SOD: Interview with Eric Martsolf; Days hunk talks (Read 448 times)

[karebr13]

from daytime royalty

daytimeroyaltyonline.com/topic/8551946/1/


SOD: Interview with Eric Martsolf; Days hunk talks about turning 40 and the big changes in Salem


Middle Man

Eric Martsolf talks about turning 40 and the big changes in Salem

"I used to have a problem with change," Eric Martsolf candidly admits. "It was a very difficult thing for me to grasp. When I toured with a Broadway show, I stayed with it until the end. I joined PASSIONS and I stayed with that until the final episode. When I get accustomed to something, I ride that train into the last track."

The biggest change currently taking place in Martsolf's life is the upcoming relaunch of Days of Our Lives on September 26th. In June, Head Writer Dena Higley was replaced by Marlene McPherson and Darrel Ray Thomas, Jr. Soon after, Greg Meng and Noel Maxam were appointed co-executive producers when Gary Tomlin was let go. "Our mood on the set is force ahead," reveals Martsolf. "We are making some drastic changes, most of them fan-driven. But the more things change, the more they stay the same. I think you're going to find a throwback to the good times of yester-year, as well."

The actor is thrilled that the shift in the show will usher the return of Drake Hogestyn as Brady Black's father, John. "When I started on the show three years ago, I was very much looking forward to working with Drake," shares Martsolf. But a few months after Martsolf's debut, Hogestyn left Salem with Deidre Hall. "So the fact that he's coming back is a very good thing. I hope they explore our relationship because Brady has definitely been through some changes since John left town."

When Martsolf joined Days in October of 2008, he had just come off a six year run on PASSIONS, which had been canceled earlier that year by DirecTV. "My first initial feeling at getting the job was gratefulness," explains Martsolf. "It was at a time in our economy when jobs were at a minimum. I had a family that needed cereal put on the table, so I was grateful. My second feeling was, 'I'm gonna be a recast.' This was my second time out of the gate as a recast. A recast can always be interesting territory. Sometimes they're embraced and sometimes they are not. I had some good fortune as Ethan Winthrop and I also have what I believe to be good fortune here with Brady."

One constant during Martsolf's tenure has been working with Galen Gering (Rafe; ex-Luis, Passions). "Galen and I have had a very similar journey," says Martsolf. "We've coincidentally gone through the same types of experiences at the same time. We watched the show that we had worked so hard to develop be ripped out from under us, and then we were basically hired on the same show, within the same week, under the same circumstances. Those kinds of similar events in your lives gives you a special kind of relationship you don't really have with anyone else who isn't on your timeline."

As Days prepares for its relaunch, Martsolf hopes that Brady retains the dark edge that he acquired last year. "I look as Brady as he's sort of the Dark Knight in a way. I watched Batman Begins. They pretty much turned Batman into the Dark Knight. The response was, 'We like this Batman a little more than the traditional one because he's a little darker.' His desires are the same, and his good nature is intact as far as fighting crime, but he's more of a loose cannon. That's kind of what has happened to Brady. I think audiences have always responded to characters who take the wrong path for the right reason, so to speak. I think people gravitate towards the unknown. The great thing about soaps is that you love someone or you hate him. It doesn't matter. You're trying to elicit a reaction, no matter what. Some of the most hated men of daytime are also the most beloved. That's just the way it works."

On the personal front, Martsolf reached a pivotal milestone in July. "I turned 40," shares the actor. "It really made me think about my blessings and what I have to be thankful for. As a steadily working actor for almost 10 years, I realize that I'm a small minority of actors out there who have the ability to do what they do and make a living at it. You hear people talking about the 'mid-life crisis' and people ask, 'Are you going to buy a red Porsche?' I'm happy to say I haven't had a mid-life crisis and I'm not getting a Porsche. If anything, it's been an eye-opener in a healthy way. It puts so many things in perspective and makes me appreciate things a little more than when I was 20. When I was 20, I thought a 40-year old should retire in Florida and play slot machines for the rest of his life!" he smiles. "But now that I'm 40, as far as the way I feel, it's like I'm 20. I'm ready to hang with the twentysomethings and play slot machines!"

Article scan courtesy of Forbidden Love.

[mae00]

Thanks for the article karebr!!!

I cannot believe that that hunk is 40!!! he sure is a sexy 40!!

[fluffysmom]

Great interview! Thanks for posting karebr. I am definitely looking forward to John and Brady scenes.

[jaysdelina]

I love that Eric gets what the fans love.And I love the way he perceives Brady.I won't speak for anyone else,but I love this darker side of Brady,and frankly,he's a recast that definitely worked.

[fluffysmom]

He is definitely a terrific recast. Great job casting people.

[puddleduck]

I adore Brady and I love this darker side of him. I too hope they keep it around.

After reading that interview I love Eric even more (especially since I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago ).

[rockfordfosgate]

I have enjoyed this Brady from the start and loved watching the progression for the good guy to Dark Brady. I love watching him as Shirtless Brady. While having his drug addiction off-screen sucks, it did open the door for Eric to take Brady in a different direction than what we had seen Kyle Lowder portray.

And obviously, I love Eric. The man is HOT!!

[slyn11]

Jul 27, 2011 22:23:37 GMT -5 karebr13 said:

from daytime royalty

"I used to have a problem with change," Eric Martsolf candidly admits. "It was a very difficult thing for me to grasp. When I toured with a Broadway show, I stayed with it until the end.

Now I know why he has jazz hands. And it looked like he was doing musical theater during that fist fight with EJ.

I definitely like this Brady better than old Brady (Kyle), but he is still BRADY. He is still judgy as ever. I don't take his darkness seriously at all. Five o'clock shadow and a flask do not make you a tough guy.

I am interested in seeing him interact with his father though.

[MrsM]

LOVE Brady and Eric. Thanks for posting!!

[rockfordfosgate]

Jul 28, 2011 8:16:12 GMT -5 slyn11 said:

I am interested in seeing him interact with his father though.

I agree with you on that. I enjoyed the few scenes they had together when Eric first started and it will be interesting to see how John reacts to Brady's transformation.

[jaysdelina]

What's nice is we know that Brady really isn't a bad guy.Yeah he's done some morally questionable things for a while now,but essentially he's a good guy who's just doing bad things.He's a grey character these days which is nice.As much as I love Eric (have since PASSIONS),it drove me crazy when he first came on the show and sounded like a self help book everytime he opened his mouth.This is MUCH nicer,lol.

[slyn11]

Jul 28, 2011 9:25:52 GMT -5 jaysdelina said:

What's nice is we know that Brady really isn't a bad guy.Yeah he's done some morally questionable things for a while now,but essentially he's a good guy who's just doing bad things.He's a grey character these days which is nice.As much as I love Eric (have since PASSIONS),it drove me crazy when he first came on the show and sounded like a self help book everytime he opened his mouth.This is MUCH nicer,lol.

LOL extreme judgy Brady. Definitely gray is nicer.

Thank goodness for his drug addiction.

[ghoulgirl]

Thanks for posting the interview. I loved it. I really enjoy Eric Martsolf. He is a pretty funny guy too!
Also looking forward to seeing some John/Brady stuff when the 'new' shows starts.

[DancingDays]

*sigh* I just love this guy! Eric is soooo sexy and plays Brady with just the right amount of good boy/bad boy appeal. I wish Brady would lay off the booze just a little, but otherwise, he's darn near perfect. *sigh*

[MrsM]

Oh the things I would do to that man.
Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to say that out loud!!!