Interview: Ilene Kristen, 'One Life to Live'

For the larger part of four decades, Ilene Kristen has been one of the very few actors fans and critics can rely on to create original characters and deliver unforgettable performances.

Which is why it’s hard to believe Kristen has yet to win an Emmy Award for her immeasurable contributions to the soap opera art form.

Heck, it seems unfathomable when one is reminded that Kristen only received her first Emmy nomination in 2004 as One Life To Live’s Roxy Balsom.

Born Ilene Schatz, Kristen re-invented herself when she left home at age 16 to pursue her myriad of dreams. Today, she’s realized all those dreams by capturing the imagination of the public through her singing, dancing and acting. In 1975, the Brooklyn native first shot to fame when she was cast as the hot mess, Delia Reid, on Ryan’s Hope — a role she would play to critical and viewer acclaim until 1979.

In 1982, Kristen was cast on One Life as Georgina Whitman but was fired a year later when ABC felt she was “too overweight.”

Having returned to Ryan’s Hope in 1986, Kristen remained as one of daytime’s most enduring vixens until the Emmy-winning series was cancelled, a decision that ticked off uber Ryan’s Hope fan, Rosie O’Donnell, along with the rest of the country.

After brief, memorable stints on Another World and Loving, Kristen brought the snap, crackle and pop to One Life fans by giving birth to one of Llanview’s most unique and entertaining characters, Roxy Balsom, the clueless, selfish yet lovable hairdresser with a heart of gold (and a penchant for raping the English language).

Having earned two consecutive Daytime Emmy nominations as best supporting actress, the theatre star and cabaret singer is considered one of the most talented actresses working in the business today.

With her storyline heating up thanks to the return of Mitch Laurence and Roxy’s breakout friendship with Kyle Lewis, TV Guide Canada thought it was the perfect time to reconnect with the sassy artist about all things soaps.

TVGuide.ca: Let’s talk Rex’s Daddy! Roscoe Born is back as Mitch Laurence. I heard head writer Ron Carlivati first met Roscoe Born at your birthday party earlier this summer. Do you think that put a nugget in RC’s twisted mind? Ilene Kristen: Yes, definitely. TVG: What’s it like having Roscoe back on the show after all these years? IK: You know what? I’m totally thrilled and excited, but we have yet to work together. I’m dying to tape our scenes and see how Mitch’s return affects Roxy’s life. This storyline has a lot of potential. I can’t wait. I have no idea where the storyline is headed but that makes it more exciting as an actress. Roscoe and I share a deep history as friends. Actually, I included scenes between Roscoe and I on my first Emmy nomination reel.

TVG: One of the perks you do enjoy is being employed by daytime TV’s best soap opera.
IK: I’m very lucky and grateful to work on such a fantastic soap. Having been on one of the best ever, Ryan’s Hope, I have to say I’m lucky and one very grateful actress. [Executive producer] Frank Valentini is a very sophisticated guy. Our lighting, music, and sets are the best in daytime. I may be prejudice … Actually, let me tell you a story: every two years, I get a voice that speaks to me and it’s never wrong. Recently, it said to me that One Life should be No. 1 in the ratings. Why it isn’t, I don’t know.

TVG: [Joking] Is that voice speaking to you now, Ilene? [Laughs]
IK: No! I know The Young and the Restless has had that mantle forever, but my voice never lies.

TVG: Well, One Life is No. 1 in quality. As for the Nielsen Ratings, I wouldn’t trust them to measure a penis.
IK: [Laughs] I agree! I don’t think the Nielsen’s really have a clue of who is really watching our shows. At all. I pray we have a lot more time on the air. But you never know where life will take us, right?

TVG: From your voice … Do you prefer to be on contract or recurring?
IK: Listen, there are a lot of perks working on recurring, but would I like to be on contract? Of course. I’ve been very successful at creating unusual characters and I will always consider myself a part of the team regardless of what my status is with a show. I give 100 per cent of my time, energy, passion and love to every job I am hired for. Would it be nice to have my picture in the opening? For sure. There are things I miss like not being invited to the Emmys unless I’m nominated. It’s minor stuff, really. But the upside is that on recurring, I have more control over my schedule and I’m able to tackle other projects. Funnily enough, I was taken off contract after I was nominated for an Emmy. Everyone is scared that they are going to lose their jobs, so I’m happy just to have one in this economy.

