By Naomi Rabinowitz and Devin Owens
Soap Opera Digest: Was it difficult for you to come out to Los Angeles to pursue acting?
Blair Redford: I had an agent already. He came to Atlanta and asked me to read for him and we hit it off. He was like, “You need to come out here right now, we can do something.” I was planning to come out, but not this soon. I was trying to save a little bit more money, but he said, “You’ve got to do it now.” I was like, “All right.” He really helped, and my manager really helped get me out here.
Digest: Is this your first acting job?
Redford: No, I had a couple of smaller ones. I did a national K-Swiss commercial that’s still airing. I see it every once in awhile. K-Swiss are tennis shoes. I trained with a stunt group in Atlanta called Black Knight Stunts. I got invited to be a member of the team after I did an independent film and did my own stunts.
Digest: Were you always interested in acting?
Redford: I had a full ride to play at a private tennis school, but it was not what I wanted to do. In high school, there was a juggling act between being captain of the tennis team and doing the school play every year.
Digest: How long have you been playing tennis?
Redford: My dad plays. He played in college, so I started picking it up around sixth grade. From the day I started, I fell in love with it. I’m trying to get out on the tennis courts every day just for recreation. You’ve got some good players out here.
Digest: What do you know about your character?
Redford: He goes by Scott now. He’s a good guy. He has maintained a close relationship with his mom. Our dialogue lays that out early, that wherever [he’s] going to school at the time, she keeps an apartment nearby so she can always see him. [They] have a warm relationship. Scott hasn’t had a dad, so that may have affected him a little bit. He’s really self-sufficient. He doesn’t get intimidated easily and is very self-aware. He’s very intelligent. He’s working on his master’s in creative writing and he helps tutor other students.
Digest: Did you research his history?
Redford: I did a little background work and found out what happened to him when he was a baby and all that, but I don’t want to find out too much. I don’t want to look too deep. From an actor’s point of view, I don’t want to know too much that the character wouldn’t naturally know. I studied the basic stuff — stuff about Lauren and the other baby that died that wasn’t actually hers.
Digest: You’re working with some great actors.
Redford: Tell me about it. It’s great. Tracey [E. Bregman, Lauren] and Christian[J. LeBlanc, Michael] definitely set the bar up there. I’m working with some of the best.
Digest: Have you seen a picture of the actor who played Scott’s dad, Peter Barton? You look like him.
Redford: Yeah, the other actors are saying that.
Digest: You also look like Johnny Depp. Do you ever get that?
Redford: Daily. More than anything. Some of my family was saying that even my picture that’s been released on the Internet for the show has fans saying that. I’m a big fan of his work. He’s very brave as an actor with what he does. He’s great.
Digest: Have you ever watched soaps before?
Redford: Absolutely. My mom has always watched YOUNG AND RESTLESS and BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL. She’s absolutely flipping out.
Digest: What about the rest of your family? Do you have siblings?
Redford: I have an older brother and two younger sisters.
Digest: Did your sisters watch soaps at all?
Redford: They’ve started watching YOUNG AND RESTLESS now.
Digest: Are you dating anyone?
Redford: No, I’m single. I love it. I’m trying to stay focused on work and everything. That’s a big part of why I’m single.
Digest: What about Scott — does he have any romance on the horizon?
Redford: I don’t know yet.
Digest: Did you have any reservations about doing a soap?
Redford: Not really. I see it as a great move right now. I think it’s an awesome gig to get. Already I’m feeling so great about it and having so much fun. Everybody here is so humble, from the cast to the crew. They’re just so determined to make it a good project. I feel blessed to be a part of it.
