Monday, October 17, 2011

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Christie Clark on Carrie, Austin, Patrick Muldoon, Austin Peck & DAYS OF OUR LIVES

WE LOVE SOAPS TV was recently honored with the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Christie Clark. The busy mother of two beautiful, young daughters gave us a hint of what her DAYS OF OUR LIVES character, Carrie Brady, will be up to in the weeks to come. She also shared insights from her years with DAYS, and dished, just a bit, on the topic of Patrick Muldoon vs. Austin Peck.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: It's great having you back on DAYS. What would you say is the biggest change from a production standpoint since you started on the show 25 years ago?
Christie Clark: We used to shoot, it would seem, about 70 to 80 hours a week, and now, we're in and out, they are just on the clock. You have to come in prepared, and know your lines, which is great, because I always did--because that would have scared the shit out of me if I didn't.

So everybody has to be on point, and ready to rock, and then, they get 16 weeks off a year now! Because they're ready to crack the whip. So that's one thing, from a production standpoint, that's different. And I love it! It makes it possible for me to work on the show, because I get real connection time with my family.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Both of your Austins were very popular. What do you think is an advantage to having it be Patrick, and what do you think would have been an advantage to working again with Austin Peck?
Christie Clark: Mmm hmm... let's see how diplomatic I can be. I think the advantage to working with Patrick is that he also cracks the whip, he doesn't let you slide, he doesn't let you go on auto-pilot, he's constantly wanting to make it the best that it can be. And, he has a darker element to him, and he brings that to Austin. He started the role of Austin, and Austin was from the wrong side of the tracks, he was darker then. That's a good element to Pat.

And an advantage to working with Peck is just a deep connection and friendship and communication as actors, together, so we always worked hard to have, you know, secrets for Carrie and Austin. We were dear friends and so the communication was there, and it made it flow and easy.

The attraction is there with both of them, so that's an advantage for both. Hee hee! They're both very nice to look at!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Carrie is now a lawyer. Are we going to see you in some courtroom drama?
Christie Clark: Yes, I think so. I mean, so far, I've had minimal on that front. I thought that there would be a lot more. I was kind of petrified when I first heard that that was what Carrie was doing, but that's good when something scares you, because it makes you look into it, and learn about it. So I went and shadowed my girlfriend, who's a defense attorney, and I saw that I could do it, so I wasn't scared anymore.

I look forward to them expanding on it, and it looks like that's going to happen, from the stuff we're filming. I'm looking forward to it.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Carrie and Sami usually have similar taste in men.
Christie Clark: Yeah!

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Do you think there's a chance Carrie might take an interest in Rafe at some point?
Christie Clark: There def--you never say no in Salem, that's for sure! [She laughs.] The tall, dark and handsome thing, Carrie and Sami both really like it, and Rafe and Carrie are definitely both working together and becoming close, and they have an ease, and they're fighting for the same thing, and they're both attractive people, so for sure. It could happen. Who knows! But you know... it hasn't happened so far.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Is there anything else you can preview for us about what's coming up for Carrie?
Christie Clark: It's really just a fight to keep her family happy and together, whether it means John, and protecting Marlena, or it means her husband, fighting to get him to see the light, and to be on her side. It's all just a struggle to succeed for her family.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: What's it like being back on the show full-time with two young children at home?
Christie Clark: Yeah, definitely--I'm working my tail off right now. But I like working my tail off. When I can just twiddle my thumbs and float around, you know... I just like being artistic and being able to be fulfilled artistically, and then, as a woman and as a mother.

I'm kind of just living the dream. I mean, I hope all these women who watch DAYS OF OUR LIVES know that I'm thanking my lucky stars, and I know that there's lots of ladies who would like to be in my position, and I'm enjoying every moment.

So I get to get hair and make-up, wardrobe, I get to kiss cute guys, and act, and then I get to fly home and do my dishes, and change my diapers, and do my laundry. So I've got a good balance, right now.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: On the one hand, as you said, you're "living the dream" right now. But on the other hand, it must be a challenge?
Christie Clark: Sure! For sure, I'm knackered sometimes. Sometimes your body catches up with you and it's like, whoa! You need to chill out, or get a massage, or book some time for just connection.

My husband and I, we like to travel, we like to go see live music, so I'm having to pull in the reigns on that a little bit, because I can't be flying back to San Francisco, and then we're jetting off to go to a music festival, like we used to.

So that fun stuff, that's taking a back seat a little, for the moment, but you never know how long soap operas are going to be on, and I've got to take advantage of this wonderful new schedule, this new fire in the writing and the producing. Everyone's pumped up, it's a great time to be there.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: If you weren't playing Carrie, what would be your dream role? In TV, film, maybe theater, what makes you think, hm, I'd like to try that?
Christie Clark: Hm, that's good. Well, instantly when you started asking the question I thought you meant on DAYS OF OUR LIVES and I thought, "Kate is a fun character." [She laughs.]

Outside of DAYS... that's a good question. I would love to play, well, I love English, kind of romantic, like, Elizabeth-type movies. Just, period pieces, where you get to dress up in costume, and be a princess walking among the oak trees.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I can see that.
Christie Clark: I would love that.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You may have already heard the news--AS THE WORLD TURNS and GUIDING LIGHT are both going to be re-released, starting with a 20 episode "best of" style DVD collection. If you were putting together something like that for DAYS, what episode would you have to include?
Christie Clark: Oh yeah. Well, Sami punching at the wedding. Everyone loves that, so that is a definite. Maybe the kind of nighttime show we had that one time? "The Night of Sins" I think it was? Carrie has acid thrown at her face? That would be another one.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: Finally, a bit of a philosophical question. If you could go back to around 1986, when you took over the role of Carrie, and give yourself one piece of advice, knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself?
Christie Clark: Try to learn from your elders, and be professional, and come to the set on time. Know your lines, and just constantly try to keep that fire burning, because you can easily get lazy, or think you're too cool, because suddenly you've become popular. Just kick yourself in the ass, and constantly strive to do your best work, and be professional.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: I think that's good advice. Thank you so much for your time.
Christie Clark: Yeah, absolutely. Bye bye!

RELATED:
- FLASHBACK: The Complete Story of DAYS OF OUR LIVES
- OPINION: DAYS OF OUR LIVES Reboot Day One - Does It Get The Boot?
- Monday, September 26 LIVEBLOG: Watch DAYS "Reboot" With We Love Soaps Today!
- EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Eric Martsolf Talks DAYS, Brady's Relationhips With John, Nicole & Madison, Plus Working For Dolly Parton!
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.10 On The Set Of DAYS With Eric Martsolf
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.06 On The Set Of DAYS With Greg Meng


Kevin Mulcahy Jr. is a Harvard alum who is currently working as a staff contributor at welovesoaps.com writing theater and web series reviews as well as other in-depth features. Read all his Web Series reviews here. To contact Kevin, email [email protected].

3 comments:

  1. I lovin' Carrie as intelligent, sassy young woman. I think they should bring back Mike and he's a Horton...Hot triangle

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  2. Seriously, is anybody editing these pieces?

    "So I get to get hair and make-up, wardrobe, I get to kiss cute guys, and act, and then I get to fly home and do my dishes, and change my diapers, and do my laundry. So I've got a good balance, right now."

    And change MY diapers. I don't think Christie wears diapers.

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  3. Great interview. Christie seems so down to earth.

    To Anonymous above, why so rude? It's obvious what Christie meant. I said the same thing when I was running around juggling things when my kids were young.

    I'm so happy to have Carrie and Austin back.

    ReplyDelete