Heather Tom Felt Like She Was ‘Playing Double Dutch’ in Early “Young and Restless” Scenes with Eric Braeden

Heather Tom recently discussed her experience working alongside Eric Braeden in the early scenes of Young & Restless. The actress reminisced about the challenges and thrills of acting opposite Braeden, who portrays Victor Newman on the popular soap opera. Tom shared her insights during an episode of the Soapy podcast, hosted by Greg Rikaart from Days of Our Lives and Rebecca Budig from The Bold and the Beautiful.

During her time on The Young and the Restless from 1990 to 2003, Tom embodied the character of Victoria Newman. She described how many of her initial scenes involved interactions with Braeden’s character, Victor. Tom highlighted Braeden’s unpredictable nature in his performances, stating that he often veered off on “tangents,” which kept her constantly on her toes. Despite the challenges, she expressed admiration for Braeden and valued the learning experience of working with him.

Tom’s soap opera journey continued as she portrayed Kelly Cramer on One Life to Live for three years after her role on The Young and the Restless. Since 2007, she has been a part of The Bold and the Beautiful as Katie Logan, where she has also ventured into directing and writing for the show. Reflecting on her career, Tom acknowledged feeling fortunate to have been a part of established soap opera families throughout her acting endeavours.

The actress highlighted the differences in her various soap opera roles, pointing out the distinctiveness of her character Kelly on One Life to Live compared to Victoria on The Young and the Restless. Tom also emphasised the camaraderie she shares with her on-screen sisters on The Bold and the Beautiful, Jennifer Gareis and Katherine Kelly Lang, describing their relationship as a mix of competition and mutual support.

In a previous interview with PEOPLE, Tom recalled a particularly intense scene with Braeden in which her character, Victoria, slaps his character, Victor. She described feeling apprehensive about the scene, as it was a significant moment that challenged both characters. Tom’s portrayal of Victoria earned her two Daytime Emmys during her time on The Young and the Restless, and she has since garnered four more for her work on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Tom’s insights into her soap opera career shed light on the dynamics and challenges of working in the genre. Her experiences with Eric Braeden and other co-stars illustrate the dedication and skill required to bring iconic characters to life on screen. Through her journey in daytime television, Tom has honed her craft and continues to captivate audiences with her versatile performances across different soap operas.

The interactions between actors like Tom and Braeden behind the scenes offer a glimpse into the collaborative and often high-pressure environment of soap opera production. As the entertainment industry evolves, these timeless dramas continue to entertain and resonate with viewers, showcasing the talent and dedication of actors like Heather Tom and Eric Braeden in bringing compelling stories to life.