Heather Tom is excited to be back on daytime, especially on a Bell show — this time as THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's youngest Logan sister, Katie.
Weekly: How has it been at B&B?
Heather Tom: It's been great and fun. I'm getting to work with people I've known for many years but haven't necessarily worked with. It's a happy, easy set, which is nice. I'm having a great time.
Weekly: Who have you been most excited to work with?
Tom: I was excited to work with Susan and Katherine [Flannery and Kelly Lang, Stephanie and Brooke], and I knew they were people I would definitely get to have good stuff with. Jennifer [Gareis, Donna; ex-Grace, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS] and I worked together, sort of. We had scenes together, because she was involved in the Newman storyline, but Victoria didn't like her. Obviously! I don't know about now, but when I was playing her, she didn't like anybody! I'm close with Sharon Case [Sharon, Y&R], so I know what's going on, but I don't watch.
Weekly: How does it feel like being back in the Y&R/B&B studio?
Tom: It's like the Twilight Zone. I feel like I never left. I've been gone three-and-a-half years, but it feels like I just walked out the door. It's nice. It's also nice because a lot of the crew from Y&R are now working on B&B, so I feel I know more people on B&B than Y&R now, because everyone's gone.
Weekly: How did the role come about?
Tom: [Brad Bell, B&B's executive producer/head writer] gave me a call and said, "I'm bringing this character back. I'd like you to play her." We came to a deal that's workable. It's a short-term contract for right now, which I'm happy about. I can't plan from one day to another. Just talk to me about this minute! (laughs) I had a great time on ONE LIFE, but the idea of getting into another long-term contract…. I'd like to see how things go. So far, I'm having a great time.
Weekly: Is it fun working for Brad Bell?
Tom: He's the person I'd want to work for at this point. I'm very happy working for him. I'm along for the ride. We've bounced some ideas around. A nice thing is that Katie has been off the canvas for a long time and even when she was on the canvas, she wasn't fully developed. We can do whatever we want, which is great. I feel like I'm actually creating a new character, and that's exciting.
Weekly: Tell us about your new reality show.
Tom: It’s called JANE DOE DÉCOR. We're shooting now to put together a pilot. We just finished a house for Poppy Montgomery [Samantha, WITHOUT A TRACE], which is in In Style, and we're doing a totally green house in Venice, Calif., for Randy Zisk, who is the executive producer of MONK. I am not crazy about contracting everything out myself, but I do have the contacts so that if I have to, I can. My boyfriend also runs jobs, but I'd rather just point: 'Buy that, and that.' I don't want to deal with the construction part of things, but I have.
Weekly: Do you miss New York?
Tom: [L.A.] is where the work is. But I go back a lot. I do miss New York a lot. I'm a New Yorker at heart. We'll see what happens. I've still got my apartment there.
Weekly: Would you go back for some theater work?
Tom: I'm always looking for things to do. I might be doing a movie in September. I don't turn down anything (laughs).
