Soap Opera Digest: First, do you prefer Brad or Bradford?
Bradford Anderson: In college, it became Bradford because when I was about to join the Actors' Equity union, there was a Brad Anderson already in it. He's a [Bob] Fosse dancer [on Broadway] and much better looking, so I figured I should just start a whole new identity.

Digest: Do fans call you Spinelli?
Anderson: If I do get recognized, which isn't too common, it just seems to come out of their mouths before they have time to think about it.

Digest: Do you get a lot of people who said they didn't like the character at first?
Anderson: Yes, which is understandable. He's a lot to take. But people seem to have really warmed up to him.

Digest: Do you worry about being typecast?
Anderson: Not so much. I've only been out in L.A. for a year and a half now. The stuff I did last year was completely different from what I'm doing here. Granted, this is the most exposure I've gotten from anything that I've done, but my background is in theater, so as long as anyone takes a look at my resumé, they know that I have other capabilities. So, I'm not worried about it is the basic answer [laughs].

Digest: What has been your family's response to Spinelli?
Anderson: My family is supportive no matter what I've done. I don't know if anyone ever expected me to be on a soap opera. I don't think anyone could point to me and go, "That guy is a soap actor!" I don't really fit the [physical] profile, I guess you could say. So, of course, it's fun. I'm from New England and my hometown paper did an article on me. My grandmother was so happy, she brought it to her church meeting.

Digest: Tell us about your role in the upcoming independent film Carts.
Anderson: Carts is based around five people who push carts in the parking lot of a Costco-type superstore. It's their purgatory for their previous life. My character's name is Ed. He used to be a CEO who ended up in purgatory because he killed his secretary. Now, he's this bipolar, comic book kind of nerd. Okay, well, I guess maybe you could kind of equate him with Spinelli [laughs]. But he's more of a nerd with an overbearing mother, and since he's bipolar, he has to take his medication because if he doesn't, craziness ensues. The film's a lot of fun.