EXCLUSIVE: Actress Rebecca Staab Reflects on her 'Guiding Light', 'Loving' and 'Port Charles' Days

In August 2013 We Love Soaps TV spoke with actress and former soap star Rebecca Staab about her career and time in daytime TV. The interview was never published, and was tucked away in our archives until now.

Staab was born in Hays, Kansas and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Excelling in academics, she had a 4.0 GPA in both high school and college, and placed in the top five finalists in the Miss USA pageant as Miss Nebraska.

Staab is known to soap opera fans for her portrayal of Jesse Matthews on Guiding Light, Cecelia Thompson on Loving and Elizabeth Barrington on Port Charles. She also guest-starred in numerous primetime TV shows including Cheers, Beverly Hills 90210, The Wonder Years, Home Improvement and Dark Shadows. She can presently be seen in Netflix's #1 series, The Night Agent.

Find out more about Staab in our exclusive (12 years later!) interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You have such a fascinating story going from Kansas to Miss Nebraska, becoming an international model, then cast as Cecilia on Loving. How did that transition happen? Did you always want to be an actress or did it just kind of randomly happen?
REBECCA STAAB: I wanted to as a kid, but in the '60s and '70s in Nebraska, there wasn't much of a market for actors, plus my parents just weren't those kind of people. I really wanted to be a dancer. I was always out in the garage dancing, making up my own little ballet and tap routines.  I was a huge Laura Ingalls Wilder fan. You know, all the "Little House on the Prairie" books. My best friend and I in second grade would write plays because we knew the characters so well. And I remember when I heard that they were going to make a TV show for that I was like, I had to be Mary, you know, in my head. It's so funny, I think at the time I was only like six or seven or but I had to be Mary. You know, Mom, I have to. But that doesn't happen when you live in Omaha. So that was kind of my first acting disappointment.

From the Archive: Brad Maule Interview (2013)

With GENERAL HOSPITAL celebrating its 50th anniversary 2013, We Love Soaps caught up with some of our favorite actors from over the years for a series of interviews.  Fan favorite Brad Maule played Dr. Tony Jones on the show from 1984 to 2006, and earned Daytime Emmy nominations in 1995 and 1997 for his work. Check out our interview at the links below.

Part 1 - The Texas native talked about some of his early acting experiences and landing the role of Tony on GH.

Part 2 - Maule talked about his favorite writers over the years, working with Jack Wagner, and leaving GENERAL HOSPITAL for good in 2006.

Part 3 - Maule talked about the many projects that keep him busy in Texas these days including a brand new album, "Miles and Miles of Texas."

From the Archive: Maurice Benard Interviews (2010, 2011, 2013)

We Love Soaps has always enjoyed speaking with Emmy Award-winning actor Maurice Benard, who has played Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital since August 13, 1993. Below are links to four interviews conducted with Benard from 2010 to 2013.

March 2010 (ny Stephen Seidel)
Benhard on the set of General Hospital.

From the Archive: Taylor Miller Interview (December 2009)

Longtime soap fans will never forget Taylor Miller's run on All My Children as Nina Cortlandt Warner. Her pairing with Peter Bergman's Cliff is one of the most memorable in daytime history. Miller created the role of Nina in 1979 and played the role off and on until 1989. She returned in the mid-1990s a couple of times, and in 2010 for the soap's 40th anniversary and then for a tribute to the late James Mitchell (Palmer). Miller also played Sally Frame on Another World for a year during a break from AMC.

From the Archive: Wesley Eure Interview (November 2009)

Wesley Eure is best known to soap fans for his long run as Mike Horton on Days of our Lives which ended in 1981. He made a huge pop culture splash as Will Marshall in the popular Sid and Marty Krofft adventure series Land of the Lost. He also has an extensive background as an author, television writer, producer, lecturer and charity fundraiser. In an exclusive three-part interview with We Love Soaps TV from November 2009, Eure covered all those aspects of his life and more including the price he's paid for being an out gay man in the industry.

In Part One, Eure talked about his background, how he came into show business and shared some fun stories from DAYS set.

