She may play a Pine Valley brat, but ALL MY CHILDREN’s Taylor Gildersleeve couldn’t be more different from Sydney. The mature 15-year-old actress is a doll in real life. See for yourself as she dishes about her new soap gig — and the role she really tried out for.
Soap Opera Weekly: Do you think Colby and Sydney act like regular teenagers?
Taylor Gildersleeve: They are making it a little more extreme. Like, the way Colby and Sydney talk is not the way it really is. I don’t think all 16-year-olds are like that. I’m definitely not like that! But you know what? The more people tune in, the more they’re going to realize that these girls aren’t just two brats.
Weekly: Tell us how this role came about.
Gildersleeve: I took some acting classes and had a passion for it. My acting coach really believed in me. He was, like, “I want to get you headshots. You’re going to do this.” I was like, “What?” I started auditioning last September [2005]. I was doing a few things here or there, but nothing big; no big auditions. And then, when I went to the AMC audition, it all worked out.
Weekly: You auditioned initially for Colby, correct?
Gildersleeve: Yes. And it all felt so right, but I knew I wasn’t getting Colby. In all of my screen tests I played her very comical, and I think they took that and made Sydney. I love Sydney. I would rather have not played Colby, because I think Ambyr (Childers)
(Childers) is better. She’s 18, so she’s older and she can do things that Colby would do. Colby’s much more of a little vixen, and Ambyr plays it so well. Sydney’s fun for me. I like her. And the part isn’t as demanding right now.
Weekly: Who behind the scenes has helped you out the most?
Gildersleeve: Ambyr. And you know who’s cool — Alexa (Havins, Babe) and Jacob (Young, JR). They are always helping me. Jacob helps me with stage directions a lot. I respect him. He’s just amazing. I saw Beauty and the Beast and I could not even believe how good he was! He’s hilarious. Alexa has been like a big sister; she’s great. Ambyr is like a big sister, too, but more like a really close friend. And I can’t even explain how nice Susan Lucci (Erica) has been. Cameron (Mathison, Ryan) and David Canary (Adam/Stuart) are amazing. Bobbie Eakes (Krystal) is like my mom on the set.
