Sibling Revelry
Soap Opera Digest
May 15, 2001
Written By Robert Waldron
Transcripts Done By Nicole !
Young and Restless' Real-Life Sibs, Heather and David Tom, on Bickering, Broken Household Items
and Family Bonding.
Digest: Heather, how would ou describe David as a kid brother?
Heather: I think all siblings go through a period in childhood when there's bickering. We were so on top
of each other in the place where we lived that our growing up period was stressful, to say the least. But
we've always been supportive of one another and wanted the best for each other. That always came
through, regardles of our living situation.
Digest: David, you grew up with two sisters [Nicholle, THE NANNY] and your mom. Did you ever
feel singled out because you were the only guy?
David: (laughs) I got blamed for everything!
Heather: Oh, you did not!
David: Anything that was found broken, it was my fault.
Heather: (laughs) Generally, it WAS your fault.
Digest: Heather, because David and Nicholle are twins, and you're a couple of years older, did you ever
feel left out?
Heather: I wouldn't say that I felt a disconnection because they were twins. With three siblings, I think
there is always going to be an "odd man out". As for the age difference, as you get older, two years isn't
really that big of a gap.
Digest: Has David ever dated one of your friends?
Heather: (laughs) NO! I only have gay friends.
Digest: David, when you hit adolescence, were you ever disrespectful to the opposite sex?
David: No. Heather and Nicholle would have slapped me!
Heather: David is very secure in his skin. I think guys who have to put down women ~or anyone~
usually feel fairly insecure and inferior about themselves. Our upbringing was unorthodox because we
had to band together to get through whatever circumstances we faced. I think that it forced David and
the rest of us to look at everyone as people and not to put them in categories.
Digest: Have the two of you ever done personal appearances together?
Heather: We did one, which was fun.
Digest: What kinds of questions did people ask?
David: Storyline stuff...
Heather: People find it interesting that we're brother and sister, but the main thing their interested in is
Billy and Victoria.
Digest: The Newmans and the Abbotts have a way of mixing things up. Do you ever worry that one
day Victoria and Billy will suddenly be attracted to each other?
Heather: (laughs) NOOOO! I think the writers are well aware of the fact that we are brother and
sister.
David: (laughs) Incestuous acting is NOT in my contract. I doubt we'll ever have a scene together.
Digest: Heather, when David started on the show two years ago, did you have to fight the urge to be
overly protective?
Heather: I'd have to resist the urge even if he wasn't on the show. I feel the same towards Nicholle.
But David is a big boy and a very accomplished actor. God knows, he's done enough work. so I wasn't
worried about him fitting in or not doing a good job. Besides, I had been on the show for nine years
when he started. My family has always been around in a big way; people knew him.
Digest: Heather, you're pretty outspoken on television shows such as POLITICALLY INCORRECT.
David, are you the same way?
David: I'm not a very opinionated person. I mean, I have my opinion, and I'll state them, but I'd never go
on POLITICALLY INCORRECT. It would be scary. Heather, on the other hand, loves that kind of
stuff. She's always been very opinionated and will stick to her guns. She'll fight to the very end.
Digest: So, what's it like when the two of you spar over a hot issue?
Heather: David's entitled to his opinion, [smiles] just so long as he knows that he's wrong.
Digest: Your mom has done a great job of raising you. What's the most important thing you've learned
from her?
David: How to have respect for everybody, and to be honest.
Heather: Our mom also has a wonderful way of rolling with the punches; she can pick herself up and
dust herself off. She really tries to look at the cup as being half full, which is a wonderful quality and a
very important one as well. So because of her, I always try to see the bright side of things.
Digest: As a family, what's your favourite holiday to celebrate together?
David: Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Heather: The holidays are really fun around our house. Above and beyond what we've accomplished,
we've done a good job or staying a strong family unit and being there for each other, which is kind of
rare. So holidays, birthdays or just having dinner together is nice.
David: There are also friends who have become family. It's hard to get everyone together, so holidays
are a great time to make that happen.
Digest: How often do you say, "I love you" to each other?
Heather: All the time.
Digest: It comes easily?
David: Absolutely.
Digest: Heather, when David won the Emmy last year for Outstanding Younger Actor, the camera cut
to you during his acceptance speech and you were crying.
Heather: I was thrilled for David, and proud of him. I really thought he deserved it. And who knows? It
could happen again this year.
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