Y&R Fan Event Coverage - NEW | OLTL's Melissa Archer (Natalie) | GL's Crystal Chappell (Olivia; ex-Maggie, OLTL; ex-Carly, DAYS) | Soaps In Depth | OLTL's Gina Tognoni (ex-Kelly) | Y&R's Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) | Amc's Walt Willey (Jackson) | The 'Ripa' Effect | Laura Addicts | Kelly Ripa Haven
OLTL's Melissa Archer (Natalie)
What is your favorite childhood memory?
"Well, I grew up in Texas so I'd have to say all the birthday parties we had out on the ranch."
How did you first realize you wanted to become an actress?
"When I was in second grade, I had to sing in front of my whole school. Now that I look back, it wasn't that many people.. because it was a small school, but I didn't know that then. I was *so* petrified... scared to death, but nothing could ever compare to that feeling I had when I received my first round of applause. Till this day, I'm afraid of singing in front of crowds, karaoke helps me out a lot though. But yeah, that was the day I knew I wanted to be an actress."
Can you tell me about your audition to the soap?
"One word: 'Nerves.'"
Who was your mentor on the set when you joined the show?
"When I joined, Erin Torpey [Jessica] took me under her wing like her real life sister. She's been great, I don't know what I'd do without her. She's my roomie."
What is the best advice you received from the OLTL cast and crew members?
"I was so scared at first because I didn't know if I was playing the character of Natalie 'correctly.'.. I was bugging out one day and Erika [Slezak, Viki] came up to me and was like 'Calm down and just make Natalie your own.'"
How has working with Erika Slezak (Viki) and Erin Torpey (Jessica) been like?
"What a thrill, these girls! I couldn't have asked for better co-stars. I adore them, and I totally admire both of them."
How are they in real-life?
"Erika is a lot like her character.. she just knows *everything!* And I say that with the utmost sincerity. Erin is a butter cup, and she's just so talented. She's a lot like me in real life... we get a long great."
Who would you like to work with on One Life to Live, that you haven't worked with yet?
"I want to work with little Kristin [Alderson] (Starr).. I just get a kick out of her!"
Can you describe your funniest fan encounter?
"I have so many!! I just told one of the mags my McDonalds one, but here's another... I was walking on Broadway, near Times Square... and out of nowhere this little old lady pulled my hair so hard.. I was like 'Ouch!!!!' and she got up in my face and was like 'THAT'S FOR RUINING JESSICA'S LIFE!'"
If you, Melissa, lived in Llanview in real-life, which place would you hangout in the most?
"I'd hang out at the Break Bar."
Who do you hangout with off-set from OLTL's cast and crew?
"I spend a lot of time off-set with Jessica Morris [Jennifer]."
What is the funniest thing that happened to you on the set?
"Like the second week of work, I fell down the stairs. Pretty embarrassing."
"Thanks for the support guys! Had a great time at Super Soap, hope to see you all again."
Melissa Archer