In Part Two, Eure recalled Mike Horton's "gay storyline" and revealed how and why he was fired from the soap.

In Part Three, Eure spoke about the dear friend and former cast member he lost because he was gay, and how he has channeled the energy from the devastating AIDS crisis in the '80s into a positive.

Eileen Fulton Interview Archive (October 2011)

UPDATE: Beloved As the World Turns actress Eileen Fulton died Monday in Asheville, North Carolina, after a period of declining health, her family announced. She was 91. Fulton played the role of Lisa on ATWT from 1960-2010.

***

Originally posted on September 13, 2018

Legendary As the World Turns actress Eileen Fulton turns 85 today. Back in October 2011, We Love Soaps spoke with Ms. Fulton in a three-part interview about her career in conjunction with the release of the first Soap Classics DVD collections. Read the interview below:

Part 1 - Ms. Fulton shared a spooky Douglas Marland story, and her thoughts on some of the episodes on the As the World Turns Classics DVD including Bob and Kim's 1985 wedding. "These weddings were shot mostly in the studio, and it took forever to film them!"

Part 2 - Ms. Fulton shared some of the ups and downs from her run including the writing regime of Stephen Black and Henry Stern. "I called them Black and Decker," Fulton joked. "Or Frick and Frack."

Part 3 - Ms. Fulton shared her thoughts on the ending for Lisa on As the World Turns. "Leaving Lisa standing alone in the hotel was disgusting," she said. "That was their 'Up yours!' to Lisa."

From the Archive: Denise Alexander Interviews (2010, 2013)

Longtime soap opera star Denise Alexander, best known for her portrayal of Lesley Webber on General Hospital and Susan Hunter Martin on Days of our Lives, died on March 5 at age 85.

Early in her career Alexander voiced characters on multiple radio soaps before making her Broadway debut in “The Children’s Hour”. On primetime television she made appearances on classics Father Knows Best, The Twilight Zone and The Danny Kaye Show. In the early 1960s she moved to daytime TV on the CBS soap The Clear Horizon.

She joined the cast of Days of our Lives in 1966 as Susan, where she rose to stardom during her seven-year run. She left Days in 1973 and joined the cast of ABC's General Hospital as Lesley to help give the ratings-challenged soap a boost. Lesley fell for Rick Webber (Chris Robinson) and became entangled in a triangle with rival Monica Bard (played by the late Leslie Charleson, who died earlier this year). Lesley also confessed to the murder of David Hamilton, a crime her daughter Laura (Genie Francis) committed. Her acting earned Alexander a Emmy nomination for outstanding actress in a Daytime drama series.

When storyline called for Lesley to be killed off in a car accident in 1984, fans became outraged. It wasn’t until 12 years later in 1996 that it was revealed that Lesley was actually alive. In between the two soaps, Alexander appeared on NBC’s Another World as Mary McKinnon, working once again with Robinson during  a portion of her three-year stint.

“I am so very sorry to hear of Denise Alexander’s passing. She broke barriers on-screen and off, portraying Dr. Lesley Webber – one of the first female doctors on Daytime Television – for nearly five decades,” GH executive producer Frank said on social media. “It meant so much to have her reprise her role in recent years and I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with her. On behalf of the entire General Hospital family, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends, and longtime fans. May she rest in peace.”

Alexander last appeared on General Hospital in 2021. *** Check out our interviews with Denise Alexander from 2010 and 2013 below.

First published in November 2010

WE LOVE SOAPS TV: You were involved in the industry when it was transitioning from radio to TV.
Denise Alexander: At the tail end of it. I got to do a little bit of everything.

We Love Soaps TV Compilation: Jo Weil Interviews 2010-2015

We Love Soaps TV (and affiliate Serial Scoop Now) interviewed German soap opera star Jo Weil (Verbotene Liebe) four times between 2010 and 2015 when he visited New York City. Check out all our interviews in the compilation video below.

A We Love Soaps Reunion on 'Tub Talks with Damon'

I recently taped an appearance on Tub Talks with Damon, the fascinating new talk series from longtime We Love Soaps writer, and my partner in crime, Damon L. Jacobs. In addition to offering our takes on current soap opera stories, we also dished on our favorite interviews and the Indie Series Awards. And yes, it all happened in a bathtub. Watch my episode out below, and be sure to check out the entire series.