TVG: You have definitely put your stamp on every soap character you’ve played.
IK: Thank you. I loved playing Delia on Ryan’s Hope so much. And I feel the same way about Roxy, if not more so. At the end of the day, my main goal or impetus is to create a great character that resonates and connects with the audience. And I think I have on One Life. In soaps, you have to create memorable characters so the viewers will take the ride with you. I grew up as a fan and an audience member, so I know what engages people. In this business, you’re only as good as your last show. If you’re not working as much, then you worry that the fans will forget about you. Listen, I’d rather perform than eat! Performing is in my blood. With Delia, viewers went to sleep thinking about her. Claire never disappointed her viewers. She always showcased the audience favourites. I’m on the streets and on the subways as much as anyone, so I talk to our fans a lot. And they tell me they really want to see more of Roxy. When she’s not in Llanview for three weeks, the fans ask me: “Where is she? Is Roxy on a gambling junket?” [Laughs] But I have no control over how often we see her.

TVG: As much as I loved Delia, I think Roxy is the best character you’ve ever played in your venerable TV career. Do you agree? IK: Yes, I agree. Completely. I’ve had much more fun playing Roxy than Delia. In fact, I don’t think I’ve had more fun in my life than with Rox. That’s why I’m sad when I’m not working as much as I’d like. Roxy was born from the ashes of 9/11. I got the part on Sept. 10, 2001. I started on Sept. 27 vowing that I was going to give the audience something fun for them to take their mind off of what was happening in the world. I was inspired. And I continue to do so ever since. I think Roxy’s a three-dimensional character and someone I have enjoyed getting to know. TVG: Ditto. I think of Roxy as a real person. I can literally smell her from my screen. I’d hang out with Roxy. IK: Thank you. Roxy is definitely closer to me as a character than Delia ever was. Delia was the antithesis of everything I was as a person so I had to make these huge leaps as an actor. Delia cried all the time and she would do anything, and I mean anything, to get what she wanted.

TVG: Were you surprised that you created not one but two breakout roles in your career? And the latter in the middle of your career? Before you joined the show, One Life wasn’t really known for nor did they boast those kooky, scene-stealing characters.
IK: That’s true. I know because one of my friends made me watch One Life before I joined the show. My friend, who is a huge One Life fan, had predicted that I was going to be on the show one day. So you’re right — there was something a bit straight and dry about One Life before I came on. Interestingly, I based Roxy on the character I played in the play, Marvin’s Room. I played the character Meryl Streep played in the movie, so that was my prototype for Roxy. I prayed that one day I could take this character in Marvin’s Room and play her on TV. And I got to with Roxy.

TVG: Be careful what you wish for.
IK: That’s how my life works.

TVG: You clearly influenced the writing of Roxy, which rarely happens anymore on daytime. You must be proud …
IK: I am very proud. I owe my success with Roxy to Chris Whitesell and Lorraine Broderick, but particularly Lorraine. I had worked with her on Another World when I played Madeline Thompson, a character who desperately wanted to be a part of high society. I was only on for three months before the show was cancelled. Lorraine wasn’t even the head writer at the time, but she really wanted to write for me and put me on contract but the show went off the air. Several years later, Lorraine got her wish with Roxy. I owe Lorraine for creating Roxy. Lorraine is one of the best writers I have ever worked with. In fact, Lorraine’s writing reminds me a lot of Claire Labine’s. Besides being crazy talented, they are both wonderful human beings and women.

TVG:  I’ve always loved Lorraine’s work and hail her as one of the most underrated super-talents in the business. I wish she was still working.
IK: Totally. I wanted to win the Emmy just so I could thank Lorraine. And of course, Chris and Gary Tomlin. But it was Lorraine who brought me on to One Life. Gary had known me from Another World. They had trouble utilizing me on Another World because they had their born-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks character in Judi Evans as Paulina. But I knew I had that rock ‘n’ roll grit that Judi didn’t have. To me, Madeline was every party girl gone wrong. I know that character very well because I work in the club scene and these women would come up to me and tell me their story. I remember one chick was 35, had three kids, and still partied like it was the ‘80s. God bless her!

