Victor Alfieri Is Taking The Plunge -- Twice!



by Joann Fazzi





VICTOR ALFIERI took some time out from playing bad boy Franco Kelly on Days of Our Lives to shoot an independent film called Taking the Plunge in Los Angeles. He plays a homosexual character named Lance Boyle. We recently chatted with him about the film, his latest scheme on Days, and the wild weather we've been having...

DIGEST ONLINE: Tell us about your new independent film.
VICTOR ALFIERI: I booked this film about three weeks ago, and then I shot it in about two weeks. I play the homosexual guy in the movie, who is the best friend of the lead actress, which was [played by] Jordan Ladd, daughter of Cheryl Ladd from Charlie's Angels. It's a comedy about relationships.
DIGEST ONLINE: So, you just finished filming it?
VICTOR ALFIERI:Yes, about a week ago. It was very tough because I was working on [Days] and then the movie. I was doing both. But, it was very good actually, a very good experience. It was great. We had a really good cast. We had Lindsay Price [ex-Michael, B&B] from Beverly Hills, 90210 and Mitchell Anderson [Ross Werkman] from Party of Five. I was very blessed. I was very happy to play a gay guy because, you know, it's something different than what I play on the soap opera.
DIGEST ONLINE: That's quite a change from Franco.
VICTOR ALFIERI:Yes, quite a change. You know, [with] my accent and look, I always play either the Latin lover or the bad guy. So, playing a gay guy was quite challenging.
DIGEST ONLINE: Was your character supposed to be Italian or Latin?
VICTOR ALFIERI: You know, this is the strange thing. The character was written for an American, but my manager [pursued it], and they liked my reel, so they called me in for an audition and I ended up getting the role. But they didn't change the name of the character, which is Lance Boyle, so it's an American name. So, I don't know. I guess he's Italian because I have an accent.
DIGEST ONLINE: When can fans expect to see the film?
VICTOR ALFIERI: I don't know. Usually films take a long time to be edited and promoted. Plus, it's an independent film, so you never know if it's going to come out in theaters or video, I don't know. I didn't do it for the fame or the money. I mean, I did it for the joy of doing a movie and to have a good experience on the set with different actors from primetime. It was a different experience for sure, which was why I did it. It was very challenging. More time to rehearse the scenes, and more time to study the scenes. It was good. I was very happy, it made me happy. It was very hard work. Mostly it was night shooting, and we would finish filming at like 4:00 in the morning.
DIGEST ONLINE: Then you would go to work on Days. You've been so busy with your storyline!
VICTOR ALFIERI: Oh, yeah! My storyline is getting good now. I'm very happy about my storyline. There's going to be a wedding soon. Finally, Franco is going to settle down in Salem.
DIGEST ONLINE: Franco seems to finally be branching out.
VICTOR ALFIERI:Yes. I'm very excited.
DIGEST ONLINE: Does Franco have any feelings toward Sami at all?
VICTOR ALFIERI:What I think is Franco is not a really bad guy, and yes, I think he has some feelings. But now [he] starts seeing that Sami likes to hurt people, because she's trying to hurt Lucas now. He has a drinking problem, but of course Sami is enlarging the problem, making it a big deal to get everyone's attention. [Franco's] scared a little bit, like, I have to face a future with someone like this, I don't know if I should do it. I have scenes with Roberto -- he's the other Italian guy who is helping Franco out with his fake license and marriage license and stuff like that -- [and] I shot a scene yesterday [where I say], "Roberto, I'm not so sure I can go on like this because Sami is a real manipulator. She likes to manipulate and hurt people. Maybe I should find someone else to marry." So, that made me think that Franco had some feelings for Sami, but now he's not quite sure because he sees the true Sami, you know. Yes, he had feelings, and I think he still has feelings. I mean, this is a guy who was an orphan, he must have feelings for people.
DIGEST ONLINE: So, Franco is going to put some pressure on Sami to marry him fast?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Yeah. There are rumors on the set that Franco and Samantha get married for sure in August. So, I don't know if it's true or not; on a soap opera you never know. But, [if so] it will be fun. It's going to be my first marriage on a soap opera, my first marriage in life. So, I'm getting excited, actually.
DIGEST ONLINE: That's great. What about Lucas? It seems that Franco has had about enough of Lucas' meddling lately. How will he react?
VICTOR ALFIERI:Well, Franco is a little scared because Lucas doesn't want Sami to marry Franco, and Lucas can get in the way of Franco's plans. [Lucas] could ruin all his plans if he found out that Franco is about to be deported, and told Sami that. That's why he wants to beat him up [laughs], but he doesn't want to overdo it, because otherwise he will get Lucas's attention -- "Why is this guy so mad at me if he has nothing to hide?" So, Franco is a very difficult character to play, actually, because he's not a bad guy, he's not a good guy, he's somewhere in between. The audience likes him and hates him at the same time. Plus, I have to be charming with every single character, then I have to give the audience this second personality, just a little evil. Actually, they like me more now because I'm manipulating Sami. Good, she deserves that!
DIGEST ONLINE: How do you like working with Alison Sweeney?
VICTOR ALFIERI:She's very sweet, she's a very good actress. I was very happy she won the Soap Opera Award for Best Villainess. I like her a lot, yeah, I like working with her. I was very happy when [Days' executive producer] Tom Langan told me, "We're going to match you up with Sami." And I said, "Wow, cool! Two evil guys! It's going to be a good match!" It's very challenging, I like it.
DIGEST ONLINE: Do you have any other projects in the works?
VICTOR ALFIERI: No, not at this time. I'm going to rest a little bit.
DIGEST ONLINE: Any summer plans?
VICTOR ALFIERI: Working a lot on Days. I talked to Tom Langan and he told me I am going to be very busy for the summertime with my storyline. So, I guess I'm not going anywhere. A lot of personal appearances and working.
DIGEST ONLINE: I guess you won't be taking any trips to Italy soon.
VICTOR ALFIERI: No, not any time soon. I wish! I miss it so much, it's so beautiful over there. How is the weather over there [in New York], by the way?
DIGEST ONLINE: It's been a crazy week.
VICTOR ALFIERI: It's crazy everywhere. I talked to my mom in Italy and it's usually very hot during this time, and it's raining. It's the same here.
DIGEST ONLINE: In New York, it has been cool and rainy most of this month, which is unusual. I know you've had crazy weather in L.A. because of El Nino.
VICTOR ALFIERI: It's funny, because for two years, I saved all my money, you know, when I first got on the show. Then my mom came over here this past Christmas, and I said, "Mom, I would like to have a convertible." She said, "You should do it." So, I did, I bought a convertible BMW, and it's always been raining! I've never used it! Can you believe that? Then, I bought a Harley Davidson, because I love motorcycles. And I never used it! The weather is always rainy. When it's sunny, I'm here in the studio. So, I can't enjoy it!



From Soap Opera Digest Online



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