Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Patrika Darbo Interview: 'I Love Doing Different And Creative Things'

Patrika Darbo came back to DAYS OF OUR LIVES on March 4, and her character, Nancy Wesley, has been standing by her daughter, Chloe (Nadia Bjorlin), as she tries to steal Daniel from Jennifer. Today, We Love Soaps caught up with Darbo, who has been nominated for both a Daytime Emmy and an Indie Soap Award, to find out more about her return to DAYS and more. Read our interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS: We missed you at the Indie Soap Awards this year.
PATRIKA DARBO: Oh, I'm so bummed I missed it. You know what's so great about it, being an older actor I missed all those younger actors creating new stuff, and all those wonderful shows. I really missed it. It was such a good time [last year] and I will do my best to be there next year.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Everyone was asking about you, especially RAGGED ISLE's Barry Dodd.
PATRIKA DARBO: Honey, I would bear his children. [Laughs] Of course, his wife would probably kick my butt... he is the most creative, wonderful guy, just adorable.

WE LOVE SOAPS: We had Kevin Spirtas kick off the ceremony this year with Colleen Zenk. They both landed jobs on web series after last year's ceremony.
PATRIKA DARBO: I do a lot of mentoring for women in film, and SAG-AFTRA union mentoring. It's so important to tell everybody it's networking and finding out what's going on. Get out there and talk to people because there's just so much to do, and such creativity that can be expressed.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Let's talk about your return to DAYS. How has it been for you? Is playing Nancy like riding a bike at this point?
PATRIKA DARBO: Absolutely. And we have such great writers at DAYS that know how to capture Nancy. There were a couple of things that were a little hard for me because so much had happened since when I left last time. Kids have grown up and I had so many questions about who belongs to who. That was a little in my head trying to figure out what the hell was going on, and why my daughter was talking to that lady put a flesh-eating disease on her face, Nicole. All those kind of things were a little hard because the history didn't quite continue forward. I think I would have shot her at the door instead of letting her into the house.

Nancy is supporting her daughter exclusively regardless of any repercussions. Regardless of whether it's right or wrong, she's going to do it because she loves her daughter and she's going to take care of her.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Reading our Twitter feed every day, a lot of fans are wondering why a gorgeous woman like Chloe, who could have any man she wants, is so obsessed with Daniel. What is your take on the whole Chloe-Daniel-Jennifer storyline?
PATRIKA DARBO: Let's just put it this way, Nancy has told her you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Chloe's her daughter and come hell or high water, guns loaded, Nancy will try to get her what she wants. I think Nancy would like to just scoop her up and take her home, but unconditional love and support is what she's going to give. When it all goes to hell in a handbag, she'll be there to pick the pieces up.

WE LOVE SOAPS: On today's episode, Chloe was talking with Nancy on the phone obviously hatching some devious plan. Is there anything you can preview for us about what's ahead?
PATRIKA DARBO: Well.... our bags are packed, I'm on my way. That's all I can say.

WE LOVE SOAPS: It seems like DAYS and daytime soaps are shooting faster and faster all the time.
PATRIKA DARBO: They are. You used to have a day or two in between, or a weekend or two in between, when you were doing stuff, and you had a little more play time. This time I was like, "I'm older now and these are a lot of words you are giving me to remember." The most wonderful part about it is that Nadia and Patrika are good friends, and Nadia can tell in a minute if she needs to say something because I can't remember what part we're on. We work so well with that. Even the producers I hadn't known before, like Mr. [Albert] Alarr, were terrific. The producers were so generous because it was shot so fast. And I knew all the crew so if I wasn't quite in the right spot, I could see hands going up pointing to the left so we didn't have to do it again. They were taking care of me. I don't know how everybody does it. They're brains are photographic.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Would you be willing to do DAYS full-time if they asked you.
PATRIKA DARBO: Of course, absolutely, I would do it full-time. I would probably never leave my sofa because I'd always be memorizing lines. [Laughs] When I'm mentoring, I always say, "There are small roles, but take them because it networks you into the next one." I would love to come back and have Nancy get even with Kate for the evil things she did. Louise Sorel (Vivian) isn't around any more but those two women did some evil pretty things to Chloe. Nancy would make sure they were underneath the church six feet deep.

WE LOVE SOAPS: We got to know Nadia's real-life mom, Fary, on the E! reality show (DIRTY SOAP) last year. Have you met her?
PATRIKA DARBO: Oh yes, we're good friends. She would say (Patrika in a Fary Bjorlin accent), "I hate that show. Oh my God, they make me so mean. But I don't like that boy, I'm telling you." [Laughs] She's back in Sweden and I miss her so much. We used to go to events together and she's a sports woman, so we'd play golf, or just shop. We went to the Kentucky Derby together last year.

WE LOVE SOAPS: I know you directed a few episodes of MISS BEHAVE in the past. Is that something you've thought about doing more of in the future?
PATRIKA DARBO: I love doing different and creative things. I would do that again in a heartbeat. That was another learning process, and I think we should all be learning new things when we can. I didn't want to tell the actors what to do, but that gave me the chance to have them think about this or that, or find other colors of what they were doing. And learning the technical parts of it was a great thing.

WE LOVE SOAPS: I would love to see you here in New York on stage. My dream is to see you in a Del Shores play on stage. Is there any chance we'll see you on stage in New York in the future?
PATRIKA DARBO: If I was asked to do a show, I'd be there in a minute. Performing is performing, and theater is such an immediate gratification. Live theater is an incredible adventure.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Patrika Darbo guest stars on an upcoming Season 2 episode of the hit web series BLOOMERS.

Roger Newcomb is a producer and writer in New York City. Aside from co-hosting WE LOVE SOAPS TV, he has written and produced a full-length indie film, Manhattanites, and two radio soap operas, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES and ROCKLAND COUNTY. He has also made acting appearances in indie web series IMAGINARY BITCHES and EMPIRE. He has consulted on numerous indie soaps, worked as a producer on the first two seasons of Emmy-nominated THE BAY, and is executive producer on the indie short May Mercy Lie, which is currently making the rounds at film festivals.

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