PC's Julie Pinson Checks In

By Jenifer BarendTrauma.

Drama. Break-ups, make-ups... and another break-up. New friends, mysterious strangers, proposals from sworn enemies that come from out of the blue -- and now morning sickness! Dr. Eve Lambert has had plenty to deal with during her time in Port Charles, and no one’s happier about that than Julie Pinson, who relishes the four years she’s spent portraying her sometimes bitter, often sought-after (paging Ian, Kevin and Chris) alter ego. Curious about the turns that Eve will take in PC’s latest -- and most hush-hush -- book yet, Digest Online quizzed Pinson about what’s next for Eve, how the actress has changed since the show’s debut and why she loves life in Port Charles. As always, Pinson was bubbly, straightforward and eager to dish the details of her day-to-day life on set. Read on to find out if Ian and Eve will finally find happiness, why Pinson is more excited than ever about her work (it’s killing her to keep key storylines under wraps because they’re so good! she squeals more than once), why she got freaked out in the wardrobe department -- and what prompted the actress to dub herself the "luckiest girl in the world!"

Digest Online: How does it feel to be playing a pregnant character all of a sudden?!

Julie Pinson: It’s pretty darn foreign! [Laughs] It’s really interesting. I remember when I was in a fitting with the wardrobe people, I had to try on one of those bodysuits that has the cushion in the front, so it’s a full bodysuit thing. Then I put some pregnancy clothes on over that, and it was the first time I ever saw what I would look like pregnant and it freaked me out. I said, "Get this thing off of me as soon as possible!" It was just really weird, you know? But I’ve gotten used to it now.

Digest Online: Have you been talking to friends who were pregnant to find out about morning sickness and everything else that goes along with pregnancy?

Pinson: Marie Wilson (Karen) [Laughs], who just had a baby. I see her on the set all the time, so I always ask her about that stuff and I kind of go with what she says. So Eve does whatever Marie Wilson did when she was pregnant.

Digest Online: What does this baby represent to Eve?

Pinson: I think it’s a sign to her that everything is OK for now, for this moment, especially now that [Ian’s] proposed and they’re gonna get married. You know, supposedly everything’s fantastic. For now [Laughs].

Digest Online: Has your work changed now that PC is on a book format and you have shorter storyline arcs?

Pinson: It really hasn’t [changed] that much, because I think that Eve and Ian have been a part of all the stories so far, so I’ve still been working quite a bit. But actually, within the last two weeks I’ve been pretty happy because I’ve had a couple of days off. With this "Tainted Love" storyline, Eve and Ian are gonna be pretty happy for a bit. Before we were working everyday, which was really great but also kind of exhausting. So I’m kind of liking this "Tainted Love" storyline so far!

Digest Online: Does it feel like a huge vacation that for now there’s no trauma for Eve and Ian -- though I’m sure it’s soon to come!

Pinson: Oh, yeah, it’ll come! But for now I think it’s a nice change, instead of having to cry everyday. But now she’s pregnant so she’s still crying everyday! [Laughs]

 Digest Online: Why do you think Ian is the man for Eve at this point in her life?

Pinson: Well, because it’s just that full thing that punches you in the stomach. When you meet your soulmate you just know, I guess... from what people have told me [Laughs]. I think that when they went through all that time together on the island with the chief [Laughs] it kind of proved that they were meant to be together. And Eve knows with all her heart and all her soul that they’re supposed to be together

Digest Online: How has your relationship with Thorsten [Kaye; Ian] developed as you guys have been working together

Pinson: Oh, my gosh, he’s really cool! I love working with Thorsten, because nothing’s ever too hard with him. He always makes things easy and we just love to joke around together. It’s almost like a brother/sister thing, you know? It’s just great. He makes me laugh and I love that. And I think that’s kind of how it is on the Port Charles set, anyway. I think it’s a really fantastic crew and cast, and it’s never hard. I’m just so lucky, you know?

Digest Online: At the beginning you were working more with Kin [Shriner; Scott] and Jon [Lindstrom; Kevin]. Do you miss the closeness that your character had with them?

