Drew Cheetwood: Muscling In on Mob Life
Drew Cheetwood (Milo) is a lot more than just the latest “suit” hired to protect Sonny and the gang at casa Corinthos. He’s also more than the younger brother of Derk Cheetwood (Max). He’s the guy responsible for sculpting the abs, biceps and more of many of GENERAL HOSPITAL’s leading men — oh, and head writer Bob Guza.
Soap Opera Weekly: How did your role on GH come about?
Drew Cheetwood: I started training Bob Guza a little over a year ago, before they even thought about putting me on the show. I also would come to the studio to train Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) and Greg Vaughan (Lucky) when things were hectic and they couldn’t get out for a break. I knew a couple of the writer’s assistants. I heard some talk about putting me on the show as Derk’s little brother. Last October, I met with a writer’s assistant who asked if I wanted to be on the show. Word got back to assistant head writer Elizabeth Korte that I was all for it, and she wrote me in as Milo that day.
Weekly: Had you been pursuing acting?
Cheetwood: Yes. I’d done a couple of episodes of PASSIONS. I played a naval officer and worked with Galen Gering (Luis). I’d done a few short films, too.
Weekly: What’s it like working side by side with your brother, Derk?
Cheetwood: A little surreal. It’s definitely a comfortable atmosphere, and I’m learning a lot, too.
Weekly: Do you enjoy your scenes with
Maurice Benard (Sonny)?
Cheetwood: Maurice is so commanding an actor. You can’t help but be in the moment when you’re in a scene with him. I get scolded as Milo 90 percent of the time. When that happens, I really feel like I’m taking a lashing. I have to take a moment out after the scene and go, “All right, we’re cool now.” We give each other a high-five and hug afterward.
Weekly: As the last one to come into the mob family, have you had to endure any hazing or teasing?
Cheetwood: Yeah. When I first started on the show, I came into the studio one day and ran into Bob Guza. He said, “You got your pink pages, right? Do you know what they are?” I said, “No.” Bob was like, “You’ve got a pretty major monologue today with Derk. You have to memorize that, get up to the set, and knock it out.” I was panicking. I asked Derk about it and he said, “Yeah, it’s true.” Then, Tyler confirmed it. Finally, right before I was supposed to go on set, they told me there was no monologue.
Weekly: Aside from Tyler and Greg, do you train anyone else on GH?
Cheetwood: Scott Clifton (Dillon). I also trained Natalia Livingston (Emily) for a while. She actually came to me very petite. I got her on some protein shakes and had her start lifting weights, and she was able to gain a few pounds.
Weekly: Who’s the most dedicated of your workout students?
Cheetwood: I’ve got different categories. Scott is probably the most diligent as far as me telling him what to do and him following through with it. Tyler and Greg are in the same arena as far as hardest-working. They both get their sweat on, bust it out, and do as much as I tell them to in an hour.
Weekly: What’s the most rewarding part of being a trainer?
Cheetwood: It’s great to help people transform. It’s been great to see the transformation Scott Clifton has made. He’s come leaps and bounds, physically and mentally, and he feels much better.
Weekly: So you’re the guy the female audience should thank when Scott, Tyler or Greg takes off his shirt?
Cheetwood: (Laughs.) Speaking of which, Scott has something along those lines coming up real soon. He was definitely working [out] overtime. He’s feeling a lot better about himself and more confident about any shirtless scenes that come up.
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