Landon Toughs It Out
AS THE WORLD TURNS’ Jennifer Landon (Gwen) is toughening up and taking her character’s life by the lapels.
Soap Opera Weekly: Gwen’s been crying a lot these days, hasn’t she?
Jennifer Landon: Gwen’s crying a lot lately. I’ve started to cross out some of her crying stuff: “Gwen’s not crying here. She’s going to suck it up and be tough.” She had a lot of sad, down times but it’s neat because you get to explore that inside yourself.
Weekly: Do you like exploring the darker stuff with Gwen, or playing lighthearted scenes?
Landon: I enjoy both. As an actor, especially when you’re young, you’re driven toward drama and then you like the lighter stuff, too. I’m drawn to the stuff that is most human behavior-oriented. Sometimes, I feel like a scene has a dramatic point, which is nice, but sometimes it’s nice to allow human behavior to [drive a scene]. Paul Leyden (Simon) is somebody whose [performance is] almost entirely human behavior. It’s so fun.
Weekly: Have you been able to channel a lot of emotion through Gwen, since she’s got so much angst?
Landon: There have been times when I don’t even necessarily feel like it’s me channeling something. Often I find that I don’t know where I’m going to go. Especially early on, I felt like Gwen was this person and she clearly lived in my head, and she would take me places. There are times on-camera — and you remember them — when suddenly something has opened up in yourself; something entirely new. And you’re like “What the hell is that?” And that’s neat.
Weekly: What’s the best thing about working with Jesse Lee Soffer (Will)?
Landon: He’s very smart. I think he’s very talented. I think he’s got a lot going on. I really like that he doesn’t “act” at me. Which is brilliant. I think we challenge each other a lot as well. He’s special boy.
Weekly: What would you say to young women who admire Gwen’s strength and love Gwen and Will’s relationship?
Landon: I feel like she’s inspired by so many young women I’ve never met. I like that they like her. She’s somebody who takes life by the lapels. I think it’s so important for a young girl to be empowered. Sometimes life puts a lot in your way or seems to be working against you. If there are young girls who are inspired by Gwen or relate to her, then that makes me endlessly happy. I love Will and Gwen. She really is this punk and he’s this conservative, upper-echelon society boy and they meet in this lonely place, which I love.
Weekly: You did a great job screaming during the slasher story. Could you see yourself doing horror movies?
Landon: I’m actually really good at screaming. It sounds not so good on-camera, but in person it’s terrifying. I tore my voice. I lost my voice for about a week but I had the best time. I was like, “Oh, my God, I’m totally getting off on this.” Gwen was being dragged into the woods and stabbed, and I thought, “Why is this making me so happy?” There was something enjoyable about it. I think it was an athletic, physical endorphin rush.
Weekly: Any last words of wisdom for the kids out there?
Landon: Stay in school, don’t do drugs, and macaroni and cheese is a brilliant food!
*For more with Jennifer Landon, check out her feature interview in the Sept. 26 issue of Soap Opera Weekly.
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