Kiki Jerome has gone to that great soap in the sky, but the actress who played her on General Hospital, Hayley Erin, can be seen on Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, set to debut on Freeform on March 20!
Soap Hub recently chatted with Erin about Kiki, her Daytime Emmy pre-nom, The Perfectionists and more. Read on for the scoop!
We take it that wasn’t you in the body bag when Ava (Maura West) ordered Kiki to get up?
No. The show got me out because I needed to be in Portland for The Perfectionists. A week later, I got a call from GH asking how tall I was. They needed a body double. When I watched this major scene for Maura, I wish I could have been there!
You seem to be okay with Kiki being killed.
I am. I’m truly flattered that they killed Kiki off and didn’t recast. I’d love to come back anytime and be in a dream or haunt someone. I love the genre, the people. It’s always going to be my first home.
Did Emme Rylan (Lulu) replace you as Abby on The Young and the Restless?
Yes. We talked about that all the time! Emme is a doll. I had replaced Darcy Rose Byrnes [as Abby] only two years before.
Within three years, Darcy Rose had ‘turned into’ Emme, who’s a woman with a family! It’s so funny they say SORASing (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome) works!
It’d be cool if you, Emme, and Melissa Ordway (Abby, Y&R) present at the Daytime Emmys together.
That would be fun! Pitch it!
Congrats on your pre-nomination? What did you submit?
Thank you. I submitted Kiki on the witness stand, a scene from the anniversary of Morgan’s (Bryan Craig) death, talking to Griffin (Matt Cohen) at the Nurses’ Ball, and scenes with Maura.
You had a nice exchange on social media with Maura not too long ago.
We stay in touch. It’s nice to send messages that say I’m thinking about you. Maura’s such a professional. There’s something about her intensity onscreen. She’s a genuinely invested actor.
She has this innate …continue reading on the next page —>
She has this innate talent and skill to take what’s on the page and she doesn’t make the scene about ‘Maura West’ — she makes it about Ava Jerome. When you play a character it doesn’t matter whether or not you like what you’re doing. Your character is going to make choices you may not.
Tell me about the Perfectionists.
I actually can’t say much. My role is ‘To Be Announced.’ But I can tease that she’s a fiery chick! When I got to the end of auditioning for my role, I thought I need to get into this show. I watched three seasons in a week. I love it.
Have you finished filming?
Yes. Fingers crossed we get to go back [for a second season]. It was the time of my life!
The sexual harassment story on GH was very timely. It started off with something simple like Dr. Bensch (James DePaiva) giving Kiki a copy of Gray’s Anatomy. Then, it became more invasive.
Soap operas have the ability to tell stories in ways that other shows just can’t. We’re on an hour a day every day. We can do the slow burn and take our time. I’m saying ‘We’, but I’m not part of the ‘We’ anymore.
No, but it’s great that you talk that way.
It is the hardest job! Being on a soap opera is a badge of honor.
The Perfectionists premieres Wednesday, March 20 at 8 p.m. EST on Freeform.
General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes.
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