Amanda has been in Genoa City for over six months! How do you like playing this character? “I like playing Amanda, but every now and then I do miss Hilary.”
Why is that? “There was a freedom in how I played her that I kind of got used to. I’ve played Hilary for five years versus six months [as Amanda], so I’m still trying to get used to Amanda and her nuances and what makes her different. I’m still trying to figure out ways to make all that stuff interesting because she’s not as big of a character as Hilary was, but Amanda’s driven and grounded and she’s a strong woman in her own right. But just finding those different nuances has been a fun journey. It’s had its challenges because I got so used to playing Hilary for so long.”
It sounds like it’s been an interesting challenge for you. “It’s been interesting and it’s been fun. I feel like I’m getting to a place where I know Amanda’s voice and how she says certain things. Now it’s just a matter of getting to know everybody else in Genoa City. I think that will change her dynamic and that’s slowly happening. Like, who she is with Billy versus who she is with Nate versus who she is with Devon. And I feel when I start doing more of that, it’ll define the character for me. So, as we keep going, she’s getting stronger in terms of her point of view, which I like.”
What was your first reaction when you learned Amanda was going to be paired up with Billy, even platonically? “I was intrigued. Hilary didn’t have any kind of relationship with Billy, so I never really worked with Jason [Thompson, Billy], but I’ve always heard that he’s a great actor to work with. He and I talked about how it would be really interesting to have this strong platonic relationship because you don’t see that a lot in soaps. Usually, they move from platonic to there’s something more. We thought it would be really nice to explore their friendship because sometimes people just need a person to listen to them, who they can just talk to unapologetically and be really open and vulnerable. I think that’s who Billy and Amanda are for each other. It’s a really nice storyline and a nice place to explore.”
How do you like working with Jason? “I love working with Jason. He’s awesome. He’s such a professional. He’s so grounded and so real when the cameras are on. We had a lot of fun shooting our scenes. That was the other thing, too, is that we didn’t want to overthink them. We didn’t know each other that much and we were like, ‘Let’s just get to know each other.’ So, we kind of did that in our real lives and for our characters.”
How do you like working with Michelle Stafford (Phyllis)? “She’s amazing! She’s everything that I thought she’d be. When the cameras are on, she’s just so Phyllis, and she’s fascinating to watch. Michelle has such a strong point of view and she’s so committed. You never know where you’re going to go because of how unpredictable she is when the cameras are on. That is an actor’s goal because it keeps you on your toes and then you never know what you’re going to do. It’s been awesome working with her.” Are you looking forward to what’s next for Amanda? “Yeah, I’m really looking forward to that. There’s going to be lots of drama, like always. I see love on the horizon for Amanda very soon.”
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