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Getting Real with ATWT's Réal Andrews

Soap Opera Weekly: How did this role on ATWT come about?

RÈAL Andrews: [ATWT] was casting a recurring role and my agent had called the executive producer, Chris (Goutman), and told him that I was available, and he seemed excited about that. It evolved from recurring to contract because I wasn’t about to move to New York for a recurring [role]. My agent called me and told me about it, but I wasn’t interested in doing daytime again and thought I’d check out other things. But when I heard it was As the World Turns, I was like, “That is one show I would come back for!” I was excited and said, “OK, I’d be very happy to do that.”Weekly: How are you enjoying ATWT so far?

Andrews I couldn’t be happier. I like to work, and Chris and Hogan (Sheffer, head writer) just continue to amaze me. The scripts are awesome, and the cast is awesome. I’m happy as a pig in you-know-what. I’m pretty blessed. It’s something I’ve been praying for for the past several years. I turned it over to God and he once again didn’t let me down. Weekly: How are your co-stars? Any funny stories from the set?

Andrews I tell you — that Don (Hastings, Bob) is talented. I’ve never seen anybody play a coma like he does (laughs). One day he went to sleep. We had three or four scenes and he lied down in the bed. I was talking to John (James, Rick) and I was like, “Dude, I think he’s sleeping for real!” And John was like, “No way.” We went over and Don was out.Weekly: What do you think of the serial killer story?

Andrews I can’t wait to read the scripts. There are so many twists and turns in this storyline; just when I think one thing is happening, all of a sudden something happens and it clears up that thing and it points the blame in another direction. When you’ve got the cast members who are playing the story trying to figure out what the hell is going on, you know that’s just plain good writing.Weekly: How is Walker different from Taggert?

Andrews Taggert was a pit bull and Walker is more like a black panther. He is very cunning and wise and he just sort of stalks around. He moves in and out without people knowing he’s there. He’s got that little evil eye and all his senses are aware. There’s a lot of levels to Walker, which is better than having that one level that I had for seven years playing Taggart. That will kill you after a while.Weekly: Do you like being all CSI-like on ATWT?

Andrews Yeah. I want to be doing all that cool stuff. CSI, Forensic Files, Crossing Jordan — those are my favorite shows. My wife is so jealous and said, “I’m going to have to live vicariously through you.” We love that stuff. We were watching the original In the Heat of the Night the other day and they were putting their fingerprints all over and touching the blood. She’s like, “Oh, my God, look, he’s touching. He can’t do that.” But of course back then they didn’t have the technology that we do now. To me it’s fascinating what they can do and how they solve crimes.Weekly: But it’s not all work for Walker. He and Bonnie seem to have a connection. Are there sparks there?

Andrews Have you seen her? And you have to ask if there are sparks (laughs)? She’s quite a beautiful woman. But she’s in love with somebody else right now, so Walker has to respect that…but in the back of his mind I’m sure he’s fantasizing about some scenarios.For more on Réal…

Read About.com Guide Linda Torrence’s recent interview with the actor at
http://generalhospital.about.com/cs/interviews/a/real060403.htm.

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