ESPRIT LIBRE // Press Archive

BREE ON HER JOB AT OLTL

Bree on Working at "One Life to Live"

(on her resemblence to Erin Torpey [ex-Jessica]) "It's such a nice thing to hear. The first couple of days, everybody was doing double takes. ... I'm just going to be myself. I'm trying not to be too influenced by the way she played it." (SOD 2/11/03)

(on the DID storyline) "I was never really intimidated until I started doing it. At first, I was like, 'Oh, that's cool, great.' It never really [sinks in] with me how much work things are gonna be. Whenever you start out any new storyline, there's always gonna be bumps in the road, especially when it's big and there are a lot of things that even the writers don't know. It can be really exciting and hard, so at first, I was like, 'I can't do this. This is way too hard for me and everybody's just waiting for me to fail.' But then I went away to Costa Rica for a week [laughs], I got myself together and came back, and now I'm just having a good time." (SOD 5/24/05)

(on her audition for the role of Jessica) "I wasn't nervous until I got to the studio. I screen-tested with Nathaniel Marston (Michael), who was really nice. And suddenly, I was so nervous, I thought I was going to vomit. [Afterward] Nathaniel just looked at me and said, 'You got it.' And then I wandered around New York, and it was agony. I didn't want to be like, 'Oh, I really like it here.'" (SID 11/22/05)

(on not being nominated for an Emmy for work in 2005) "I think that people must have a limit to how many good things can happen to them in a year. I think I hit mine and that's why I didn't get nominated. Or all the other girls were just better than me!" (SID 8/15/06)

(on OLTL's fantasy episodes) "Before I even got the job on One Life to Live, I was watching the show right before my screen test the first time. During the saga of me getting the job on One Life, I tuned in for a fantasy episode and I thought to myself, 'Wow, that must be a really fun place to work.' It was the one where everbody switched places, like Nora switched with Lindsay and R.J. switched places with Bo, and Viki switched places with Todd. I was like, 'That must really be fun,' so when we do fantasy episodes I'm really excited." (SOD 3/13/07)

(on why she chose to re-sign with OLTL) "There was no real reason to go. I'm thankful for everything that I have there, and I'm just really thankful to be a working actor and living in New York. ... Everything I want to accomplish I can accomplish being employed. And it would be different if I was unhappy there. I'm not; I'm super-happy there. I love New York, and my life is just kind of not complex and really simple right now, and it's kind of how I like it." (SOD 3/4/08)

(on contract negotiations with OLTL) "They didn't 'bend over backwards.' It wasn't a long negotiation. There was no threat of recasting or anything like that. And I went through kind of a crappy time before that and I'm out of it, so things are really great." (SOD 3/4/08)

(on her Emmy prenomination) "It actually feels better for me to be recognized as prenom because at least my cast is behind me and they're the ones who see my work every day. I never know about the process of being nominated because I never have been nominated, so it's weird to talk about it. We'll see." (SOD 3/4/08)

(on her decision to re-sign with OLTL in 2007) "I had no idea what I was going to do. I was just going to feel it day by day, because nobody at OLTL wants an actor to be there who really doesn't want to be there. It's not good for the cast, not good for morale, not good for anything. ... [I] really wanted to stay. I wanted to be there -- I don't think there was ever a time when I didn't want to be there -- but when you sign on for a couple of years, you have to be sure. ... There was no good reason for me to leave. They treat me well here, and I think there's some more story to be told. Why leave a great job in pursuit of...what, another really great job? There was so much change in every other part of my life that it was important to keep thinking positive -- and this was a really positive thing in my life that I wanted to keep." (SID 4/7/08)

Bree on the Fans

"When I'm back home, sometimes it's almost like I forget I'm even on the show. I'm just with my friends and family, and everything seems normal. But recently, I went home and was in the mall, and this woman comes up to me and is like, 'What are you doing here?' I didn't know at first whether she was surprised to see me there or whether she was surprised to see Jessica, but it was funny. It was like, 'Yes, I live here, and, um, Jessica is just taking a vacation [laughs]." (SOD 5/25/04)

(on her most memorable fan encounter) "There is this really great girl named Brittany who is a psychology major. In her abnormal psychology class, she used the Jess/Tess story for her presentation on [disassociative identity disorder]. She told me all about it, and I was more than happy to sign her psych book." (SID 11/20/07)

(on Super Soap Weekend 2007) "The fans are awesome. The fan event is obviously what brings us all here but [I also enjoy] being invited, the wather, and the rides." (SOW 12/4/07)

(on Super Soap Weekend 2007) "I just kind of go with the flow. [The fans] are just so happy to see us. You can't help but give them as much energy as you have left in you." (SID 12/31/07)

(on the last celebrity soap fan she's encountered) "Snoop Dogg is one, which is freaking awesome. Mary J. Blige is one, too; she knew exactly who I was. And when Nelly Furtado was on OLTL, we were crossing on the set and I was like, 'Oh my God, hi!' And she was like, 'Jessica!' I was like, 'Wow, you know who I am!' It was kind of rad." (SID 6/30/08)

(on the craziest thing she's ever been sent by a fan) "Not so much crazy...I would call it awesome. I always get really nice cards and letters, and once, someone compiled a reel of all their favorite Jessica/Tess moments." (SID 12/1/08)

Bree on Soap Operas

"Soap operas are one of the last media that are geared toward women, so it's a really, really huge responsibility and a powerful voice in daytime for women. So yeah, it's a great thing and definitely a very valuble way to spend my time." (SOD 5/24/05)

"Everyone listens to letters, so if fans see something on TV that they don't like, they have to say something about it. Producers really do [pay attention] to letters and phone calls, which can make or break storylines." (SID 2/27/07)

"Soap operas aren't exactly what you call 'media.' But they are one of the last places for women during the daytime. And female viewers do have such a strong voice, and they need to get their messages out." (SID 2/27/07)

"Soap opera actors have this great job where we're on TV every day and we have a fan base, but the whole fame part of it kind of gives me anxiety, as you can tell by this interview. I don't know how to answer some questions and I get the sweats." (SOD 3/4/08)

Bree on Acting

(advice she would give an aspiring actor) "Always be as prepared as you possibly can be." (SID 4/27/04)

(on which historical figure most intrigues her) "If we are talking about acting, there's Mary Pickford. She was called 'America's Sweetheart,' but she was Canadian, which I find really cool. And she was one of the first big stars doing silent films and helping to form [movie studio] United Artists with Charlie Chaplin. So it's weird that not that many people know about her." (SID 5/22/07)

"I think it's a shame that actresses are private about how old they are. All that matters is what you play. I fully believe that there should be some privacy so you can live your life, but I don't think age matters. I'm actually excited for 30. I think that for being 28, I've been through a lot. I think the 20s are really complicated and difficult. You're still trying to get where your footing is. A make-up artist once told me, 'You don't know anything until you're 30. Everything just calms down when you turn 30.' I mean, I'm happy where I am right now, but I think 30 is going to be fun." (SOD 3/4/08)