The Year of Brely Evans: Our Exclusive Interview with the Rising Star of 'Ambitions'

You may have watched actress, singer and entertainer Brely Evans in films like Sparkle, Just Wright or The Man in 3B. You might have enjoyed her work on TV shows like Last Call, Family Business or Being Mary Jane. Perhaps you her loved her music with R&B trio Emage. Or all of the above. But no matter where you might have seen her before, chances are she made a huge impression. Brely Evans is a star. And she's currently starring in Ambitions on OWN as the scene-stealing Rondell Lancaster, the sister of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster and manager of the Thelma’s Place restaurant. She is fighting to keep her neighborhood from being taken over by corporate developers and discovering new strengths along the way.

We Love Soaps recently spoke with the talented multihyphenate about her career ambitions and her work on Ambitions. Check out our exclusive interview with Brely Evans below.

We Love Soaps: I'm calling 2019 "The Year of Brely Evans" because you're everywhere.
Brely Evans: Oh my God. I love that.

We Love Soaps: Can you give our readers a quick summary of your journey from the "pookie-pie" Twix commercial to starring this year in three primetime shows at the same time?
Brely Evans: Wow, you have done your homework. So that's where I started. I didn't know that I was an actor. I came to LA because music is my life, I love to sing. I was like, "Beyoncé who? It's all about Breloncé, okay?" So a friend of the neighbor said, "Oh, my God, I thought you were an actor. I would tell people that I live next door to this famous actress." And I said, "Well, you lied to a lot of people, because, no, I've never acted in my life." And he said, "Hey, I'm on my way to my agent's office, why don't you ride with me?"

And it was a commercial agent, and she signed me on the spot saying, "You should be on television," after one conversation. In that conversation she would say, "Hey, by the way, count the no's. That's a little game we play in the office, see how many no's you get before you get a yes." Oh, okay. So I went on, 10 auditions, no training, no head shot, no nothing, just walking in these doors. On my 10th audition I got my first yes. That was the Twix commercial. "Pookie-pie, do I look fat in these?" [laughs]

We Love Soaps: I think that pays a lot, so that's a good yes.
Brely Evans: It was an amazing moment for me. And when I got my first check for one 12-hour day of work I said, "Oh my God. I'm an actor. Where do I sign up for classes?" So that's when I began ...

Interview Archive: Elizabeth Hubbard

Happy 85th birthday to the legendary Emmy-winning actress Elizabeth Hubbard!

We Love Soaps TV traveled to the As the World Turns studio in Brooklyn on the second to last day of shooting in June 2010 to speak with Hubbard about her storied career. Watch the interview below.

We Love Soaps Interview Archive: Doug Davidson (2009)

Doug Davidson has starred on The Young and the Restless as Paul Williams since 1978. We Love Soaps spoke to Davidson in 2009 about his long tenure on Y&R, his stint as host on the primetime Price is Right, the future of daytime, and much more.

In case you missed it, here's our three-part interview:

Part One - Davidson talked about his background and early years on The Young and the Restless.

Part Two - Davidson discussed the controversial "was it rape?" storyline with Christine and the recent twist in Paul's storyline with Nikki.

Part Three - Davidson shared his thought on the future of daytime, web soaps, almost hosting the daytime version of The Price is Right, and revealed some wonderful advice he received from his TV mother.

"How Did We Get Here?" Lyric Video Released

tion on We Be Nurses is expected to be completed in August. At that point, my fellow EPs, Adedeji and Michael E. Steele, and I will begin the process of finding a network for the series. In November, Adedeji, Eli Zoller and I produced two original songs for the pilot, "The Deal" (theme song) and "How Did We Get Here?"

While preparing to finish the pilot, and hopefully sell it, 74Aderemi Productions has decided to release "How Did We Get Here?" as a single. The track is performed beautifully by Broadway star Arbender Robinson ("The Lion King," "Shuffle Along," "Les Miserables," and many more). I have produced films, web series, radio dramas, an awards show and more over the years, but this is my very first professionally produced song. I'm excited to share it with the world starting today. Check out the lyric video for "How Did We Get Here?" below.