Pinson: Yeah, I do, ‘cause Jon Lindstrom is one of the most phenomenal actors that I’ve ever worked with. I mean, I just love to watch him work. I just loved to see what was going on behind those eyes, and that was fascinating. That was really great, so I love it now when I have scenes with Jon. I miss that. And Kin is just a wack job! [Laughs] He’s always fun, and I still see Kin ‘cause we’re on the same lot and stuff. I see him all the time and we always go back to that rapport that we had at the beginning.

Digest Online: Did you think it was a quick transition from Eve and Kevin being a couple to Eve and Ian...?

Pinson: Oh, yeah! [Laughs] Sure! But I guess when you work on a dramatic daytime show, that’s what happens. I mean, we’re not talking about real life; we’re telling a story. It’s not fact, it’s fiction, and I think that you can’t stay in one place for too long on a soap opera because it gets boring. I mean, [the transition] was kind of interesting [Laughs], but hey -- I just do what I’m told!

Digest Online: What’s been the fan reaction to that transition?

Pinson: Well, I think it’s been favorable because I think there were a lot of fans that were still rooting for the Kevin and Lucy pairing, and then the fans saw the chemistry between Eve and Ian, and it made the transition that much easier for the fans.

Digest Online: So far, what’s your experience been like working with Michael Easton (Michael/Caleb)? The storyline so far is so interesting -- and it’s only the beginning!

Pinson: Oh, my God! I think he’s fantastic. I think he’s absolutely fantastic. And I’ve been watching some of the air shows recently where Caleb has been introduced, and you just look at him and you go, "Wow. Oh my God, this is really good." I’m really excited about this storyline; I think it’s gonna be fantastic. I mean, it’s gonna be unlike anything you’ve ever seen in daytime.

Digest Online: I’m sure that we’re gonna see Caleb cause some problems for Eve and Ian down the line. Is there anything you can tease about that, because I know you can’t reveal too much!

Pinson: Oh, believe me, I know! [Laughs] Absolutely he’s gonna cause trouble. That’s why he’s there, and I can only say that... I can’t say anything [Laughs], so I’ll just state the obvious.

Digest Online: Like you said, it’s so interesting to watch because he’s such a presence on screen.

Pinson: Oh, my gosh! It’s fantastic. And it’s really interesting, because I started working with him when he was just playing the priest and so I got used to him in that character, which is just mild-mannered and very sweet and loving and that kind of thing. And then all of a sudden when I started seeing him become Caleb, it was just such a great difference. There’s such evil behind those eyes! It’s just great to see him transform.

Digest Online: Can you believe that the show is four years old at this point?

Pinson: I’m so glad! I"m so happy. It’s fantastic, and I’m really lucky that I’m still there, you know, that I still have this fantastic job. And I think that there’s a lot more to come, especially with this storyline. I think that this is really gonna catapult us. I know that when I was at the Emmys about a month ago, everyone was talking about this storyline and how hush-hush and top secret it was, and trying to figure out what was going to happen. I think it’s fantastic when you get that kind of buzz. And it really is gonna be great [Laughs]. They keep it a secret from us too, but I kind of have an inkling of what’s coming up and it’s just... Aah! It’s so cool.

Digest Online: How do you think your own work has changed over time as you look back and watch yourself on the show?

Pinson: I think that Eve has become more of... I guess you would call it a heroine. She’s a lot more mellow. I did really enjoy Eve in the beginning, though. I thought she was very strong in the beginning, but she had a lot of hate in her [Laughs], which has now dissipated since she was with Kevin and Ian. I guess she’s grown like we all do in real life

Digest Online: Well, how do you think you’ve grown in the time that you’ve been on the show?

Pinson: I think that I’m a lot more confident. Now that they’ve allowed me to stay for four years and ABC has given me a lot of confidence, it’s almost like Sally Field: "They like me! They really like me!" [Laughs] I’m happy that they still enjoy Eve and they always write such great stuff for her.

