal how do you do it all? You are like this model multi-taker.  As someone who is often multitasking and not always doing the best job of it I am constantly impressed.
Crystal Chappell: Cheetos.  My secret is Cheetos.  I go for the bag of Cheetos.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: The big puffy ones or those little skinny ones?
Crystal Chappell: The puffy ones.  I don’t like the little crispy ones.  That’s it.  Send me some Cheetos.

RELATED:
- Watch this interview in its entirety at WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.36
- Read WLS TV review of DAYS OF OUR LIVES 45 Years: A Celebration In Photos."
- Watch WLS TV interview from December 10, 2010 with Crystal Chappell and Shawn Christian on WE LOVE SOAPS TV #2.31

Damon L. Jacobs is a Licensed Therapist in New York City who specializes in treating depression, addiction, and gay/lesbian issues.  He is also the author of the popular book "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve," currently available at Amazon.com. For more information about scheduling an appointment or a speaking engagement, please email him at [email protected].

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