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Interview

ICYMI: Mishael Morgan Interview

Mishael
Mishael Morgan attends Step2 Presents 7th Annual Celebrity Red CARpet Event by New Bloom Media Benefiting Baby 2 Baby at Sony Pictures Studios on September 22, 2018 in Culver City, California © Jill Johnson/jpistudios.com 310-657-9661 Credit: JPI

As she awaited the birth of her second child, Y&R alum Mishael Morgan checked in with Digest.

 

Soap Opera Digest: Since you were a fan of YOUNG AND RESTLESS, looking back, you must have been really flattered to go out with such a big bang. 

Mishael Morgan: Yeah, I really was. I know a lot of people had mixed feelings about Hilary leaving, but I really was happy how they ended it because it really was kind of an epic ending for this character. I was quite flattered that the whole team at Y&R took the time to really invest in Hilary’s death instead of just letting her fall off a cliff or something. I was really happy, ’cause at the end of the day, as much as it’s hard for the fans to watch it, it was just an actor’s dream to be able to play something. I really got the opportunity to play a lot of different levels and a lot of different emotions and do a lot of things I wasn’t able to do for the five years I was there. I was happy to leave on that note.

Digest: Did you ever worry that you were playing such big emotions at the beginning of your pregnancy? 

Morgan: Yes, I did a few times, but definitely more with this baby just because this time around, it was a lot of different emotions. I did some visual work to help me with the loss of losing a baby, but while a baby is growing inside of me, it feels kind of funny — ’cause you want to dive right into the work but you don’t want to dive too deep. I really do feel like your mind is so powerful that you can kind of manifest or make things happen, so being that type of person and then doing imagination work of losing your child created such a huge conflict within myself that it was definitely really hard. But I think I did my best.

Digest: Both times Hilary married Devon, you were pregnant. 

Morgan: I was very upset about it because I was like, “I just want to walk down the aisle in, like, a beautiful wedding dress just looking and feeling beautiful.” The first one, I was like nine-and-a-half months pregnant and the second one I was pregnant, but Hilary was dying and I was trapped in a hospital bed! She’s so mad at the world. And then when she had her other wedding with Neil, it was in the park and she was wearing a business dress. Come on! Can anyone give Hilary a break? Can she have a regular wedding?

Digest: Not only did they give you this big death scene, but your character is still figuring into story. Your death created a lot of story for those left behind. 

Morgan: Actually, Mal [Young, executive producer/head writer] made a joke with me right at the end and said, “You gave me so much story and so many different directions to go in. I’m so sad to see you go, but we have story for like the next year!” I was like, “Awesome!”

Digest: Are you tuning in at all?

Morgan: Now and then a little bit, but to be really frank, I’ve been so busy. I didn’t notice how much you do as a stay-at-home mom. This is a lot of work! I’ve been super-busy and just kind of getting the house ready and getting prepared for the baby that I really haven’t had that much time. I have checked in on a few episodes just to watch Christel [Khalil, Lily] and Bryton [James, Devon] and watch what’s going on since Hilary has been gone. I’ve been hearing such amazing things. I wanted to see some of the different episodes, like the court episode and when Lily got sentenced, and stuff like that. I’ve tuned in a few times, but not as much as I probably should.

Digest: When is the baby due? 

Morgan: I’m due any minute now! I am 38 weeks; anytime after 36 weeks you’re pretty much considered full-term. My baby is due at 40 weeks, which is November 8th. I had Niam at 39 weeks, so basically I had him next week … so, we’ll see when this one decides to come.

Digest: You’re having a girl?

Morgan: Yeah, I’m having a girl. We’re really excited. I wanted a girl first, because I wanted my girl to be able to stand up for herself and not have “two dads”, which is what a lot of my friends felt like. Unfortunately my daughter is going to have two dads, but she’s going to have a real strong mama, so she’ll be okay. After I had Niam, I kind of was okay with having a boy or a girl because that brother bond would be so awesome for him to have. Now I feel like I have no pressure to have any more. This is definitely it for me!

