Q: Hi Melissa. I’ve been a big fan of yours for a long time. You and Rebecca Budig [Hayden, GH] were two of my favorite characters on ALL MY CHILDREN [as ex-Annie and ex-Greenlee]. Despite the fact that you both are on separate shows now, do you still stay in touch with her?
Michael S.
A: I do! Rebecca and I text and we’re always very excited to bump into each other at events. She likes to harass me to have a baby soon. I ask her if my mother put her up to this, but I adore my Rebecca Jo Budig!
Q: Chelsea and Adam were so great together. Are you still in touch with Justin Hartley [ex-Adam]? What do you miss about working with him?
Jeannie H., via email
A: I sure am! I just saw him and Chrishell [Stause, ex-Bethany, Y&R et al] two days ago. Of course I miss him at work — he’s so talented and a super-fun guy to be around. But he’s doing so incredible on THIS IS US and I couldn’t be happier for him. And luckily I still see him on weekends, so all is well in the world!
Q: Do you watch THIS IS US? What is your opinion of Justin’s work on the show?
Serge L.
A: Of course I do! I love the show, as does all of America. Justin is beyond fantastic in it, and it’s always so fun to see a friend succeed in such a massive way. If Adam’s gotta be dead, then you want him playing Kevin on THIS IS US.
NBC
Q: What do you love most about being on Y&R and playing the role of Chelsea? Second part to my question would be: What would you like to see for Chelsea in the future?
Candace C.
A: What I love most about being on Y&R is the people, and being excited to come to work every day. I absolutely do not take that for granted. I know how lucky I am to love my job and to love the people I work with. Loving the people makes the job a lot easier. As far as what I’d like to see for Chelsea in the future, I’ve said it before, I want to say I want her to be happy and have all the things she wants. But that’s not really true because you want your character to go through some hard times and have some serious drama because that’s fun to play. That’s why we’re here as actors! The challenge and the juice. So we’ll see!
Q: What made you want to do soap operas?
Davon B.
A: I’ve always loved this genre. I watched soaps growing up, and once I started doing them, I felt very comfortable with the pace and actually prefer it. I love the challenge of all the material, and that we usually do only one take. It keeps you on your toes, you’re never bored, and you feel like you’re doing a play. My adrenal glands are probably all sorts of messed up, though.
Q: What has been your favorite Y&R scene?
Avis, via email
A: I enjoyed the delivering the baby in the cabin scene. That presented a whole other share of challenges, but I loved it! They kept having to hose me down because Chelsea had fallen through the lake. I got so sick with the flu after that from being hosed down all day long, but it’s all worth it for a good episode.
JPI
Q: Ms. Egan, which characters do, or did, you find the most challenging: good girl-turned-bad Annie on AMC, or grifter-turned-family-woman Chelsea on Y&R?
Cassie H., Chicago, IL
A: That’s hard! They both presented challenges. Annie could be tough at times because she was so nuts. It can be exhausting, but also you have to be careful to play “crazy” right. You want to make the material believable and not just some wackadoo having a tantrum. You have to keep it grounded and, even if you’re running around with smeared red lipstick stabbing Erica Kane, show that this person is a real person, struggling with real issues. Chelsea can be difficult, too, but in different ways. All the heartbreak and things she’s had to go through. Losing the “same” husband twice in two years, you have to make sure you play that loss and that pain differently, or else the audience gets bored. “Been there, done that.” So, I try to make specific choices and play each hardship differently.
Q: I’ve been trying to find out if you are related to actor Richard Egan (ex-Sam Clegg, CAPITOL). Your smile reminds me of him.
Joyce, via email
A: I’m not, but thanks! Smiling at ’cha anyway.
Q: Are you Aeryk Egan’s relative? He is about 35 and is an actor/singer in L.A. He did a lot of musical theater with my daughter in the ’90s. He was in Flatliners and a few other movies.
Diane L.H., via email
A: I’m not related to him, either! But I appreciate you all thinking I’m related to any of these people!
Q: Not soap-related, but being a proud graduate of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have you stocked up on your national championship gear after watching them win in early April?
Todd L.
A: I didn’t need to stock up because I already have so much Carolina gear, but I sure was excited when they won! Wow, what a season! Getting to go to the Final Four for the first time and watch them win was a dream come true. Go Heels!
Q: Is there any character that Chelsea doesn’t interact with much that you would like to share scenes with?
Christina W.
A: Ashley! I rarely ever get to work with [portrayer] Eileen Davidson and I would love to, she’s so fabulous. And I used to watch her on DAYS when she was both Kristen and Susan, with the bad teeth!
Q: Missy, do you think Chelsea thinks Adam is out there?
Joe S.
A: Hmmmm … well, he has come back from the dead once, so maybe she’s holding out hope somewhere deep inside.
Q: Hi Melissa. What do you like to do for fun when you’re away from work?
Lydia O.
A: I like to ride my bike, do yoga, be with my friends and husband and dog, and travel the world!
Q: Chelsea and Nick make such a fun and romantic couple. What did you think when you found out that your characters would get involved? Does Joshua Morrow [Nick] make you laugh?
Tina L.
A: He sure does! Josh’s energy reminds me a lot of Justin’s, actually. They’re both such great dudes who are hysterical. I was thrilled when I heard I’d get to work with Josh. We bust each other’s chops a lot, but I love him and we always have a blast.
Q: I loved you as Annie on AMC. Do you ever visit with Jacob Young [ex-JR; now Rick, B&B]?
Tabby, via email
A: I see Jacob in the hallways at CBS since B&B shoots across the hall. I love bumping into him and having a nice catch-up. He’s the best!
Q: I wish we saw more of Daisy Duke! Would you like to see more mother/daughter scenes with Chelsea and Anita? Catherine [Bach, Anita] seems like a hoot to work with.
A big fan, via email
A: I would love nothing more! I love my Mamma Duke, as I call her! We’re very close outside of work, and I really hope the show writes some more Chelsea/Anita scenes, STAT!
JPI
Q: You look so happy whenever I see you in photos with your husband. Can you tell me if you want to be a mom?
Katie H., via email
A: Did Rebecca Budig put you up to this?!
