Already have an account?
Get back to the

Interview!

ICYMI: Melissa Claire Egan interview

"The Young and the Restless" Set Promo Gallery Shoot
Melissa Claire Egan "The Young and the Restless" Set Promo Gallery Shoot CBS television City Los Angeles 08/31/16 © John Paschal/jpistudios.com 310-657-9661 Credit: JPI

After nearly three years of shedding tears over Adam’s deaths, burials, rising from the dead and torturous funerals, Melissa Claire Egan is finally off the emotional merry-go-round. “It is a soap opera, so you want the juice. You want the drama,” acknowledges the actress. “But it’s a nice reprieve when you do have a break because crying all day, every day, can get quite exhausting.”

Not to mention, challenging, when you have to find a new take on playing the same old, same old. “Since it was Adam’s death, again, I did make a point to play it differently,” notes Egan. “Like at the funeral, I didn’t want to have the same kind of tantrum. I tried to express Chelsea’s emotions a little bit differently. It was a choice I made as an actor since it had only been three years since he ‘died’ the first time.”

While viewers are torn over whether the soap should recast the character yet again — Chris Engen was replaced by Michael Muhney, who was replaced by Justin Hartley — Egan has a definite opinion on the subject. “I think they should leave the character be,” she delivers swiftly, no mulling over the subject necessary. “We have a massive cast with a lot of great male actors, so it’s not really necessary. Obviously, Michael was so talented, and Justin is so talented. They were both great in the role, so let’s just let itrest. There are a ton of other stories to tell and tons of other men to sleep with [laughs]!”
Egan is ready to hop into bed with whoever’s next. After nearly 10 years on soaps, she’s a pro at the love scene drill. “Last month was my five-year anniversary on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, and before that I was on ALL MY CHILDREN for four-and-a-half years,” she points out. “So I’ve been getting into my skivvies for a long time. It really becomes just another day at the office, as ridiculous as it sounds.

“I mean, the makeout stuff is easy,” she continues. “Having to take your clothes off … You obviously think about how much pizza and pasta you’re eating that week. That part you’re conscious of. But the actual love scene part is really a piece of cake. Plus, I’ve been lucky that I always get to work with great guys. It’s not the hardest part of the job, you know?”

The latest “great guy” on the horizon for Egan is Joshua Morrow (Nick). It’s a natural coupling, since Nick is Adam’s brother and is dutifully looking after his widow and child. “I love it, and I love Josh,” she shares. “He’s so much fun to work with, and we have a similar real-life chemistry, like Justin and I did. We’re both goofy, so there are tons of laughs during the day.”

Melissa Claire Egan, Joshua Morrow "The Young and the Restless" Set CBS television City Los Angeles 09/01/16 © Howard Wise/jpistudios.com 310-657-9661 Episode # 11028 U.S. Airdate 10/11/16

JPI

Egan notes that the pairing “isn’t going to be as obvious as the fans think, especially now that Sally Sussman has taken over [as head writer]. I know that Chuck [Pratt, Jr., former executive producer/head writer] had an idea, but now that Sally’s the head writer, I think it’s going in another direction. They’re kind of keeping us in the dark about it, but there’s definitely a lot of close bonding, and I’m excited to see where the story goes.”

While Chelsea’s love life is in a state of flux, Egan’s is solid as a rock. She wed Matt Katrosar in July 2014 and trills, “I love married life.” Egan says that she and her husband “are very similar in a lot of ways; we’re both very social people. But we’re opposite in a lot of ways, too. I think that’s why we work,” she observes. “I’m more of a free spirit and the artsy type. I loathe things like contracts, and I don’t like to talk about money. Matt’s in sales. He works for CBS Sports. He’s a negotiator by trade. It was great planning our wedding. I made all the artistic decisions and what things would look like, and he negotiated all the contracts with the vendors.”

sd5116_egan_02

Instagram

The perks of dating a negotiator started quickly for Egan. “I remember when we first met, Matt was like, ‘Can I negotiate your next car lease?’ ” recounts Egan. “I was like, ‘Knock yourself out.’ How romantic! But it was so cute because he loves that stuff. He’s smart and really good at all that stuff that I just loathe. So we really work in that way.”
With her personal and professional lives in such balance, Egan is looking forward to seeing what’s next. “Chelsea has changed so much, which I love,” she reflects. “I love that the fans like her and can relate to her. And now she’s a mom and has this fashion career path. And they show her tough side, too. It would be fun to switch it up. It’s always fun when your character is kind of bad or a real bitch. Chelsea’s really nice these days. But who knows? Maybe when she finds out what Chloe did, she won’t be so nice and that will change.”

When Aileen Quinn taped a guest spot as a Christmas caroler (set to air on December 23), it was a major thrill for Egan. “I was obsessed with Annie from before I can even remember,” says the actress, referring to the 1982 film in which Quinn played the title character. “I would pretend to be Carol Burnett playing Miss Hannigan.” When a Y&R producer alerted Egan that Quinn would be appearing on the soap, she turned into a full-on fan girl. “I totally stalked her,” admits Egan, who waited outside the door while Quinn finished up some audio work for her singing scene. When Quinn emerged, Egan made a special request. “I said, ‘Would you mind singing “Maybe” with me?’ ” she recounts. “Aileen was so lovely and gracious and such a good sport.” The two ladies belted out the song a cappella “in one take,” points out Egan, who promptly posted the video on Instagram. “We were one-take wonders. It was so cool. Just to meet her was great. But then to be able to sing that song from Annie with her …It was super-super-special.”

sd5116_egan_04

Instagram

Just The Facts

Birthday: September 28

Hails From: Pound Ridge, NY

Otherwise Known As: Annie Novak Chandler, ALL MY CHILDREN, 2006-11

She’s Taken: Egan married Matt Katrosar on July 26, 2014.

AMC Pals: “I see Chrishell [Stause, ex-Amanda], obviously. And Alicia Minshew [ex-Kendall] and I will text each other ridiculous, offensive, crass things out of nowhere. I see Cameron Mathison [ex-Ryan] and Rebecca Budig [ex-Greenlee; Hayden, GH] sometimes, too. It’s a close-knit family. We’ll always all be close.”

TV Time: Egan is tuning in to THIS IS US. “Of course I’m watching it. I wouldn’t miss it. I’m so excited for Justin [Hartley, ex-Adam]. He’s so great in the role. It’s awesome that so many people are obsessed with the show.”

At Home With: “I don’t cook, but I’m a mean launderer. I’m really great at separating the whites, the colors, the delicates … I’m very efficient when it comes to laundry.”

Life With Lizzie: “I always say that Elizabeth Hendrickson [Chloe] coming back to the show is horrible for Chelsea, but great for Missy. We have a blast together and such great history on the show. Our characters have a clothing line and were best friends before Lizzie left the last time. Chloe hadn’t murdered Chelsea’s husband at that point.”

Comments