Meet PASSIONS’s Amy Castle

Sure, Viki whispers everything to Aunt Esme on PASSIONS, but her portrayer, Amy Castle, has plenty to say — and she’s not shy about it!Soap Opera Digest: How are you?
Amy Castle: Fantastic!

Digest: She speaks!

Castle: Yes, I do.

Digest: Is it harder to portray someone who doesn’t speak than to actually have dialogue?
Castle: I’ve never done a soap opera before, so it’s a really easy transition. I’ve been told it’s really fast-paced and there are early hours, so I come to set and work on my cues, like if I have to smile. I love it.

Digest: Did you have dialogue for your audition?

Castle: The funny thing is, I had about six pages of very wordy dialogue for the audition!

Digest: So are you eager for Viki to speak?
Castle: It’s very hush-hush. I hope I will. I’m wondering what my first word will be, if I have anything to say.

Digest: Did you watch PASSIONS before?
Castle: About two years ago, I was addicted to PASSIONS. I loved it. So when I got the audition, I was like, “Oh, my God!”

Digest: Who did you screen-test with?
Castle: I didn’t do a screen test. I just did my audition with Jackie [Briskey], the casting director, had the callback and then I found out within a couple of hours that I got it. I was so excited.

Digest: What made you addicted to the show two years ago?
Castle: I’m homeschooled, so I can do my schoolwork in the morning or afternoon, just as long as I get it done. I had already done it and I was like, “What’s on daytime TV?” My TV was already on NBC, so I watched PASSIONS. I slowly got into it and then I watched every day.

Digest: Did you watch your first scene?
Castle: I did. I was working that day, but I came home and watched it.

Digest: Was it surreal to see yourself on a show you’ve been watching for years?
Castle: I’ve been acting since I was 8 and booked my fifth audition. You never can get tired of it.

Digest: How did your parents react when you got this job?
Castle: They were excited. My mom would be at work, so she didn’t really get the chance to see PASSIONS that often, but she’d watch it every so often. So now that I got it, she’s like, “We have to watch PASSIONS now!” Digest: Did you grow up in Los Angeles?
Castle: I did. I was born and raised here.

Digest: Who are your friends on the set?
Castle: Erin [Cardillo, Esme] is a blast to work with. She’s so sweet.

Digest: She is hysterical. How do you not laugh?
Castle: It’s hard. There have been a few moments on set when we started laughing.

Digest: You briefly got to work with Mark Wystrach before he left the role of Fox, and have worked with Ben Masters (Julian).
Castle: Mark was a sweetheart and great to work with. Ben is a fantastic actor. He’s so funny.

Digest: What did you spend your first paycheck on?
Castle: I think it was my second paycheck. I had a very old iPod. I told my mom, “If it’s okay with you, I would really appreciate it if I could get a new iPod.” So I went out and got a new, black 80GB iPod and I’m very excited about that.

Hungry for more PASSIONS? Check out photos and quotes from a party celebrating the soap’s DIRECTV launch in the October 16 issue of Soap Opera Digest.