The Dusty Settles
Soap Opera Weekly: What was your reaction when you first found out about the Lucy/Dusty storyline?
McCouch: I was really excited because I usually get excited about different dynamics in general, whether it be with an older character or younger character. I also saw in Peyton (List, Lucy) an open book to work off of. There’s a truth and simplicity to her work that’s very calming. I looked forward to working with her.
Weekly: Did the age difference bother you?
McCouch: I wasn’t skeptical or prudish about it. I thought it would be great. Peyton always seems older to me anyway. With regard to the character of Dusty, it’s a perfect match-up. I assumed he would roll with younger girls. Not underage girls, but pretty girls.
Weekly: Some fans are up in arms about the coupling.
McCouch: I don’t know what people are talking about. The only people who are shocked or offended by it are either in the industry and the people who have been viewers of the show for a long time and have this certain thinking of what’s right for character. Those people — bothered or not — will watch it anyway because you watch what you’re bothered by as well, I think. If they are not seeing the truth between [Lucy and Dusty] then they must not be watching closely enough. I love coming to work. I do my scenes with Peyton and I don’t get taken in by what people say. 
Weekly: How is working with Peyton?
McCouch: We don’t talk much about the scenes [beforehand], we don’t go over it that much. So everything that’s been found has been kind of magical. We are discovering one another as we shoot the storyline. So those moments of shyness or whatever are very real because they are emphasized by the awkwardness of our age difference in real life and on camera.
Weekly: What’s the age difference between you in real life?
McCouch: She’s going to be 18, I’m going to be 36.
Weekly: She’s half your age.
McCouch: (jokingly) So forget everything I said, I stand corrected. Yes, this should be stopped immediately. I’m done.
Weekly: Well, Dusty is young at heart.
McCouch: Look, if you’re a hustler you’re immature anyway. You defy logic on a daily basis. There is something regressive about being a gangster or a hustler. There’s definitely a youth at heart that with her seems pretty much on the level. That’s where people find one another and I think that’s where it’s going to defy the age difference and become [something] special.
Weekly: Tell me about your studio, Graystone Studios, Inc.
McCouch: Initially it was going to be a full-blown school, and now it’s my production office. I got a little too selfish with the time and space and how the space was going to be used. I’ve hosted readings down there. We have a couple scripts, a play or two and a movie in the works. So we’re working on all kinds of things. It’s like a gymnasium for projects, so it’s been a blast. And to have an office outside the home has been a dream. There’s not much more I can ask for in New York. We will have a Web site soon so everyone can see pictures of the space and see projects we’re working on out of there.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Soap Opera Digest does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.