This interview originally appeared in the January 12, 1999 issue of Soap Opera Digest.
It would be harder to think of a weirder foursome than comedian Steve Allen, U.S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky, ex-Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson and YOUNG AND RESTLESS divette Heather Tom, but there they all were on POLITICALLY INCORRECT on October 20, debating the possible negative effects of television on kids. “Steve had recently taken out an ad in The New York Times condemning TV for rotting the minds and morals of our children,” recalls the actress, who, not surprisingly, held an opposing view. “If parents didn’t use the television to educate and baby-sit their children, this wouldn’t be an issue,” she says flatly. “People blame TV for corrupting the youth of America, but the fact is, parents have free reign over the remote control.”
“As the only woman on the panel, the first woman from daytime and the youngest by about 20 years, the pressure to feel “somewhat intelligent” was considerable. “I was very nervous,” admits Tom, who prepped for the show by reading three newspapers, plus Time, Life and Newsweek, the night before. “It was like boning up for a midterm exam,” she laughs. “I just wanted to be very prepared.”
In retrospect, she needn’t have worried. More poised and better informed on social issues than most people twice her age, the actress doesn’t have much trouble voicing her opinions — even on national TV. “My feeling really is, if you’re not making somebody angry, then you’re not doing your job,” she says. “There are a lot of people out there who need to hear some things. Maybe they won’t change their opinions, but at least they’ll be exposed to a different point of view.”
To illustrate, Tom cites her recent Y&R storyline, which paired her with African-American actor Kristoff St. John (Neil). As the plot progressed, both actors received their share of hate mail from fans who frequently opposed the pairing for racial reasons but claimed to be open-minded nevertheless. “I was really disappointed by that,” Tom admits. “What really bothered me wasn’t the blatant racists, the people who were like, ‘It’s against the Lord’s law, and you’re all going to burn in hell.’ That, to me, is not as scary as all the closet racists. I’d get letters saying, ‘I’m not a racist, but I just don’t think black people and white people should get together.’ Well, then you are a racist. Hello!”
The silver lining, Tom says, is that the fallout has been eye-opening. “From living in an urban area, I guess I just thought people were a little more broad-minded than they really are,” she muses. In particular, one instance in an L.A. nightclub brought the subtle blue of prejudice into much sharper focus. “I kind of know the owner, and he’s always been a really nice, cool guy, but he came up to me and he’s like, ‘You don’t really like black men, do you?’ He was laughing [as if to say], ‘Oh, come on, we all know this is make-believe.’ I was just so stunned that it would come out of his mouth. I thought, ‘He doesn’t even get that that was so racist.’ He probably thinks he’s really open-minded. It was sad.”
For the record, the actress has had little experience with interracial romance. “I’ve dated Latinos before, but never an African-American guy,” she says. “But I mean, I’ve never really had the opportunity.” Howeever, she has no patience for the fans who believe that Neil and Victoria are bringing upon themselves troubles that same-race couples don’t face. “These are two professional people who make a good living, with a lot in common, who are attracted to each other,” she sighs.
Tom is, of course, aware that her take on the story — as well as her active involvement with AIDS and child-abuse charities and her strong pro-gay marriage sentiment — will prompt some people to dismiss her as a bleeding-heart liberal. “And really,” she quips, “the bleeding-heart side of my opinions might not stand up under an economic analysis. But I just think — and it comes from growing up in the [entertainment] business in L.A., basically on my own — that you have to have an open mind and accept things as they come. I’m sure there are people who don’t agree, but I don’t really hear from them … although maybe I will after this article!”
For the moment, she has other worries — like Victoria’s recent miscarriage, which had her digging deep to emphasize. “I don’t have anything in my life that relates to that,” she says, though she does have a public policy-based opinion of it. “From a selfish standpoint, I’m glad the writers didn’t choose to make Victoria a working mom,” Tom admits. “She’s only 22 years old, and honestly, I think that sending the message that 22 is mature enough to have a child and raise a family is kind of deceiving. I’m 22, and I’m nowhere near ready. And there are a lot of people out there who are younger than I am, who find themselves in these situations and think, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to have my little baby,’ and then it’s not what they thought it would be. It’s really a full-time job, and if it’s not, then I think the child suffers a lot. There’s just no way that I could work as hard as I do and have a kid without the kid suffering.”
Taken in sum, Victoria’s romance with Neil and her miscarriage have given Tom, her meatiest scenes since Victoria thought she was sleeping her brother, and validates her decision to return to the show after abruptly quitting in early 1997. “It’s the best story I’ve had in years,” she nods, though there were certainly many other factors influencing her coming and going. “Both of those decisions were made separately, out of two different sets of circumstances.” Going away, she needed a break and wanted to take more career risks, like producing plays; coming back, she needed more money to produce those plays and hammered out a sweet deal. “But I was happy to come back,” she adds. “It wasn’t like they wooed me or anything.”
That said, Tom doesn’t know what she’ll do this spring, when her 18-month contract expires. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” she shrugs. Truth be told, she barely has time to consider the future — and not simply because of the charities, the soap and her theater company, The Creative Outlet, which is mulling a Tennessee Williams revival. There’s a new boyfriend in the picture, James Achor, guitarist for the swing band, Royal Crown Revue. After ages spent living in an apartment with five other people, she and her two dogs, Willie (a Maltese) and Wesley (a poodle) finally have a place of their own. And, with a little luck, there could be more appearances on POLITICALLY INCORRECT. “I’ve wanted to do that show for years, and I had such a good time!” enthuses Tom, who doesn’t call herself an ideal guest, but knows that she holds up her end of the bargain. “Certainly,” she laughs,” I don’t lack for things to say.”
Just The Facts
Born On: November 4
She Drives: A black 1991 Mercedes 300. “It’s an ‘old lady’ car, but I’m not as far from an old lady as you think.”
Favorite Beatles Song: None. “I’m more of a show tunes girl.”
Snack Of Choice: Wheat Thins with peanut butter.
Siblings: Sister Nicholle is on THE NANNY; brother David appeared in Pleasantville.
Victoria/Victoria
Being introduced to the person who took over your soap role can sometimes be awkward, but Tom reports that the one time she met Sarah Aldrich (ex-Victoria, now PORT CHARLES’s Courtney) at a Y&R Emmy party, everything was copacetic. “I had completely made up my mind that I was adios, and I knew the show was going to replace me, so it was all fine,” Tom recalls. Now that she’s back as Victoria, does Tom feel bad that Aldrich couldn’t fill her shoes. “Um, I don’t know,” she confesses. “Under the circumstances, I think she did a really good job. And now, she’s on [PC] and doing fine. I don’t think she’s the type of girl who would want me — or anybody — to feel sorry for her.”