TVG: That was me! [Laughs]
IK: [Laughs] When I got One Life, I wanted to entertain the fans but I also wanted to be very hard-edged. Roxy was a villain with a heart.

TVG: Was it your idea to come up with Roxy’s infamous inarticulation?
IK: Sort of. Lorraine first came up with the fact that Roxy had problems pronouncing hypoglycemia, so after that, I ran with it. I always say it’s up to the actors to create chemistry with other actors and infuse personality in their characters. Be unique. Be original. There’s a lot of personality lacking in soap characters these days — and I blame the actors not the writers.

TVG: Which is one of the reasons why Roxy is fast-forward proof.
IK: One of my goals in acting is to make our viewers stop ironing when Roxy is on screen. I don’t know everything in the world, but I do know I was born with a natural umbilical chord to the audience. It’s a part of me. If you watch my live shows you know that. No one walks away from my live shows feeling cheated or bored.

TVG: And then Roxy’s romance with Max instantly made you a fan favourite.
IK: Then why do you think they dropped the story?

TVG: I dunno … because they’re morons? Daytime is the only medium that will kill a storyline that fans love for a political or backstage agenda, viewers or ratings be damned. IK: James DePaiva and I had fireworks, so I never understood why Roxy and Max’s unconventional marriage was capsized. That’s why I am always nervous when Roxy does get a storyline because I’ve been disappointed before. TVG: I think Brian Frons wanted to get James out for a while. If my memory serves me correctly, that was the time when ABC really began cutting their vets out of story. IK: Brian also had to cut a big salary from the show because Michael Easton was joining One Life — and he didn’t come cheap. So out James went. It was painful for me because I felt we were letting down the whole audience. It was terrible. Years later, though, I must say that Frank and Ron are the best in the business when it comes to respecting and utilizing their vets.

TVG: Poor Roxy hasn’t been laid since Max, right? IK: Pretty much! Roxy and Nigel had a thing even though that was just a weird storyline. But I did love working with Peter Bartlett. I thought One Life was setting up a love triangle between Viki, Charlie and Roxy. I thought Charlie could be Rex’s father. It’s funny — one day, I went up to Frank and asked him for a love interest because I told him in my real life I have more sex than the entire cast of One Life! [Laughs] At one point, I was dating three different guys at the same time! [Laughs] I said, "You’re wasting my real-life experience and hormones here, buddy!" [Laughs] TVG: [Joking] You slut! [Laughs] But Mitch is Roxy’s baby daddy now. Do you think Mitch raped Roxy? Why is she so scared of him? Mitch is Jessica’s father so it’s not like Rex couldn’t deal with that information if that wack job, Jess, could. IK: I have no idea. Maybe it’s not really Mitch. Who knows?

TVG: Do you wish writers would discuss storyline with their actors more often?
IK: Yeah, I do. Truth is stranger than fiction. I mean, could anyone have written the Michael Jackson story? Of course not. I know so many real-life colourful characters that would work perfectly as multi-faceted soap characters! Those are the characters that the fans respond to.

TVG: One of the biggest mysteries for me is why Roscoe Born, a sexy and super-talented actor, can never hold on to a soap gig for more than a few months. I’d make him my Stefano DiMera on One Life.
IK: Maybe this time everybody will be smart about it, including Roscoe. Maybe Mitch can really work this time around and hopefully One Life will not write him into a corner. Roscoe is very charming and they need to play that. Heck, I lived with a grifter bad boy like Mitch in real life! I had to kick the bastard out of my house but God was he ever charming. That’s an interesting beat to play especially since Roxy is a grifter herself.

TVG: Do you wish you worked with Erika Slezak more often? IK: Yes! Erika and I work very well together. I was stunned that One Life didn’t pair Niki and Roxy together. Can you imagine the trouble that pair could get into? Niki and Roxy out on the town … For the life of me, I didn’t understand that. It was a wasted opportunity. I also really liked Roxy’s scenes with Blair. I wish I worked with more actors. I would kill to work with Tuc Watkins, Robin Strasser and Carmen LePorto. Alas, Roxy is slightly isolated from the rest of the canvas. But I am so grateful that One Life lets Roxy play with Llanview’s younger set. We have such a superlative cast. It’s an embarrassment of riches, really. Even our [peripheral] actors like January LaVoy are amazing. Actually, January is one of the best character actresses I’ve seen in a long while. We have a stunning cast.

