ICYMI Justin Hartley Interview
A while back, you posted a photo on social media with Mark Grossman, who took over the role of Y&R’s Adam. How’d that come about?
“Yeah, he’s great. I came by there. Missy [Melissa Claire Egan, Chelsea et al] and I are really good friends. I’ve got a lot of really good friends who still work there. I went over there to visit Missy and hang out for a bit. I brought a couple of writers with me. We’re doing this project that has something to do with soap operas and daytime television and that world. They wanted to see all of that and Mark was there and he was very gracious and let me watch him work, which was cool. I think he’s doing a great job.”
Did you have any advice for him?
“No. I don’t think he needs any advice from me. He’s got his hands firmly on the wheel there.”
How are you adjusting to life as a prime-time star?
“The cool thing about this show, and what’s so fun about being a part of it and working with all these folks, is what happens on a weekly basis for us. Honestly, every time I open up a script, it really is remarkable. And, it’s a testament to the writing, obviously. I think every time I will open up a script, not only my character but all of the characters, the interactions, like, the choices that they’re making, sort of like how brave the characters become, it’s all from week to week. It’s remarkable how they can keep it so consistent with who the characters are, but at the same time introducing all of these new things that happened to all these guys. It’s like life. It’s crazy. You just never know what’s going to happen. We’re lucky.”
Last year, your former PASSIONS executive producer, Lisa de Cazotte, passed away. Do you have any thoughts to share?
“Oh, it’s tragic. Lisa was a close friend of mine and I kept up with her throughout the years. She was the one who hired me on PASSIONS and gave me my first chance, her and [Casting Director] Jackie Briskey. They gave me my first chance when I probably had absolutely no talent and for whatever reason, they agreed to hire me. She was a wonderful, wonderful woman who was taken too soon.”
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