Natalie Zea Gwen, Passions Stepping into a role is never easy; it's even more of a challenge when your predecessor's last appearance is less than a week before your debut. Such was the challenge faced by Natalie Zea, the new Gwen Hotchkiss on Passions, but the easy-going actress took it in stride. Instead of trying to fill Liza Huber's shoes, Zea traded them in for her own pair, right down to the difference in the two actresses' hair colors. And the talented newcomer has steadily been making the role her own.
While Gwen is a no-nonsense kind of girl, Zea is a more relaxed individual, blessed with a biting sense of humor that shines through, even over the phone. She's quick to say that she and her alter ego have little in common, which makes her seamless transition even more of an accomplishment. TV Guide Online spoke to Passions's new star to learn how she snagged her role, her unusual wardrobe, and why she has to limit her karaoke outings. — Delaina Dixon
I know Passions is your daytime debut, but had you done any other television before?
I did one tiny little guest stint on a show that was cancelled the day after my episode aired. I didn't take it personally. Other than that, I did lots of little independent films in New York, and I did a lot of theater. As far as TV goes, it was always really hard for me to get TV jobs other than commercials. I got to the point where I thought this was not going to happen; I just wasn't right for television.
So winning the role of Gwen must have been a pleasant surprise. Yeah, a pleasant surprise because I had almost given up on television as a medium for me.
How did you land the role?
I screentested three times. The first time was when [Passions] first started. A year and a half later I got a call that they wanted to see me again. I screentested for the role of Amanda — which was actually the replacement for Gwen, but we weren't supposed to know that — and I didn't get it. Then a few weeks later I got a call that they wanted to test me again, and I guess they just got sick of testing me.
How difficult has it been to take over the part of Gwen?
A lot of people have asked me that, and I just didn't really understand what a big deal it was to be taking over a role until I was several weeks into it. When you start watching it... you realize that I just don't look anything like Liza.
How have the fans reacted to the new Gwen?
I personally haven't gone seeking response, although all of my family members are on the Internet all the time. As far as my fan mail is concerned, it's been so wonderful. I never realized how important it is to have people out there who support you, who you don't know. I mean, it's great when your family and friends call up and say you did a great job, but they have something invested in it. The fans that have written to me have just been wonderful.
And the ones that haven't been "so wonderful"?
I know there are some fans who are very upset. It's always going to happen. Somebody's going to come on and take the place of somebody that [they] really like. It's not always so cool. I think that a lot of people have written in complaining about my hair color. That's also to be expected. I hope that after a while they understand that I am not Liza. And I am not going to bring the same thing to the table that she brought. Hopefully, it will be just as interesting even though it's completely different. That's going to take time, and I understand that.
We've noticed that your hair is light brown, while Liza's was blonde. Do you think that it helps people to identify you in the role?
I understand why they did it, in a way, because they didn't want [the audience] to be making comparisons. They may have wanted to start fresh. But at the same time, I think a lot of the fans may have had a problem with it because it's odd, with so many different characteristics, to be portraying this person who had blonde hair, brown eyes, all the characteristics that Liza had, and now I'm doing it.
Unlike some recastings where an actor leaves for a couple of months, and then somebody new comes in, you pretty much started immediately.
Yeah. I think that may have been jarring for the fans as well. As it probably should have been. Not only was there a lot going on in the storyline, but I think there were three days in between her last airdate and my first. I'm assuming it will probably take a while for people to feel comfortable watching me in the role, as opposed to if there were a couple of months or weeks in between. Not that they would forget her, but it would be a little less fresh in people's minds.
Did you speak to Liza before she left to get any pointers or hints?
No I didn't, because I didn't know that I was actually testing for this role. It was kept under wraps. I came here under the impression that I was doing a new role. And then I was told that I was replacing her. I think she had already left by the time I got here. So we never really had time to cross paths. The most I could do was watch the show.
And read all the background and bios.
I didn't even do that. I just felt like I might as well jump into this face first, and if I end up stinking up the room, then I'll go from there. I basically just watched the show and took everything from that. The rest I kind of gathered from myself and my past experiences.
You seemed to have mastered the hoity-ness associated with Gwen Hotchkiss.
I couldn't be further from that person, so that's very nice.
What's the biggest difference between you and the character?
There are so many. I'm just not that person. I walk like a boy. That kind of sums it all up. I wouldn't say I'm a tomboy, because there are some really feminine aspects to my personality, but I tend to be a little less put-together — by choice. I'm not used to standing up straight.
Are you tall?
No. It's funny because people are saying that I look as though I'm taller than Liza is, when in fact I believe she's taller than me. I slump over in everyday life. So I think that people who know me well see me on the show and see me standing up straight say, "Wow, you look really tall."