INTERVIEW: Cady McClain & Kate Super at 'Seeing is Believing: Women Direct' East Coast Premiere

Cady McClain and Roger Newcomb at the East Coast Premiere of
Seeing is Believing: Women Direct. Photo: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

In the latest episode of Serial Scoop Now (2.20), we traveled to Soho International Film Festival for the East Coast Premiere of Cady McClain's Seeing is Believing: Women Direct. Emmy winning actress turned executive producer/director/writer/editor, Cady McClain (All My Children, As the World Turns) talks about her new documentary, the women profiled, how she met producing partner, Kate Super, and much more!

Seeing is Believing: Women Direct is a documentary series directed, executive produced, written and edited by Cady McClain about women directors who are on the front lines of the field: from major award winners and those in the vanguard of television and feature films, to graduate students and frustrated auteurs. The first episode recently made its World Premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival, where it won an Honorable Mention for Best Documentary Short. McClain debuted a feature-length version at Soho International Film Festival.

McClain has spent the past year traveling the globe, speaking to female directors of film and television and documenting their stories. The outcome is a feature film and a serialized documentary, providing insider access to the skills and tools needed to succeed as a woman in the directing field.

The crowd--which included familiar daytime names such as Julia Barr, Jill Larson and Carole Shure--roared with applause as the film's credits rolled. McClain brilliantly edited together the stories of dozens of interviewees, with the most screen time given to fascinating insights from Sarah Gavron (Director, Suffragette, Brick Lane), Lesli Linka Glatter (EP/Director, Homeland), Li Lu (Director, There Is a New World Somewhere) and Naima Ramos-Chapman (Director/Writer, And Nothing Happened).

McClain is still exploring potential release and distributions for the project. No matter what form it takes when it becomes available publicly, it is sure to entertain and educate. Kudos to everyone involved!

Check out what McClain and Super had to say about Seeing is Believing: Women Direct in our new interview below.

INTERVIEW: James Kiberd Previews 'The Crusade of Connor Stephens'

Actor and artist James Kiberd is best known to soap opera fans for his 11-year stint as Trevor Dillon on ABC's All My Children. That followed a memorable run as Mike Donovan on Loving, and a few months as Dustin Trent on NBC's Another World. Following All My Children, he stepped in for a time as Hal Munson on CBS' As the World Turns. In addition to his work on daytime dramas, Kiberd is a talented artist and stage performer. He was named Best Actor earlier this year at the 2017 Midtown International Theater Festival for his portrayal of Big Jim in "The Crusade of Connor Stephens," a new play written and directed by Dewey Moss

In "The Crusade of Connor Stephens," extreme loss shakes a Texas family as it comes to terms with a tragic act of violence. In the midst of widespread media attention, their story becomes an allegory for the national debate over religion, tolerance and the seedlings of hate. With humor and resilience, they will confront the ghosts of the past and discover the brutal universal truths that define the American family in the 21st century.

I had the pleasure of speaking with the multi-talented Kiberd about his time on soaps and his latest stage role. Watch our recent interview below for Serial Scoop Now.



"The Crusade of Connor Stephens" will begin an open-ended run at Off-Broadway’s Jerry Orbach Theater at The Theater Center on June 17. Opening night is scheduled for June 26.

In addition to Kiberd, the cast of "The Crusade of Connor Stephens" features Ben Curtis, Kathryn Leask, Julie Campbell, Kathleen Huber, Jacques Mitchell, Clifton Samuels and Alec Shaw.

For more information on "The Crusade of Connor Stephens" or to purchase tickets, visit thecrusadeofconnorstephens.com.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Wayne Wilderson Previews 'Club 5150' Series and Reflects On His Fascinating Career

Wayne Wilderson - Photo by Bonni Allen Photography

The chances are good that Wayne Wilderson has appeared in one of your favorite TV shows, or you've seen him in a commercial, or caught him on stage. The multi-talented actor's credits include A To Z, Mom, Two And A Half Men, The Office, CSI, Jessie, Bones, Wilfred, ER and Pushing Daises, among many others. He recently played a prosecutor in two episodes of How to Get Away with Murder. He also spent 11 years as the Purple Grapes in the Fruit Of The Loom ads.