TVG: Ron was smart to use you in the show’s gay storyline.
IK: Wasn’t the gay wedding show so beautiful? I got so many comments on my Facebook page about it. The fans loved Roxy kissing that bigot!

TVG: Jackie Hoffman is amazing. Talk about character actors. I like how Eunice pops up everywhere. That reminds me of the old days of soaps.
IK: She was hysterical in Hairspray and Xanadu. She’s a phenomenal theatre and stage actor. She’s in the new Addams Family production. When you tape a show in New York City, it’s a bonus because you have a great acting pool to dip into.

TVG: What I find beautiful about the gay storyline on One Life is that the underlying message is Roxy’s new friendship with Kyle proves that true families are the ones you create and not necessarily the ones you are born into. What’s it like working with the very talented and popular Brett Claywell? IK: He’s fantastic. I hope their relationship continues. You’re right — Kyle and Roxy are becoming family. More than that, I am so honoured that Ron included me in this storyline because, as you know, I love the gays. I have always attracted a gay following … TVG: I can’t imagine why! [Laughs] As a vet, did you ever imagine that you’d live to see the day when 22 gay couples would tie the knot on a soap? IK: No. Never. Very proud of Ron for writing this timely storyline. It was very brave. After the vote in Maine, I admit I’m embarrassed to be an American. Jesse Ventura said it best: “If Americans could vote to bring back slavery, they would.”

TVG: Jesse’s a soap fan, too. Which soap actors do you admire? IK: Bernie Barrows always entranced me. I first saw him on The Secret Storm. That was the only soap I used to watch. I studied how he'd manoeuvre through a script. To be able to work with Bernie on Ryan’s Hope and Loving was a dream come true. Of course, Helen Gallagher, Kate Mulgrew, and Nancy Addison are excellent actors. Ryan’s Hope had a cast like no other. Growing up, I wasn’t a big soap fan because I am more a child of comedy. But I’m the kind of actress you can put anywhere and I’ll work. I’m like Teflon, I just stick. I love watching great actors — no matter what genre they work in.

TVG: Would you ever consider writing a soap?
IK: I’m not a great scriptwriter. I could do it if I had to, but my talents lie elsewhere. What I am really good at is editing and providing notes for a script.

TVG: [Joking] Would you mind visiting All My Children and helping them out?!
IK: I could if they asked me to. I have an editor’s eye. Also, I can watch an actor play a character for a week and tell them how to improve their character. It’s a real gift of mine. One Life wasn’t using me this summer, so I taught acting this summer for eight weeks and that was such a wonderful experience.

TVG: You have tackled pretty much everything under the sun  — is there anything you’d like to do that you haven’t yet?
IK: I’d love to host my own radio show. Something to do with jazz would be right up my alley. But I hope to continue working in the soap world forever. I love playing Roxy — and working with the best crew and cast in the business. When you watch other soaps, sometimes you have to wonder why no one seems to want to create stunning, beautiful, and excellent work, you know? It’s still possible. 

TVG: Well, we’ve got stunning, beautiful, and excellent when Roxy tramps it up on our screens. That will have to do for now.

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Nelson Branco is a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, and fab magazine, along with spearheading the soap coverage for TVGuide.ca's popular daytime TV hub. After graduating from Ryerson University in 1997, he moved from Toronto to New York in 1998 to take on the roles as senior news editor at Soap Opera Update. Branco first freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly as an intern in 1994, and after leaving Soap Update to help create and launch Bauer Publishing's In Touch Weekly in 2003, Branco continued to freelance occasionally for its sister publication, Soaps In Depth. Most recently, he helped create and launch Canada's first celebrity magazine, Weekly Scoop in 2005 as its news and entertainment director. Branco is also a contributor to a new TV show titled Planet Soap to air in Canada and America.