Why Evans Nixed ‘One Life’ to Stay on ‘World Turns’
Soap Opera Weekly
September 28, 2004
Mary Beth Evans wants to set the record straight about the tug of war over her services that went on between ATWT and OLTL. “There were no hard feelings,” stresses Evans, who has been recurring on ATWT for four years.
“It’s absolutely business. I knew that I wasn’t going to have a story for six months. OLTL wanted to know if I wanted to go on their show. So I called Chris Goutman, because that’s where my first commitment is. I am a loyal person by nature. I would have stayed on Days my whole life had it worked out (laughs).” After accepting ATWT’s blessing, Evans accepted the recurring role of Asa’s doctor on OLTL. But ATWT later countered with a big story for Sierra. So she signed a one year contract to remain in Oakdale. “It felt bad to then call back One Life and say, ‘Geez, we really didn’t mean for this to happen’,“ she relates. ” I love Bob Woods, and Frank Valentini is one of the grooviest guys I have ever met. I was excited to do something on that show, too. But I didn’t want to burn any bridges. We didn’t want them to come back with any kind of offer…we didn’t want it to turn into something where it was having to choose.”
Evans, who returns on air November 15, will commute between NY and LA where she and her family make their home.
She has also rented an apartment in NY, so her husband and their three kids can visit. “We are all trying to look at it like an adventure,” she smiles. “Be flexible, and go back and forth with my husband bringing the kids out more. It may be a total crazy notion that I can do this, but I’m going to give it a shot.”
Evans is looking forward to digging into Sierra’s story, although she doesn’t know many details. “I think she’s trying to figure out Craig’s deal [in Lucy’s kidnapping and Alan’s murder]. Which she should,” muses Evans. “I did think it was odd to leave that unresolved.”
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