With a big DAYS story and a new prime-time role, Camila Banus has every reason to smile
Camila Banus is sitting pretty in the driver’s seat of her professional life. As DAYS’s Gabi, she’s spearheading a revenge plot that has landed her on the front burner. Then there’s her new role on the Fox prime-time series STAR.
“It’s been bananas,” chuckles Banus of commuting back and forth between Los Angeles and Atlanta for her two gigs. “It’s super-exhausting. I’m jet-lagged. But you know what? I’m young and really excited to have these opportunities. I’m very grateful and happy.”
The STAR job, originally slated to be two episodes, “has grown quite a bit,” explains the actress, who plays the strong, business-savvy Nina. “She’s married to this super-hunk, Latino superstar [Mateo]. The two of them are there to shake things up for season 3, cause a ruckus and make noise.” She was sure to get up to speed before she reported to set. “Regrettably, I had never seen season 1 or 2, but I quickly caught up. I’m a huge EMPIRE fan, so I kind of knew the essence and feel of the show, because they’re both very similar.”
The job has meant working with some Hollywood bigwigs. “One of the most important people in Nina’s world is Queen Latifah’s character, Carlotta. She’s actually going to be working under Nina,” says Banus, describing the superstar as “humble and down-to-earth. The first day we met, she shook my hand and said, ‘Welcome.’ I’ve gotten to hang out with her and talk to her.”
Banus’s soap experience came up in one conversation, with Queen Latifah acknowledging the rigors of the medium. “She said, ‘This must be a piece of cake for you. You do so much more stuff in one day,’ ” recounts Banus. “But it’s not. It’s a whole different beast. Fortunately, I’ve gotten some really good feedback from both her and Brandy [Norwood, Cassie].”
Her prime-time success hasn’t given Banus any ideas about forsaking daytime. “I’ve told my entire DAYS family and I will continue to tell them that I will be there for as long as they will have me,” insists the actress. “I am very much in love with the life that I have established there and the family that I have created. It was kind of nice to get away and play a different thing, but then be able to come back and still be Gabi.”
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Particularly since Gabi is at such a deliciously devious crossroads — consumed with revenge and hell-bent on destroying her “best friend” Abigail’s happy life. “There have been a lot of times where Gabi was aiding someone’s storyline, pushing along somebody else’s ideas,” notes Banus. “Now she’s pursuing her own thing. It’s been fun to push this amazing storyline that Ron [Carlivati, head writer] has woven … this craziness.”
Banus feels the character turn has been completely justified. “Gabi was at a point where everything was fine and things were stable,” she points out. “Then her life was blown up. Someone came in and turned things around, and she ended up in a maximum security prison.”
The fact that that someone was “Gabby”, an alternate personality of the fragile Abigail, has evoked a slew of reactions from DAYS fans, and Banus has felt some serious heat on social media. “A lot of people have been giving me crap, saying Gabi’s taken it too far,” says Banus, referring to her character not only switching Abigail’s paternity test results, but also trying to make her believe “Gabby” has resurfaced. “Who’s to say what is too far? Gabi could have died because of those beatings that she suffered in prison. I don’t think it’s right for anyone to judge what’s enough for her revenge.”
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While many have advised Banus to ignore the trash-talkers, it’s just not her nature. “I am worth defending myself, and I am worth pushing bullies out onto the front line,” declares Banus. “I’m putting the light on them to show everybody that this is a bully, and this [behavior] is not okay.”
Throughout Gabi’s calculated plotting, one aspect of the character’s life has been put on hold: love and romance. “There’s definitely a piece of Gabi that everyone knows craves affection,” says Banus. “She always falls deeply and very quickly for somebody. I wish she had somebody that could just make her feel less angry, so she could let go and have an outlet.”
Might that somebody already be on the DAYS cast? “I think there are possibilities for her on the canvas, but I’m not going to go about saying who,” teases the actress. “Or it could be somebody new that comes into her life. Whoever it is, and I think it will be a long time before that happens, will have to be somebody who understands really deep pain, somebody who understands where she’s been and the level of darkness that lives inside of her, but can also see the good person that Gabi really is.”
It’s all radically opposite from the uncomplicated love story Banus shares with her longtime beau, actor Marlon Aquino. “At the end of January we’ll be celebrating seven years together, which is crazy,” smiles Banus. “It’s been a great adventure with him. He’s so supportive, especially now during this time that I’m working on two shows. I need his constant support, and he’s been amazing — answering FaceTime at all hours of the night, because when I’m on the East Coast, I sometimes get up at 5 and that’s 2 in the morning in L.A. He’s been wonderful and very present, which is what you want to have with somebody when you’re far away.”
Banus says the pair is in no rush to take things to the next level. “We love each other very much, and we know that we’ve been making this relationship amazing for the last seven years, but I don’t think we’re going anywhere anytime soon,” she says. “We also are a really progressive couple. I’ve never spoken to him about marriage and that’s not something that I necessarily focus on. I’ve never had that dream. I’ve never been that girl. But if we do decide to have a celebration of our love, everybody will know.”
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In the meantime, Banus will continue focusing her energies on stirring things up in daytime and prime-time. “It’s a wonderful place for me, right now, in both these amazing worlds,” she says.
JUST THE FACTS
Birthday: July 22
Hails From: Miami, FL
Otherwise Known As: Lola, ONE LIFE TO LIVE 2008-09
Crime Watch: “I am severely addicted to the ID network and its murder shows. I got [the app] on my phone, so I watch it everywhere, and it’s amazing. There’s one show called TWISTED SISTERS and the other is SOMEONE YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW. They’re about people you would never expect could commit these horrific crimes. My boyfriend is concerned. He said, ‘Camila, you’re watching way too much of this.’ ”
Fitting In Fitness: “I discovered this really great workout program at F45. The cool part is they have locations worldwide. There’s one in Atlanta, and when I go there it feels like home. It’s the workout I know and am used to doing in my Sherman Oaks location. The great thing about it is it’s only 45 minutes and it’s circuit-based. They have a different workout for each day of the week.”
Evil Inspiration: “I think Lauren Koslow [Kate] is absolutely amazing, and I continue to learn from her. It’s kind of cool that Gabi has somebody there with her, who knows what she’s doing [to Abigail], even though Kate’s not necessarily cheering her on. Kate is like Gabi’s evil fairy godmother. Gabi’s like, ‘Am I doing this right? You better be helping me with this, because if not, we’re both going to go down.’ ”
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