News Update: Soap Vet Jason Thompson Takes A Deep Dive Into Billy Abbott

Jason Thompson, who was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for playing The Young and the Restless’ troubled Billy Abbott, is longing to get back to work.

Jason Thompson: Emmy Nominee

“I really miss Billy,” Thompson told TV Insider, “and there are so many people I can’t wait to see again.”

While the word is the show will start back in production around July 6, there is still a lot that can happen between now and then.

At least Thompson can find some joy with his Emmy nod. While this is his first for playing Billy, the actor has been nominated five times before—all for his turn as Patrick Drake on General Hospital—but he has yet to take home the statue.

His story last year definitely had the kinds of oomph that Emmy voters look for. Billy has seen his life fall to pieces this past year, with a strange alternate personality (which you can tell if he starts chewing gum!) who has pushed away the love of his life, Victoria. Add to it a new job that brings him closer to longtime friend Lily Winters, and there’s definitely lots of drama in his life.

Thompson himself described the character as “damaged, full of vulnerabilities [but also full of] excitement and vitality.”

Billy lost his 7-year-old daughter in 2013, but this year those old wounds were reopened when the devious Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) returned to town—and he was the one driving the car who killed his little girl!

“Billy thought he was over certain things, but we all have those triggers,” Thompson said.

As for the Daytime Emmys, Thompson knows he’s up against some heavyweights in Days of our Lives’ Thaao Penghlis (Tony), General Hospital’s Jon Lindstrom (Ryan/Kevin), and Steve Burton (Jason) and The Bold and the Beautiful’s Thorsten Kaye (Ridge), and is looking forward to the competition—even though it’s virtual. “It’s never not nerve-wracking,” he said.