Jeffrey Carlson

No, I didnít see it on Jenny JonesóAll My Children, in fact, and from that day forward, I was hooked.

Over the years, All My Children has explored your typically outlandish daytime dramaóbaby switching, missing embryos, murder, adultery, finding out the baby you thought you had aborted years ago was actually nurtured in an incubator and born, only to show up as your executive assistant 30 years later! But the show has balanced it with some of the most forward thinking plotlines in television history.

From the first televised abortion in history to Bianca (Eden Riegel), the first contracted openly gay character on daytime television, All My Children has been honored with humanitarian accolades, honors from GLAAD an a multitude of Emmyís for their work. Theyíre also poised to make history again with the introduction of Zarf (Broadway star Jeffrey Carlson), a pseudo-Brit rockstar with a hankering for Bianca and a story to tell. Zarf is a transgender woman, pre-op, who finds in Bianca a kindred spirit who might just understand Zarfís feeling that she was born into the wrong body.

Itís a touchy subjectóone AMC recruited folks from GLAAD and the stories of real life transgender people to tell. And in Carlson, whose wide reaching resume spands everything from Shakespeare to Taboo, Rosie OíDonnellís 2004 Broadway experiment with Boy George, the show seems to have found jut the actor to tell it.

We sat down with Carlson to discuss the role, the responsibilities he feels as an actor to tell the story right, and what itís like to work in the fast paced world of daytime.

Ross von Metzke: When the opportunity to play this role came to you, knowing you were about to make television history, what was going though your head?

Jeffrey Carlson: Initially, I didnít even think bout it making television history. Iíd done the show for one day during the summer, just playing a British rockstar, and they called me two months later and said, ëWeíd like to write the character onto the show.í Julie Carruthers, the Executive Producer, called me in for a meeting and she said, ë We wanted to make sure you were comfortable with the storyline.í And I said, ë Iím pretty comfortable with most things.í And she started to tell me the story and I was very moved the way she told it. She said, ëWeíre going to tell it with dignity,í and I said, ëAs long as itís three dimensional and weíre telling a human story.í She said absolutely. So my initial reactions werenítÖ ëWeíre going to make television history.í It was one of, ëWeíre going to represent a community that I, perhaps, underrepresented. Hopefully weíll allow the viewers to begin a conversation.

RVM: When you first appeared on the show, did you get ny indication they intended to bring you back?

JC: No. It was a one day thing. In fact, I got a callÖ I was working at the Royal Shakespeare Company in England and I thought, ëIíll do one day on the show. It sounds like a hoot.í So I had no idea. But I had the best timeÖ I got my feet wet in daytime television. And I called my agent after that day and I said, ëI would go back anytime.í

RVM: What sort of prep work have you done to tackle a character like Zarf and an issue as sensitive as this is?

JC: Iíve made friends with members of the transgender community an theyíve been telling me their personal stories, and All My Children has done a wonderful job of educating themselves and making sure they tell the story as three dimensionally and delicately as possible. My very first contracted day, when we began this storyline, Eden Riegel and I, the writers, producers and members from GLAADóthey began to tell us how to talk bout it with the media and answer any questions we had. So it began there.

RVM: Was it a subject you were at all familiar with before taking on the role?

JC: Yes, little bit. I had taken gender studies as an undergraduate when I was at UC Davis. And the topic was covered. We even read a whole book called Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein, so I was familiar with the topic.

RVM: Zarf is a pretty out there, flamboyant characterÖ

JC: (laughs) Yeah!

RVM: Is it tough for you to walk the line between who she is as a character and making the character a stereotype?

JC: The interesting thing for me is, I certainly donít think of her as stereotypical in any way, but the audience will begin to learn why Zarf behaves the way she does. Sheís reinvented herself her whole life, and we all have different shields, and thtís hers. She can be out there and be a famous rockstar and have a domineering personality, but no one can get too close to her. The All My Children viewers will slowly learn where the accent and the behavior comes from.

RVM: AMC is known for being the first in so many areas of social relevance. What sort of feedback have you gotten to the storyline so far.

JC: The conversation did begin. The initial response was what probably could be expected. There were people who were concerned about the storyline and other people who embraced the storyline. Once people start to see whatís underneath Zarfís bravado, they are beginning to realize that sheís not as far from, terrible term, butÖ ëthe normí as people may think.

RVM: Thatís great to hear. Theyíre sort of throwing you to the wolves with this storyline. Here youíre joining the cast in the middle of a serial killer storyline and as such, theyíve made you one of the prime suspects.

JC: (laughs) Baptism by fire!

RVM: Haha! How is it adjusting to the long hours. I know soap work looks like a blast, but you work really long hours on shows like that.

JC: Even after my first week, I was like, ë No one can ever make fun of anyone on daytime.í Because they work so hard, and it goes so quickly. You get your scripts and youíre still trying to learn the one from the day before, or maybe try and get ahead, but good luck. Then you go and camera blocking happens so quickly, then all of a sudden youíre there. Thereís very little rehearsal. Iím from mainly a theatre background, so Iím learning so quickly what it takes, and thank God for Eden and Alexa Havins (Babe) and Alicia Minshew (Kendall)óall of themóbecause theyíve been holding my hand, teaching me things. Theyíve just been so supportive of me because I donít get four weeks of rehearsal for this.

RVM: You are working with two of the most popular actresses in daytime (Eden and Alexa, whose relationship goes back to AMCís great baby-switching scandal). Whatís that like?

JC: Lucky for me they are two of the most wonderful girls I have ever met. And they are both so committed to what they do and itís just wonderful as an actor to look into someone elseís eye and know that theyíre right there for you and theyíre listening, as that character. All of us together give way to another way of thinking and I find I miss them at the end of the day.

RVM: Is it tough for youóbecause youíre Zarf all dayódo you get caught up in the character?

JC: I was reading scripts that weíre shooting next week last night and I was very moved and I was sad and I was having personal reactions to these stories. I find Iím getting very attached to the people of Pine Valley, as dramatic as they are. Never a dull moment.

For more on Jeffrey Carlson, visit his official Web site at www.Jeffrey-Carlson.com. For more on All My Children, visit www.ABC.go.com/Daytime/AllMyChildren.