Post by jag11 on Sept 7, 2007 7:23:24 GMT -5
September 4, 2007 CBS Soaps In Depth
One would think that when she's not playing Y&R's capricious and conniving Gloria, her portrayer, Judith Chapman, would be simply relaxing, soaking up the rays in Palm Springs, the desert home she shares with her longtime beau, James. Yet these days have been a little different--and a lot busier--for the showbiz vet. "When I'm not in L.A., I'm plastering, painting and remodeling," she says with a bright smile, noting that the object of her handiwork is St. James, the restaurant the couple has run together for more than two decades. "After 25 years, St. James is going in a completely different direction. It was known for--other than its wonderful, interesting food--all of the things that we brought back from our travels. Ornamental masks from all over the world, from Morocco and Asia, our wine buckets that we picked up in Katmandu. All of this stuff has went bye-bye. We cleaned out the entire restaurant, and it's going to be transformed into a Tuscany villa. I'm so excited. It's a big change."
Good Mourning
Chapman should be used to change by now, considering the nonstop action--not to mention the husbands!--her alter ego has been involved with since joining Y&R almost three years ago. "Gloria has lost three husbands in three years--Tom, John and William," the actress chuckles. "I keep telling my agent if he has any clients who are like, 'Oh, I have an audition and I will be playing opposite Judith Chapman,' do not get excited! They're dropping like flies!"
While that alone may have fans associating the description "black widow" to the gold-digging Gloria, Chapman is quick to defend her on-screen persona. "She really loved John," she insists. "Gloria's thing is that she had made so many bad choices where men are concerned, so anybody who shows her the least amount of kindness, who lets her be herself without judging her or ridiculing her or putting her down in any way, she falls for."
Ready, Set... Go!
Of course, Glo's decision to go after William Bardwell before John was even cold in the ground solidified her avaricious reputation with a lot of viewers. But Chapman reminds that in the beginning, it wasn't romance the vixen was looking for but a little revenge. "People forget that she originally went after Bardwell, because she wanted to get back at Ashley, who treated her like dirt. But then over time, she went, 'Okay, I'm tired of sleeping alone.' "
Chapman says that her biggest regret was that Gloria didn't have a longer mourning period for John. And, with another spouse biting the dust, she hopes that Gloria won't be husband-hunting anytime soon. In fact, considering the scheming matriarch recently inherited a sizable estate from the late Bardwell, the actress is crossing her fingers that Gloria will soon find herself in the throes of another kind of action. "This [inheritance] has given her a whole new lease on life, and I sincerely hope that the writers reactivate the feud between Gloria and Jack. He brings out her street smarts."
"And street smarts mixed with a little bit of sophistication makes Gloria one he** of a broad," adds her portrayer, big blue eyes twinkling. "That's what I love about her."
The Road To Gloria
by Julie McElwain
The more things change, the better Judith Chapman (Gloria) likes 'em!
One would think that when she's not playing Y&R's capricious and conniving Gloria, her portrayer, Judith Chapman, would be simply relaxing, soaking up the rays in Palm Springs, the desert home she shares with her longtime beau, James. Yet these days have been a little different--and a lot busier--for the showbiz vet. "When I'm not in L.A., I'm plastering, painting and remodeling," she says with a bright smile, noting that the object of her handiwork is St. James, the restaurant the couple has run together for more than two decades. "After 25 years, St. James is going in a completely different direction. It was known for--other than its wonderful, interesting food--all of the things that we brought back from our travels. Ornamental masks from all over the world, from Morocco and Asia, our wine buckets that we picked up in Katmandu. All of this stuff has went bye-bye. We cleaned out the entire restaurant, and it's going to be transformed into a Tuscany villa. I'm so excited. It's a big change."
Good Mourning
Chapman should be used to change by now, considering the nonstop action--not to mention the husbands!--her alter ego has been involved with since joining Y&R almost three years ago. "Gloria has lost three husbands in three years--Tom, John and William," the actress chuckles. "I keep telling my agent if he has any clients who are like, 'Oh, I have an audition and I will be playing opposite Judith Chapman,' do not get excited! They're dropping like flies!"
While that alone may have fans associating the description "black widow" to the gold-digging Gloria, Chapman is quick to defend her on-screen persona. "She really loved John," she insists. "Gloria's thing is that she had made so many bad choices where men are concerned, so anybody who shows her the least amount of kindness, who lets her be herself without judging her or ridiculing her or putting her down in any way, she falls for."
Ready, Set... Go!
Of course, Glo's decision to go after William Bardwell before John was even cold in the ground solidified her avaricious reputation with a lot of viewers. But Chapman reminds that in the beginning, it wasn't romance the vixen was looking for but a little revenge. "People forget that she originally went after Bardwell, because she wanted to get back at Ashley, who treated her like dirt. But then over time, she went, 'Okay, I'm tired of sleeping alone.' "
Chapman says that her biggest regret was that Gloria didn't have a longer mourning period for John. And, with another spouse biting the dust, she hopes that Gloria won't be husband-hunting anytime soon. In fact, considering the scheming matriarch recently inherited a sizable estate from the late Bardwell, the actress is crossing her fingers that Gloria will soon find herself in the throes of another kind of action. "This [inheritance] has given her a whole new lease on life, and I sincerely hope that the writers reactivate the feud between Gloria and Jack. He brings out her street smarts."
"And street smarts mixed with a little bit of sophistication makes Gloria one he** of a broad," adds her portrayer, big blue eyes twinkling. "That's what I love about her."