Gabbin’ With Galen
Soap Opera Digest: Have you always had a sense of humor about the show?
Galen Gering: Of course. I always understood what our show, ultimately, was doing, so one couldn’t take it too seriously. Like any job, you’re dealing with a lot on certain days and it’s sometimes overwhelming, but I have probably laughed harder here than anywhere else.Digest: And Christopher Douglas (ex-Antonio) provided plenty of those laughs.
Gering: Chris Douglas is a total loose cannon and he and I had to fight every day [in scenes]….. The interesting thing about acting is the relationship you have is so reflective of what you’re going through in the storyline because you’re spending so much time in this storyline. If there is an antagonist and protagonist, chances are you have this animosity going on and it’s just the way it is … But Chris and I had a lot of fun and there are certain things that he did that McKenzie [Westmore, Sheridan] and I will still do and laugh about.
Digest: How do you think your acting has changed over eight years?
Gering: I think one of the most important things in acting is confidence because if you have confidence, then you can relax. I think the comfort that I’ve had here over the years has really helped as far as being able to do some interesting things, more nuance, subtlety. I don’t think I really understood that in the beginning and I get that now. And I’m just a lot better. It’s like anything. I always equate it with a sport. You can’t go out and think you’re just going to play Ping-Pong or tennis or football or basketball, you have to train at it and practice at it. You have to practice every single day. Basically, that’s what we do. I’ve gotten to play all these wonderful things, the stuff with Precious and elaborate storylines and hero stuff and it made it interesting over the years. I will always be grateful for that and feel thankful for someone trusting me and giving me the chance to try to pull that off. 
Digest: Although you’ve worked with McKenzie for eight years and are probably comfortable doing any type of scene with her now, was there ever an awkward scene between the two of you?
Gering: It feels like the buildup to some of the scenes is more awkward [than taping them] because it would be written in the scripts, “They take their lovemaking to a passionate level where television has never gone before.” You read this stuff going, “What the hell? What are we going to do?” Especially the first time I read that, I was like, “How do they do that?” But for the most part, all it would come down to was kissing or whatever …. But it’s not uncomfortable in the sense like when you’re watching some movies and you’re like, “Oh, my God! Are they really having sex?” Digest: McKenzie said you always make her comfortable in love scenes.
Gering: That’s nice. I think it’s nice that she’s a very comfortable and confident person. It can be a weird thing standing there feeling naked in front of 60 people. Digest: When you think about the Galen who started the show, do you think he was a kid?
Gering: Not at all. The interesting thing about life is that you don’t think it’s changing when it actually is. If I have gotten older or more mature, I don’t know if I’m really [aware] of it. Digest: What would your current self say to the person you were eight years ago?
Gering: I try to live life without regrets. Life is for living, right?
Conversation
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