Spotlight On … Ewa Da Cruz (Vienna Hyatt, ATWT)
Soap Opera Digest: How did you get the job?
Ewa da Cruz It was actually a general audition; I didn’t go in for a specific part. I went in just to be seen and they loved what I did. Originally, I did some scenes for Lucy, which were very sweet. And then I ended up with Vienna! I was like, “Wow, [Casting Director Mary Clay Boland] really liked what I did, but she saw something totally different [laughs].”Digest: A lot of fans are just delighted by Vienna.
Da Cruz: I guess she’s very different from most of the characters that are on right now.
Digest: What did they tell you about her when you got the part? Did they make the Paris Hilton connection?
Da Cruz: No. They actually didn’t say anything about that to me, but hair and makeup, whenever they read things about the character, said, “This is totally Paris Hilton.” I was like [skeptically], “Okay. Maybe she’s the European Paris Hilton.” Digest: It ended up not being much more than the parallel between the names.
Da Cruz: Yeah, because she’s not really Paris.Digest: She’s cooler, more aristocratic.
Da Cruz: I would say so. Don’t put Paris and Vienna in the same box! Digest: What was it like working on a soap?
Da Cruz: That was a whole new experience to me. I’ve never done a soap before, so as everybody knows, I guess, they work extremely fast. It’s better to have your stuff down when you get there because it’s one, two, three takes depending on technicalities. You only have one dry rehearsal with blocking, and that’s it, then they shoot. But it was very comfortable and easy and fun because the cast and crew are so grounded and so lovely. 
Digest: Did anyone help you out or give you advice?
Da Cruz: Of course — Paul Leyden. He’s hysterical, and I asked him a lot of stuff because this was his return, as well. He hadn’t done it for a while, so I just felt that he was the guy to ask. I asked him a lot of questions and I also have another friend who’s done a lot of soaps, so I asked him prior to going in, and once you’re there, you just roll with it. And as the days went by, it just became easier and easier.Digest: Who is your friend from soaps?
Da Cruz: His name is Tim Adams [ex-Ron, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Rob, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Casey, SUNSET BEACH].Digest: And now he’s on RESCUE ME.
Da Cruz: Exactly.Digest: What was it like having to do all the constant make-out scenes in your first week?
Da Cruz: I was like, “Oh, God, I’m over it. Let’s move on!” [laughs] No, it was fine. It was just work. I remember one scene we had to do over and over again purely because of a technical problem. So by the end of it, I was like, “Oh, Paul, get off me! I’m tired of you already!” But it’s fine, it’s work and everybody is super professional.Digest: Let’s talk about you. Where are you from, originally?
Da Cruz: I’m half-Norwegian, half-Egyptian. I grew up mainly in Norway —born and raised. Digest: What brought you to the U.S.?
Da Cruz: School — I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I graduated in 2004, and then I was invited back to do their theater company for a year, so I did that and then I’ve been out there in the real world for a little over a year [laughs]. That’s when I started working on movies. Digest: You’ve done a few independent films.
Da Cruz: Kettle of Fish, which I did with Matthew Modine and Gina Gershon, was screened at the TriBeCa Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival. And right now, I have another one, Bella, which I guess will come out this fall. I guess it’s all about getting it distributed.Digest: Would you do a soap full-time?
Da Cruz: I have not even thought about that. Digest: How much longer will Vienna be around?
Da Cruz: Right now, we’re done with the cruise ship, so it’s back in Oakdale and you never know what will happen! I like Vienna, and I like Simon, but I guess she could pair up with a lot of different people. And we don’t even know who Simon will end up with….
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