Exclusive: DAYS’s Greg Rikaart On Leo’s New Love Interest — And Their First Obstacle

Greg Rikaart’s been flying solo as Leo Stark ever since Leo was dumped by Dimitri on Days of Our Lives. While focusing on his character’s career — from gossip columnist Lady Whistleblower to Body and Soul head writer — has been fun for the actor, things have gotten more interesting now that Al Calderon has joined the cast as Javi Hernandez. Rikaart spoke to Soap Opera Digest about his new love interest and the obstacle immediately tossed in the couple’s way.

 

Soap Opera Digest: Did you screen-test opposite Al Calderon?

Greg Rikaart: No. I don’t think Al screen-tested with anybody except maybe [someone in] Casting. But I knew from Marnie [Saitta, DAYS casting director] that he was the clear choice, that he really hit it out of the park.

Digest: You’re first scene together was at Small Bar. Did you two get the chance to chat beforehand?

Rikaart: I feel like we only very briefly met before that first meet cute at Small Bar. Since then, Al and I have spent more time together and have gotten to know each other, and he is just terrific. He’s such an easy guy to get to know. He’s very emotionally available, and we’ve bonded over some similar life experiences. I feel like my getting to know him sort of mirrored Javi and Leo’s getting closer. It’s been a nice evolution.

Digest: Are you happy to have a new love interest?

Rikaart: Of course! I am thrilled to have a love interest. But it’s always more fun to play Leo when there’s some turmoil rather than when he’s just happy. So I’m glad that there are some bumps in the road ahead for Javi and Leo. And I wonder if longer term, there will continue to be obstacles between them. I think the world of Al, but it’s more fun to play when you’re not just a happy couple.

Digest: What are your thoughts on how quickly things have progressed between Leo and Javi? One minute, they met. The next, they spent the night together and watched the premiere of Body and Soul.

Rikaart: They kind of hit the sheets pretty quickly. It was fun to sort of skip through some of the B.S. and just get down to business. I also think what was established in all that was that, for Leo, it felt like it wasn’t really just a one-night stand. That it maybe had some legs. It just coincided with the premiere of the show, and Javi was there for that, which was nice.

Digest: You wanted obstacles, and Leo and Javi immediately faced a big one: Material surfaced spoiling future storylines on Body and Soul, and Leo assumed Javi was the leak.

Rikaart: Well, Leo went to shower, and left his computer out. It had the bible on it, a document that had a bunch of future story ideas in it.

Digest: Is Leo feeling like once again, he’s giving love a chance, and once again he’s getting played?

Rikaart: He’s feeling that, but he’s also optimally concerned about the show. The show and the job are a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. So he is very protective and concerned about the health of the show.

Digest: Do you think part of the reason Leo jumped to the worst-case scenario is because that’s pretty much the story of his life?

Rikaart: A common theme for Leo, especially most recently with Dimitri, is being let down by someone that you trust or someone that you let into your life. So Leo feels like this is just another example of that.

Digest: However, it looks like maybe Javi didn’t do this, because he really pushes back when Leo accuses him.

Rikaart: Leo is convinced it was him, until they have a big confrontation where Javi pokes all these holes in Leo’s accusations. Then, I think, it makes Leo second-guess himself, and he feels regret. Leo tries to make amends, but Javi wants no part of it.