Making A Mark
Soap Opera Digest: Welcome to daytime!
Mark Cameron Wystrach: It’s not a bad way to kick off ’06.Digest: When did you find out that you had landed the role?
Wystrach: I found out around the beginning of December, when I was crossing into Mexico on a surf trip with three of my best friends. It was great.
Digest: Did your friends give you trouble about being a soap star?
Wystrach: When things like this come through, you realize two things: A lot of friends come out of nowhere, and you have a great network of family and friends. Everybody has been great about it and happy because they thought I was going to be a vagabond for the rest of my life. Digest: When did you move to L.A.?
Wystrach: I moved to California two years ago. I lived in Laguna Beach and stayed on friends’ couches and floors. I moved to L.A. in October of 2004. Then I did the classic, cliché actor thing — signed with a modeling agency and worked at some restaurants. I was pretty lucky because within about a month-and-a-half … I got signed with a great manager and started getting auditions. I actually booked my first film audition and then I got an agency right after that. I had a pretty quick start and everything has been going well since then. Digest: What did you know about PASSIONS before you got the role?
Wystrach: My sisters are huge DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES fans, so I heard that Jesse Metcalfe [John, DH; ex-Miguel, PASSIONS] came from PASSIONS…. I hadn’t followed it until recently. I didn’t want to be imitating my predecessor.
Digest: Who did you do your screen test with?
Wystrach: Heidi Mueller [Kay]. We instantly had great chemistry. Heidi recommended me. She really liked me. It was a great screen test. Everybody was so friendly. That’s been the biggest surprise; how nice everybody is. In Hollywood, you run into a lot of jerks and big egos, but they are all real here and everybody has fun. It’s been the easiest transition as far as people making me feel welcome and part of the family. I think it’s going to be a great environment to grow as an actor and start my career. Digest: How was your first day?
Wystrach: It was great. There were obvious nerves. I was trying to get used to the three-camera format and the soap format. It was my first time being on a TV set other than my screen test, so as you can imagine, there was the obvious transition of getting used to things. Every day I learn so much, more so than I have in the year that I’ve lived here. Digest: Have you taped a love scene yet?
Wystrach: Yes. I had a love scene on my third day of filming. I don’t know how this is going to sound, but that was probably my best day so far as feeling comfortable and intuitive. Between takes Heidi and I were laughing our faces off. It was definitely the strangest day of employment I’ve ever had. Digest: Are you ready to have fans?
Wystrach: I don’t think you’ll ever get used to stuff like that. Whatever happens, I’ve got four older sisters, a twin brother and a bunch of friends who will immediately tear me right back down. They are always the first ones to make fun of me if they think my ego is getting too big.
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