Jermaine Rivers Dishes About His ‘Very Surreal’ Young And Restless Debut As Damian
Young and Restless pulled a major switcheroo on February 3, revealing that the Damian Kane viewers had initially met (as portrayed by Nathan Owens) was an impostor and introducing actor Jermaine Rivers in the role of Nate’s real half brother.
The Surreal Life
Rivers, a daytime newcomer, appeared destined for a role on the CBS soap, he shared in an interview with TV Insider. He grew up watching the show alongside his mother — and although he was sworn to secrecy about his hush-hush role by the powers-that-be at Y&R, he did share the news with his mom. “I felt it was safe for me to give her a little crumb of, ‘Hey, Mom, I’m on the show, but you’re gonna have to keep this classified,’ ” the actor chuckled.
For the actor, his first day was “a very surreal moment,” as he had to put his longstanding personal ties to the soap to the side to focus on his job. “I had to compartmentalize,” he explained to the outlet. “I walked around and was like, ‘I recognize this set. I recognize the coffee shop,’ so it was kind of like, ‘Wow, I’m here,’ but then I thought, ‘Okay, now it’s time to do your job, have fun, enjoy the moment and make it real.’ ”
The actor has connections to the show not only as a viewer, as he has worked with a few of its cast members before. He had acted opposite his first Y&R scene partner, Nathan Owens, on a 2016 episode of Devious Maids, and in 2017, he appeared in the film Den of Thieves, which featured Eric Braeden (Victor) and was directed by the Genoa City superstar’s son, Chrisitan Gudegast. “Eric and I would have conversations,” Rivers shared. “I would ask him questions, and he was so gracious.”
Rivers is thrilled that he has the chance to bring the real Damian to life, and described his new alter ego as “a very cerebral, cautious man. He’s very strategic and plays his cards close to the vest.” And, of course, landing on the show that has factored into his life for so long is just icing on the cake for the actor. “It is an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be there, and I have to honor it,” he declared. “It feels like the universe conspired for me to be at the right place at the right time to be placed where I am right now,” he marveled.
We Meet Again: Rivers with Eric Braeden (Victor) in 2017.
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