Digest: Did this pregnancy feel any different? 

Morgan: A little bit. With Niam, I would say I didn’t really have any cravings, and if I did it would be mainly citrusy fruits and things like that. It was not really anything at all. I don’t know if it’s also because I’m home and I’m not working anymore and I can let go a little bit, but with this one, it’s like desserts and salads. I can literally eat a salad and have ice cream or chocolate or baked goods every single day and I will be totally fine. A lot of sugar! Not good. I had gestational diabetes with my son and I don’t have it with her, but I’m eating all this sugar. It’s so bad.

Digest: How has Niam been with a second on the way? 

Morgan: I’ve been so fortunate because I have a lot of friends and family who have been having babies the whole year, so he’s seen a lot of big bellies. He started to kind of pick it up. My girlfriend is around him so often and he really registered it where he looked at her belly and just looked at me, like, in shock. He finally got it. He was like, “Oh, the baby is gonna come out of there!” Even the other day, I was talking to him and he kisses my belly a lot. He’ll be like, “My baby sister is coming!” And then if my husband tries to touch my belly he goes, “That’s my baby sister.” I think he’s starting to get used to the idea. We’ve been trying to kind of incorporate my belly or the baby sister into things right now, so at least when the baby comes, it doesn’t feel like all of a sudden the attention gets shifted. It kind of feels like she’s already working her way in. Hopefully, it helps!

MIshael Morgan

MIshael Morgan

Digest: Do you have a name picked out?

Morgan: I feel a little guilty because we just can’t think of another one. We had a backup girl name for Niam and we’re kind of like, “Well, let’s just go with that one!” But there’s a part of me that feels like it’s just us being lazy and not wanting to think of another name. Everybody’s been telling us it’s a beautiful name and to just go with that. I might think of one more to hold in my back pocket. We’re pretty sure it’s gonna be another “N” name for my husband. He gets the first name and I get the middle name, and he obviously gets the last name, too!

Digest: Did you have a baby shower?

Morgan: I didn’t have a baby shower this time around. I feel totally okay with it, but there’s a part of me — because I was the second child and I feel guilty already — where I’m like, “Oh, maybe I should do something. I have all these pictures of my first baby shower and I won’t have anything for my daughter’s.” We really have everything we need. I have such amazing fans that sent me so many gifts. I have so many friends and family that have had girls, so they gave us so many hand-me-down clothes. What are we gonna do a baby shower for?

Digest: What colors did you choose for the nursery?

Morgan: Gray, white and pink. A nice pale pink. Somebody gave me one of those big wall stickers that’s a tree. That’s the big focal point in her room. It’s really sweet.

Digest: Has Christel been checking in on you?

Morgan: Yes, we were actually just at Soho House together on Sunday and we took the boys to watch a movie. I was talking about how we never, ever take pictures. We just get so caught up in the moment that people probably think we’re not even friends anymore! We hang out all the time.

Digest: I bet she’s excited.

Morgan: Oh, yeah. She’s really excited. Everybody is pretty excited. They’re like, “You needed to have a girl, ’cause you have to wear those matching outfits and dress her up,” so I’m looking forward to all of that.

Digest: Do you have a message for your fans?

Morgan: I just want to thank them for being so supportive on so many different levels with all of my different endeavors, including my pregnancy and everything that I do or that I post out there. I put out a post regarding some kidney disease stuff that I was involved in recently for the Canadian Kidney Foundation. I painted a picture and they were getting donations for the picture through eBay. All of my fans kind of came out of nowhere and they bid on my picture. It went for quite a good amount of money. It was really awesome just to see their support in everything that I do. I really appreciate that I not only got fans from the show, but I got fans who are really invested in me and my career, and I’m hoping to continue making them proud.

 

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