JUST IN: Soaps-Now! chats with Y&R's Sean Kanan

I was very excited when I heard that maybe some light would shed in this art heist storyline when it was announced that Sean Kanan would be taking his character of Deacon Sharpe, originally portrayed by him from 2000-2005 on The Bold of the Beautiful to The Young and the Restless. He also portrayed A.J. Quartermaine on General Hospital from 1992-1997. I recently chatted with him to talk about Deacon and The Young and the Restless.

How has your time on the Young and the Restless been so far?

So far so good! I know a fair amount of actors on the show, because I worked across the hall [at the Bold and the Beautiful] for five years, and obviously I know Adrienne [Frantz, Amber, Y&R]. It's the number one show in daytime, and for me it's like a dream come true. The best part of me is having the opportunity to reprise my character of Deacon. When you're one character then go to another soap and play another character. there is always a chance the audience may not like the new character, and I'm very fortunate that the fans have been good to Deacon. So, I'm a pretty happy guy these days.

How is it working with Adrienne and Michael [Graziadei, Daniel, Y&R] ?

I adore Adrienne, i've known her for maybe 12 years. We worked on Sunset Beach together, although I don't think at the same time, and obviously we worked on The Bold and the Beautiful together. I hired Adrienne to work in a film I produced called "Hack!", which she was terrific. I love working with Adrienne. Michael, who've I've just recently had the pleasure of getting to know is a terrific young actor. He's a very funny guy, very nice and really from day one, he's made me very welcome. Obviously I play a character that is his nemesis, and once the cameras stop rolling, we joke around. He's just a great guy.

What are some similarities and differences between Y&R and B&B?

Well, a lot has changed in the last three years I was last on daytime. I think with the demise of Guiding Light, there has been an industry-wide mandate to streamline the shows, and by that I mean they need to be leaner and meaner. As a result of that, from what I've seen on Y&R we do less takes, we get in and out more quickly, and also Y&R is an hour opposed to 30 mintues on B&B. For my i've had to recalibrate the way I work a little bit. I used to have the luxury on B&B of using at least one of our takes as a way of finding something within the scene, and unfortunately that's not really an option anymore. Now, we get in place, we shoot it, and that's it! Every acting job/medium has it's obstacles. Theater the best for an actor because you usually rehearse for several months, and once your up on stage nothing stops you for two hours. In film you take a couple of days to shoot five pages, in daytime you are taking one day to shoot fifty or sixty pages. With that comes certain parameters that may make it difficult.

Should fans expect so see Deacon around for a while?

I sure hope so! I really, really am loving working on this show. I feel really fortunate to be on the show. Everyone has been extremely nice to me. As long as I'm able to contribute to the show, I hope they will have me on, because I'm having a lot of fun.

Is your character of Deacon really diabolical or does he have a good heart?

No, not in anyway I think he's diabolical. I think he does have a good heart. I think he has perhaps changed since his three years off screen, but no doubt about it, I think he's a good person.

Out of all the actors on Y&R, not including the actors and actresses you are working with now, who would you want to work with?

I think I would have to say Eric Braeden [Victor Newman]. I have a lot of respect for him as an actor. I would really enjoy working with him, he is a professional.

A lot of fans have expressed interested in Deacon being paired with Michelle Stafford's Phyllis. What do you think of that?

I actually wouldn't mind that. I enjoy Michelle Stafford and I have lots of respect for her as an actress. I definitely believe that Deacon and Phyllis could bring heat on the screen. If it were to happen I would be all for it.

What storyline do you like the most going on at The Young and the Restless now?

Mine! Mine, of course. [laughs] I really, really like it!


Don't forget to check back for everything Sean Kanan and The Young and the Restless on Soaps-Now!, and we hope to catch back up with Sean soon!

Photoshoot picture Credit to CBS