Off the set, what's your most comfortable outfit to wear, something that's very Natalie?
What's most comfortable and what's most Natalie are two different things. I crawl out of bed, and I sort of wear my pajamas to work. When I'm not at work, I just try and wear things that I know nobody else in the room is going to be wearing. Sometimes I look a little strange, but at least I know that I'm unique. I try to mix it up. I don't always look great, but at least I can say that I tried.
I read your bio, and it said that you design your own jewelry and you're into vintage clothing. Are they a part of your unique look?
My biggest fear, as far as fashion goes, is showing up in something somebody else is wearing. Sometimes I take that to the extreme, but I really like to come up with new... variations of old things.
Who was the first person you became friends with on the set?
Travis [Schuldt (Ethan)]. I did the screentest with Travis twice. He was the only one that I really knew. During one of my sittings, he came up to me and said if I had any questions to call him, and we could get together and talk about the character. I thought that was so necessary, so I'm glad he did. I'm not one to extend myself at all, and it took a lot for me to actually make the call, and once I did I was very happy that I did.
Is there anybody on the set that you see as a role model or a mentor?
Well, Ben Masters (Julian), in a way. He's such a crack-up, man, I can't even keep a straight face talking about him. I try and get tidbits about his personal life from him. I try to pry and learn about the kind of person that he is because I'm just fascinated by him... I'm going to make a stalker-esque Ben bulletin board.
In your dressing room?
Exactly. I'll invite him over and freak him out.
Were you shocked by the pace at which daytime moves?
I was not prepared. My first day I was a little taken aback. And then by my second day I was fine. It took about a 24-hour adaptation period for me to be okay with it. It was a little jarring at first.
There have been several other women recasted on the show. Have you bonded with them?
They are not in my storyline, so I almost never see them. I think I've seen Jade Harlow (Jessica) maybe three or four times since I've been here. And I pass Deanna Wright (Kay) in the halls. But I very rarely get the opportunity to interact with people not in my storyline. But we should start a club. The Replacements, or whatever.
I hear you sing karaoke.
Yeah. That's a newfound passion... I have several friends who discovered the art of karaoke along with me. We all came upon it together. We go out and do karaoke nights. I don't know what happens to us, I don't know how we get so rowdy, but it's a mess the next day. Since I started working on the show I have not been able to do it. I'm scared it will take four days to recover. I don't know if it's something in the air. We have been kicked out of bars at 4:30 [in the morning] because they were closing. They have to pry the mikes out of our hands. We're ruthless.
What's your favorite karaoke song to sing?
Guns and Roses's "Paradise City." I do it just like Axl [Rose] does it. And they always have the extended version, so I'm up there screaming, and the audience is like, "Please make her stop." I'm banging my head, and my neck is always sore the next day.
Back to the jewelry and the vintage clothing. How did you get into those interests and what kind of stuff do you design?
Boredom. I needed a hobby. And I'm very much a girl in the sense that I like to adorn myself. And yet I'm extremely cheap. Well frugal. I like to say frugal, but my friends call me cheap. I don't want to go out and buy stuff, because why buy it when you can make it better and cheaper? I go to a jewelry nuts and bolts store in midtown Manhattan. I stumbled on it one day, and I gathered up hardware, random strange pieces of metal, and went home and found things to do with it. I do lots of bending and wire-cutting, feathers and leather and chains.
Any thought of selling your designs on the Internet?
People are always telling me to do that, and for some reason I just can't justify it. It's very cheaply made, and it's for me. If my earlobe turns green, then I know I'm responsible for it, and I didn't ask somebody to spend $60 on it. I don't think the designs are something that other people would like, although I have been stopped on the street. Logic would tell me to make a buck or two off this, but maybe I'm just protective of my work.
How was it to relocate from the East Coast to the West Coast?
I had done it once before, for no specific reason other than that it was pilot season, which was a big fat waste of my time, but I was familiar with the process. The prospect had been in my mind always, because you never know. As an actor, you know you'll inevitably get those phone calls that say you have 72 hours to pack up all your stuff and go. I was just really well prepared for that day. So when it came, I put all my ducks in a row. Maybe the hard part was coming up, but I'm past the hump.
Are you going to miss the white winter?
I grew up in Texas. When I was in Texas, all I could think about was moving to New York to be in the cold weather. When I moved to New York, I was miserable in the winters. I was so cheap, I would never buy a winter coat. That was so stupid. Family members would suggest it for Christmas, and I would say, "No, get me something better." So I was always cold. So now that I'm in [California], it's nicer to be in a climate that I'm used to.
What is your New Year's resolution?
I don't do that. Because I feel like if there's something that I really want to change about myself, I don't want to rely on January 1 to do it. I'd like to do it the moment it crosses my mind.