He next stars in Steve Silverman's comedy web series Club 5150, which premieres on Monday, November 9. He recently spoke with We Love Soaps about his career, and gave us a preview of his Club 5150 character, Ted. Check out our exclusive interview below:

WE LOVE SOAPS: You have an amazing list of credits over the past twenty years. What has been your favorite role that you've played?
WAYNE WILDERSON: I had a great time in a couple of episodes I did on The Office as Martin Nash. It was pretty special, and I worked with very nice people. I got to do a lot of improv. It was people I've known for a long time, and people I'd just met, and it was just a very easy going, really creative fun couple of weeks working on that show.

Wayne Wilderson as Purple Grapes.

WE LOVE SOAPS: You've also appeared in tons of commercials over the year. Do you have a favorite?
WAYNE WILDERSON: I was the Purple Grapes for Fruit of the Loom for 11 years. Again, that was kind of along the lines of The Office. I got to work with some amazing people like J. P. Manoux [Green Grapes], who's somebody I knew before. We got that job and the early years were a lot of improv. It was a great gig and a lot of fun, and we got to travel. It was a big part of my career; it bought me a house, "The House that Underwear Bought." [Laughs]

'The Bold and the Beautiful' Pop Up Fan Event Interviews with Pierson Fodé, Ashleigh Brewer, Thorsten Kaye & Linsey Godfrey

Pierson Fodé and Ashleigh Brewer

The Bold and the Beautiful held a Pop Up Fan Event in New York City on Monday, September 14. I spoke with actors Pierson Fodé (who plays Thomas Forrester) and Ashleigh Brewer (Ivy Forrester) for Serial Scoop Now about their characters, what it's like to watch an episode with fans, their favorite thing about working at B&B and more. Later, Thorsten Kaye (who plays Ridge Forrester) and Linsey Godfrey (Caroline Spencer Forrester) spoke about attending their characters' wedding reception with fans, Godfrey's favorite thing about working at B&B, Kaye's cross-country commute and getting feedback from fans.

"It's nice to see it through their eyes, and not just my judgmental eyes of myself," Brewer said about watching Monday's B&B episode with the large group of fans in attendance.

"I love egging the crowd on," Fode added. "I become a little bit of a ham when people are involved."

Meanwhile, Godfrey is grateful to be working at B&B.

"I get to come to work with my favorite people, and be with my best friends everyday," she said.

Watch my interviews with Fodé, Brewer, Kaye and Godfrey below:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: 'Days of our Lives' Actress Aloma Wright Previews 'Second Chance Christmas'

Days of our Lives actress Aloma Wright in Second Chance Christmas.
Photo courtesy of TV One.

A graduate of New York's prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Aloma Wright toured with "Ain't Misbehavin'," and "The Gospel Truth with Jennifer Holiday, Tramaine Hawkins and Johnny Brown. She won two Drama Logue Awards, one in 1996 for her role in "The Visit" under the direction of Ted Lange and the other in 1997 for her work in "From the Mississippi Delta." She was also nominated by the NAACP Image Awards for Best Actress in 1994 for "First Breeze of Summer" and again in 1997 for "Four Queens no Trump."

From 2001 to 2009 she starred in the hit primetime comedy Scrubs as Nurse Laverne Roberts and, later, as Nurse Shirley. Since 2008, she has played Nurse Maxine on NBC's daytime drama Days of our Lives.

On Saturday, December 6, she stars in the TV One holiday movie Second Chance Christmas with McKinley Freeman (Hit The Floor), Michael Rainey Jr. (Power), Robinne Lee (Being Mary Jane), Kandi Burruss (R&B Singer and The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member), Durrell “Tank” Babbs (R&B singer) Ella Joyce (Roc), Golden Brooks (Hollywood Divas) and Rolonda Watts (Days of our Lives).

