Meet PASSIONS’s Colton Shires (Little Ethan)

Colton Shire’s PASSIONS character may be known as Little Ethan, but his current storyline is anything but small. After learning that Ethan is his father, Little Ethan agreed to donate part of his liver to his ailing half brother, Jonathan. Meanwhile, Theresa still hasn’t told Ethan that he’s the father of her son (and has forced Little Ethan to keep her secret). We spoke with 11-year-old Shires (who woke up early to do this interview before heading off to school), and he dished about what it’s like to be part of such adult drama. For more on Little Ethan’s storyline and the lengths that Theresa will go to to protect her family, check out the news section of the 1/22 issue of Digest.Soap Opera Digest: Hello, Colton! Thanks for getting up so early to speak with me. It’s too bad that you have to go to school while the rest of the PASSIONS actors have the month off [for the extended hiatus, which ends in February].
Colton Shires: That’s okay. I like school. I was homeschooled before, but now I’m in a regular school, which is fun because I’ve met a lot of other kids and I can play with them.

Digest: What grade are you in?
Shires: I’m in the sixth grade.

Digest: Are sixth graders the oldest or youngest students in your school?
Shires: Our school actually goes from kindergarten through the eighth grade.

Digest: Okay, so you’re almost the oldest. That must be nice having so many kids under you.
Shires: It is! Sixth grade is really hard, but really fun.

Digest: What’s your favorite subject?
Shires: I really like English. I like it because it’s easy.


Digest: Do you read a lot?
Shires: Yeah, but I like reading smaller books because I can get through them faster. I like to write my own stuff, too. I like to write comedy and action.

Digest: Wow, maybe you’ll end up writing a movie one day.
Shires: Yeah, maybe.

Digest: Did the other kids recognize you from being on TV?
Shires: I know a couple have seen me, but usually their parents watch. In the old apartment that we were living in, we were down by the pool one day, and I was sitting in the hot tub and this guy was like, “Hey, aren’t you on a show?” I said, “PASSIONS,” and he was like, “That’s where I know you from.”

Digest: Do you get approached by fans on the street?
Shires: Yeah. People will come up to me and be like, “Can I get your autograph?” I like that!

Digest: Is working on PASSIONS fun?
Shires: I love going to the set. I love working with everyone. The whole cast and crew, they’re all fun and all cool. Eric [Martsolf, Ethan] likes to play a lot of games. Sometimes we’ll play Hide And Seek and I’ll hide and he’ll seek me out between scenes. He’ll also pretend to like karate punch me.

Digest: Do Eric and Lindsay [Hartley, Theresa] help you learn lines?
Shires: My mom usually runs them with me. But Eric and Lindsay will help me out sometimes, too.

Digest: Was it scary doing the scenes where Little Ethan was in the hospital?
Shires: Yeah. When I first heard he was going to be sick, I was like, “Uh-oh, I hope they don’t kill me off.” But when I was doing those scenes, I fell asleep!

Digest: Did anyone notice?
Shires: They called a five-minute break and I was still asleep in the bed, so my mom was like, “Okay, I’ll let him stay there.” And then they picked me up and I was like, “What? Huh?” I was out of it. It was a comfortable bed.

Digest: Do you hang out with the other kids on set, like Nicole Cox [Endora]?
Shires: Yes, sometimes I do. I love working with Nicole and the girls who play baby Jane, Kate and Camille [Schwary].

Digest: Do the other kids look up to you since you’re older than them?
Shires: Yeah. Kate and Camille will come to the set and I’ll be in the room and they’ll be like, “Colton!” and run up to me and hug me.

Digest: In real life, do you have any brothers or sisters?
Shires: I have two older brothers, Nakoda and Kalan. They’re 17 and 15.

Digest: Are they good older brothers? Are they nice to you?
Shires: Most of the time. The 15-year-old, he likes to play around. He’s the more active one. They also act. They do commercials and print jobs.

Digest: What do you like to do when you’re not acting?
Shires: I’m almost a black belt in karate. I also like to play catch with my friends, soccer and basketball.

Digest: It’s very impressive that you’re so skilled in karate. No wonder your brothers are nice to you!
Shires: When they pick on me, I tell them, “You’d better watch out because when I get older, I’ll be able to pick on you.”

Digest: Do you want to be an actor when you grow up?
Shires: Yes. It’s the job I love the most.

Digest: Are you sad that PASSIONS is ending?
Shires: Yeah. I’ve been on for four years, which is a long time, so it is very sad. But I’m excited about the PASSIONS cruise we’re doing (see the events page for more details). They’re having a prom, so it’ll be my first one. I’ll be the first 11-year-old to go to the prom [laughs]!

Digest: Are you bringing a date?
Shires: I don’t know.

Digest: I’m sure there are a lot of little girls out there who are very willing.
Shires: Yeah [laughs]!