Digest Online: Are there qualities in the character that you think you relate to even more as Eve becomes more a part of you?

Pinson: Yeah, I think so. I’ve always played Eve as part of Julie. I think that every actor has to put a part of themselves into the character that they play because it makes them more human and it makes them really vulnerable. And I think that the fans, when they see Eve or see Ian or see Kevin, they’re actually seeing a part of the real person in real life, and I think that’s why they feel close to each character. They feel like they’re seeing Jon Lindstrom, they’re seeing a part of Thorsten Kaye, you know?

Digest Online: What’s interesting is that Eve has been with Kevin and now she’s with Ian -- and Chris also proposed to her. She’s kind of the It Girl!

Pinson: [Laughs] Thank you, [Head Writer] Barbara Estensten... and all the writers for that! I just thank God. Personally, I think that Eve should go through every man on the show. Julie Pinson thinks that, ‘cause they’re all really cute! I wouldn’t mind, you know? I get to kiss cute boys all the time -- it’s really fun.

Digest Online: When you get to go to work, kiss cute guys and get paid for it, there’s just nothing better.

Pinson: Not too bad, man, I’m telling ‘ya! I’m the luckiest girl in the world! [Laughs]

Digest Online: At the beginning of the show there was a lot of focus on the interns and the work that they did on a daily basis. Would you like to get back to that a little bit more?

Pinson: I don’t know. I think that the show has just evolved out of that. It’s not so much about the hospital anymore; it’s just about these people’s lives. I think that that might be a little more interesting than just seeing them do the ER thing, and I think it’s more fun to kind of see what goes on: the gossip and the drama and the loving and stabbing people in the back and that kind of thing.

Digest Online: What do you want to accomplish next on the show?

Pinson: I don’t know if this could ever happen now that Eve is so nice and stuff [Laughs], but I kind of want to see Eve delve more into her past and maybe meet her mother or her sister, so you can see where Eve came from. And all the hate that she had in her when she first came on the show, I think it would be nice to see why she’s like that. It would be fun for me to play.

Digest Online: I just have to say that the ad campaign is awesome! And it’s all over the place.

Pinson: Oh, I know! I was watching Primetime Live the other night, and all of a sudden I see [an ad for] "Tainted Love." I was like, "Cool!" ABC is really behind the show, which is fantastic. They really believe in the show and there’s good reason to, as far as I’m concerned.

Digest Online: I know you did an episode of Dharma and Greg, which was great. Is that something you want to do more of?

Pinson: Absolutely, yeah! Hell, yeah! [Laughs] Talk to any actor: "Yeah, I’d love to be on a hit prime time sitcom." It wasn’t even that different, because it was almost taped like we tape a soap opera: it was five cameras, and almost like doing a play, like you do on a soap opera. It’s not like film, where it takes a lot more time and there’s a lot more waiting going on. The good thing about Dharma and Greg was that we rehearsed a lot. On PC we tape a show a day, so everything’s really quick. On Dharma I had four days to rehearse my two scenes. Four days to rehearse! That’s, like, unheard of in daytime. You get 10 minutes of rehearsal and then it’s in the can. It was just fun working with everybody and working at a little bit of a different pace.

Digest Online: What are you proudest of during the time that you’ve been there?

Pinson: I think it would be the way my work has grown, because when I started I was so green, as they say, and I’ve really gotten a lot more confident in my work. I think that when [the writers] explored Eve’s more vulnerable side, like when she married Kevin and fell in love, that was some good stuff and I’m really proud of it. In fact, Pinson is pretty darn proud of her entire cast and crew these days.

Digest Online spoke to the actress on her day off and was shocked to find out that she wasn’t entirely pleased -- she feared that PC would be pre-empted in L.A. "Shoot! I think I’m gonna miss the show today, and I wanted to see what’s gonna happen! I don’t know what’s going on with everybody else’s storylines, so it’s kind of fun to watch it," she explains. Besides, Pinson adds, that’s how you know when a show is only getting better: "It’s your own show and you’re used to it, but you still want to see it everyday. Things are really cool here lately."