DAYS OF
THEIR LIVES
Chrissy Metz (Kate, THIS IS US) is a big fan of friend and former roomie Linsey Godfrey (Sarah, DAYS). “Oh, my gosh. Is she a doll or what?” gushes Metz of her pal. The Florida natives both got their first professional acting gigs in 2005. “We used to live together,” Metz recalls. “We shared a room in Burbank. I basically watched her grow up in the business, and she was always so talented from the moment I met her. Living with her, we had a lot of laughs together.” Metz adds that she has also followed Godfrey’s daytime career path, from B&B (where Godfrey played Caroline) to her current role in Salem. “Oh, yeah,” she confirms. “I watch her during the day when I’m home — but I’ve never been to a set, which is kind of sad. I would love to see her in action. Since she’s on an NBC show now, we’re both on the same network, so I’d love to see that happen. She’s just wonderful. I cannot say enough great things about Lins!”
AREN’T YOU...?
Although he’s been playing Y&R’s Kyle for over a year, Michael Mealor admits that he doesn’t get stopped by fans that often. “Once a month it’ll happen,” shrugs the actor. “But when you live in L.A., where other celebrities are out in public, I’m not that surprised.” However, Mealor got an unexpected ego boost from a fan in what he assumed was an unlikely place. “I was in Hawaii over New Year’s and I was with a family,” he explains. “I had just gotten off the plane and met them at the pool of the hotel. They said that their goal was for me to be recognized while we’re on vacation. We were at a fancy resort and I said, ‘No way. People who come to these resorts don’t watch soaps.’ Just minutes later, I heard, ‘Kyle Abbott?’ I turned around and there was this woman with her husband and she was so excited — and so were my friends. The one place I didn’t think I’d get recognized, I got recognized.”
AUTHOR, AUTHOR
Sean Kanan (ex-Deacon, B&B/Y&R) is launching a new book, co-authored with writing partner Jill Liberman, titled Success Factor X. “We went to 50 people who are leaders in their various spheres of influence and asked them what’s the best advice they have, or were given, when it comes to achieving success,” enthuses Kanan. “We’re not talking about financial success; it’s more about personal success and achieving life goals. We talked to everyone from Warren Buffet, Mark Cuban and Anthony Robbins to pro athletes, musicians, and we also have 10 daytime stars — including Susan Lucci [ex-Erica, ALL MY CHILDREN et al]. It’s a great cross section, and it’s really inspirational. It’s a beautiful coffee table book, and the timing couldn’t be better. Our nation is painfully divided right now, and Jill and I wanted to do something that transcends politics and any other dividing characteristics, and we thought this is something everybody can get behind and relate to. It’s really meaningful to see what people’s definitions of success really are.” Success Factor X is due for release on May 14 and is available for pre-order at amazon.com.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Finola Hughes (Anna) had some stress-filled days on the GH set when Anna’s twin, Alex, popped back in to Port Charles. “Other people can do [dual roles] really well,” she says. “People like Jon Lindstrom [Kevin/Ryan] and David Canary [ex-Adam/Stuart, ALL MY CHILDREN] and the amazing Martha Byrne [ex-Lily/Rose, AS THE WORLD TURNS], who killed it. I used to watch her and think, ‘Thank God, I don’t have to do that!’ And then, one day, I had to! Normally, I just get on with stuff; I get up to set and I’m ready to play, but this just throws me into this tailspin of a kind of uncontrollable terror! Jon Lindstrom just breezes through; Genie [Francis, Laura] comes up, does her scenes with both of them, everybody’s happy, they come down and have lunch. Me, I’m in the corner agonizing!” She credits co-star Michael Easton (Finn) with soothing her frayed nerves. “Normally, when we work, we’re joking, having fun. But he went very silent. He just allowed me my neurosis and supported as best he could and said calming things like, ‘Can I get you a cup of tea?’ He also issued statements as you would when coaching a Little League team like, ‘You’re doing great!’ Michael is very patient. He was wonderful!”