Getting To Know…
Birthday: August 18
Home Sweet Home: “I’m originally from New York, but I lived in Miami for eight years and I’ve lived in L.A. for seven years.”
Status: Married to Ron Samuel
Children: 20-month old twin boys Jaylen and Sebastian
In And Out: Samuel has made appearances on several prime-time shows, including CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, HALF & HALF, DHARMA & GREG, WEAKEST LINK, THE INVISIBLE MAN, OFF CENTRE, THE DISTRICT, FELICITY, MY WIFE AND KIDS, KATE BRASHER, THE PARKERS, FOR YOUR LOVE, ANGEL, JUST SHOOT ME!, CITY GUYS, V.I.P., RUDE AWAKENING and THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW
Movie Goer: The actress also appeared in the following films: The Fighting Temptations (2003), The Road Home (2003), Demon Island (2002), Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (2000), Lost & Found (1999), Foolish (1999), Let’s Talk About Sex (1998), Girls in Uniform (1997), Kickboxing Academy (1997), Women Behaving Badly (1997) and The Blackout (1997)
Soap Opera Digest: Did you watch PASSIONS before getting the role of Valerie?
Daphnee Duplaix Samuel: I watched it briefly a few years ago because I had been on it for about a month as one of Gwen’s sorority sisters.Digest: Did you have to screen-test again?
Samuel: It worked out that I didn’t. [The role] was originally for five episodes, then it worked out that they gave me a contract. Digest: What were you told about Valerie?
Samuel: That she was pretty much me [laughs]. She’s very ambitious, she knows what she wants and she’s a go-getter.Digest: Who have you become friends with on-set?
Samuel: Everybody has been really great. I’m working with Charles Divins [Chad] and he’s just absolutely a sweetheart. I had known Brook [Kerr, Whitney] from years ago at auditions and she’s great. And Ben [Masters, Julian], those are the three that I’ve really been working with … and Justin [Hartley, Fox]. Anytime I have a question, everybody’s been great. I let Charles know at the beginning that criticism doesn’t bother me and to please help me be a better actor. I feel he’s absolutely amazing and he’s been on for two years, so….Digest: With that long resumé, what has been your favorite project?
Samuel: The hardest was CSI. It was really challenging for me. I love to be pushed as an actor; it only makes you better. That was definitely the hardest, so it was my favorite. It was really challenging emotionally. My character killed herself and framed her husband.Digest: What about the most fun project?
Samuel: Every set I’ve been on has been pretty great. Everybody is warm and takes you in, although it’s strange at first when you get there and you’re the stranger for the week. But everyone has been sweet and helpful.Digest: Have you decorated your PASSIONS dressing room yet?
Samuel: I’m still working on that. I haven’t decorated my house and I’ve been there for four years, so we’ll see how long it takes.Digest: Did you go to college?
Samuel: I started at International Fine Arts in Miami, then moved to L.A. because I decided I wanted to act and took that chance. I think I went to college for the sake of my mother [laughs].Digest: Did you have any acting experience before you moved?
Samuel: I had done a couple of commercials and had been modeling for a few years. There’s not really a lot of work in Miami; it’s usually as an extra. But I had done a few commercials and knew I wanted to be on that side of the camera.Digest: And you’re the creative director for Unleashed magazine. How do you do it all?
Samuel: It worked out really great. I usually shoot on the weekends because almost everybody I shoot are working actors, so it’s worked out perfectly right now.Digest: And you have kids!
Samuel: I’m surprised I haven’t lost my mind yet. I have a nanny, but I’m still very much a mom. I work out of the house and don’t really have to go to the office for the magazine job. Digest: How long have you been doing that?
Samuel: We’ve been working on it for three-and-a half years. It’s my husband’s [magazine]. It’s an urban GQ, Esquire meets-a-little-bit-of-Maxim because it’s sexy, but very intelligent.Digest: Does your husband help you run lines?
Samuel: No, that would probably hurt me [laughs].Digest: So, how do you memorize lines?
Samuel: By myself. I’m so used to it. Once you’ve read it so many times, you just need to know the beginning and the ending of someone else’s lines. We always run it in the morning.Digest: Would you like to be part of the supernatural storylines?
Samuel: It would be fun and interesting to do something different and out of the box.Digest: What commercials have you done?
Samuel: Ugh, over like 40! I’ve lived very comfortably off of commercials.Digest: What was your first one?
Samuel: I think my very first one, which happens to be my best, ran for like four or five years. It was for Master Card when their “priceless” series started. It was the high-school reunion one.Digest: Are any airing now?
Samuel: Yes, I have a Dodge Magnum out, Beyond tampons and I think two more.Digest: Are you going to watch your first episode?
Samuel: Of course! I cheated a little, but I will watch. Charles taped the feed and I watched it. It made me feel better because I’m very critical. Normally, I wouldn’t tell anybody I’m on a show until it repeats, but on PASSIONS, I can’t do that. Digest: Were you confident after you did scenes?
Samuel: I felt good, but you still never know what it looks like to everybody else. But now I feel really good.
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