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"Real-Life" Religion |
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If you are a not a viewer of soap operas but have browsed through this website, you must certainly realize that Days of our Lives and Passions contain material that most people would deem immoral. It is because of this that the actors or actresses portraying soap characters sometimes have difficulty with certain plotlines. Some religious actors are able to kept their convictions in tact while acting out the story; others will refuse to recite the script. |
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Julianne Morris (former Greta Von Amburg, Days of our Lives) |
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Julianne Morris, a devout Christian, played Greta Von Amburg (a "swamp girl" turned princess) from May 15, 1998 to April 19, 2002. She has also portrayed Amy Wilson, a troubled school girl on The Young and The Restless. It appears that Morris' Christian background has not affected her ability to portray a soap character. Upon Greta's debut on Days of our Lives, viewers raved: "Julianne Morris has brought a whole new energy to the show. I love her!"
Morris was very open about her faith during her time on the soap opera. She refused to take part in a sex scene or say the Lord's name in vain. Morris was able to remain on the show while not compromising her morals, saying because of this, " A lot of myself comes out in Greta." While starring on the show Sinbad, Morris refused another role: leading a seance. In both situations, Morris says that the producers did not pressure her and were "very nice about it." During her time on The Young and the Restless, however she was not as lucky. The script called for her character (a 16-year-old girl) to lose her virginity. Morris says she was "mortified," and tried to reason with the producers and writers. In the end, the writers had their way and Morris had to act out the story. They did, however, agree to add scenes where Morris cried uncontrollably to express her deep regret over having premarital sex.
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"There are many naysayers who want to pass a quick judgment on what happens in soaps, but God has placed me in Hollywood and is using me every day." |
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Julianne Morris as "Greta Von Amburg" on Days of our Lives (with Austin Peck as "Austin Reed"). |
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Kirsten Storms (former Belle Black,
Days of our Lives) |
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Kirsten, a Christian and previously one of the most popular characters on Days of our Lives says:
"God places Christians in the entertainment business. He is going to turn on lights in dark places." |
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Austin Peck (Austin Reed,
Days of our Lives) |
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Peck describes his character as someone who "wants to be the best person he can be, has good morals and does not sleep around."
He thinks that soap operas could include Christianity as a subject. "Why not? There could be a Christian character on a soap. But it would have to be an honest character who is allowed to struggle with his faith, stumble, fall, and get up again." |
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Deanna Wright (former Kay Bennett,
Passions) |
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As the scheming Kay Bennett, Deanna Wright had to act out some malicious acts. Such things included breaking up her parents' marriage, tricking Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald into thinking she was his girlfriend, Charity in order to seduce him, and even selling her soul to a witch so she could send her cousin straight to hell. As a Christian, Wright said acting out the supernatural aspects were "exceedingly difficult." While playing Kay on Passions, Wright said that she would love for Kay, aided by Father Lonigan, to "get back onto a Christian course." In October 2003, after playing Kay for over 3 years, Wright quit the show. She, of course, cited Kay's immoral acts as going against her Christian convictions thus the reason she was leaving Passions.
Actress Heidi Mueller then took over the part of Kay and is presently still in that role. Mueller has also expressed her strong religious beliefs, however, perhaps did not (and does not) have to go through the turmoil Wright did. Kay has since become less scheming and more mature, showing a great deal of regret for her past actions. |
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"Just because of my own beliefs in God and Jesus, and where I stand in my religion, sometimes I can't even believe that I play Kay. She is so opposite from me. So I'd love to have her see the light." |
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In the March 2004 issue of U.S. Catholic, an article titled, "Say goodbye to Hollywood" featured the story of Gerald Straub, former producer of several soap operas, including General Hospital, and his recommitment to Christianity.
Straub says he "drifted away from his native Catholicism during his Hollywood years" but upon attending a church service with a friend in Rome, became overwhelmed by God's presence and knew that was "the thing I had been searching for." He continued to produce soap operas afterward, however now became disturbed by the mentality of the industry. "If ratings were low," Straub says, "just throw another hot babe in the hot tub." With his newfound spirituality, he soon realized he could no longer be a part of such television programming. Straub gave up his wealth and status to pursue a life that pleased God. Straub still finances various television and film projects, but the subject matter of such media is "decidedly different." |
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