In Second Chance Christmas, Maisie (Lee) and her 13-year-old son Lawrence (Rainey Jr.) form a small, yet tight-knit family unit. Lawrence knows his mother doesn't have the easiest life as a single mother, but it makes him happy simply to know that she is there for him. His prayers for his mother to find happiness are answered when Malcolm (Freeman) marries Maisie. Yet ironically, Lawrence is indifferent to Malcolm and is certainly not afraid to wear his feelings on his sleeve. However, when a tragic car accident takes Maisie’s life, Lawrence and Malcolm must learn to lean on one other and get by with an important piece of their lives missing.

We Love Soaps recently spoke with Aloma Wright about her career and role in Second Chance Christmas. Read our exclusive interview below:

WE LOVE SOAPS: Second Chance Christmas tells the story of a young boy's struggle to accept his stepfather after the untimely and tragic death of his mother. How does your character fit into the story?
ALOMA WRIGHT: My character is the social worker who actually takes the boy from the stepfather. The stepfather makes a decision that the child is acting out and he can't handle him. He figures the best thing for him to do is let him go with his biological grandparents because of the loss of his mother. I'm the case worker that initiates the process.

'Movement and Location' World Premiere Red Carpet Interviews with Bodine Boling, Alexis Boling, Catherine Missal, Kelley Missal, Daniel Covin & Haile Owusu

On the latest episode of We Love Soaps TV, Roger Newcomb traveled to the Brooklyn Film Festival for the World Premiere of Alexis and Bodine Boling's film Movement and Location.

Kim Getty (Bodine Boling) is an immigrant from 400 years in the future, sent back in time to live out an easier life. It's a one-way trip of difficult isolation, but in the three years since she landed, Kim has built a life that feels almost satisfying. She has a full time job, shares an apartment in Brooklyn with a roommate, and is falling in love. But when she stumbles on a teenage girl (Catherine Missal) in Prospect Park who is also from the future, Kim's remade sense of self is tested. After the girl leads Kim to her long-lost husband (Guiding Light's David Andrew Macdonald), now 20 years older than her and maladjusted to this time, Kim's carefully designed identity begins to unravel, and she must choose between two entirely different lives. Once her secrets are exposed, the real decision is what she's willing to do to survive.

Cast, crew and supporters attended the World Premiere screening. Earlier on the red carpet, We Love Soaps TV spoke with Movement and Location screenwriter/producer/star Bodine Boling, director/producer Alexis Boling, cast members Catherine Missal, Haile Owusu and Kelley Missal (Daytime Emmy nominee this year for her work on One Life to Live), as well as former All My Children actor Daniel Covin.

Watch the We Love Soaps TV episode "Movement and Location" (5.32) below:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Parry Shen Talks GENERAL HOSPITAL and UNIDENTIFIED, His New Movie Available Now on Digital Download and DVD

Parry Shen. Photo Credit: Jim Warren

Parry Shen has shown off his acting range in daytime and primetime television, in films, and even video games. He's starred in movies such as the Hatchet horror franchise, The New Guys, and MTV Films' Better Luck Tomorrow, his breakout performance. He joined the cast of ABC's GENERAL HOSPITAL in 2012 as smarmy Brad Cooper.

He's also a producer for his latest project, sci-fi thriller UNIDENTIFIED, which is available on Digital Download and DVD starting today.

We Love Soaps caught up with Mr. Shen to find out more about the film, his career and his thoughts on GH's Brad. Read our exclusive interview below:

WE LOVE SOAPS: How did Unidentified come about for you? You are a producer on the film and a writer as well?
PARRY SHEN: I've been friends with the other actor and producer in the movie, Eddie Mui, for about 12 years. We've always done stage productions and small things together, but have been looking to work together on something new. He came to me with about four ideas and the I  guessed the ending of the first three before he finished the pitch. Then he pitched the fourth idea. 

When you drive to Vegas there's that dark part before you get to the Strip. These guys are on a road trip and they actually see something supernatural. What would you really do if those circumstances happened upon you? In this day and age with mobile phones and YouTube, what would realistically transpire? I thought that was pretty interesting. He's such a UFO buff, I told him I was interested in that because he knew so much about it.