~SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE: July 20, 1993~
by Lorraine Zenka
On DAYS, Michael Sabatino and Crystal Chappell play LAWRENCE ALAMAIN and DR. CARLY MANNING, who were betrothed by their parents many years ago. Realizing his intended wouldn't go for the idea, Lawrence tricked her into falling in love. When Carly discovered his lies, she kept her pregnancy hidden from him and ran away.
Now, Lawrence, Carly and their son NIKKI (Erik vonDetten) are in Salem together. And, even though Carly's engaged to BO BRADY (Robert Kelker-Kelly), Lawrence is determined to have Carly and the family he's always wanted and will stop at nothing to get it. Only offscreen does Michael and Crystal's love story run smoothly.
In this exclusive interview, the couple tells SOAP OPERA MAGAZINE about their reel and real lives:
Q: Can you recall the very first time you saw each other in a romantic way?
Michael: We had relatively little work together for the first six months; we'd say, "Hi," as we passed in the halls. It was a slowly growing, dawning thing. After a while, I started noticing the tape schedule, my name, her name. Finally, it dawned on me, "Oh, Crystal's here; I'm glad." That was before we had any scenes together. There weren't any lightning bolts yet.
Q: So, when did you both acknowledge a mutual attraction?
Michael: It was early 1992. There was a going away party for Shelley Curtis, one of the producers who went over to GH. There was a moment during that party when Crystal and I said, "Hello," and smiled. That was it.
Crystal: Yeah, I remember that, too. (LAUGHS) He's much better at verbalizing those things.
Q: How would you compare Lawrence/Michael and Carly/Crystal?
Crystal: Lawrence is a mean person; Michael doesn't have a mean bone in his entire body. But they are both very intense. Michael focuses much of that intensity into playing Lawrence.
Michael: Carly, in spite of her intelligence, is a perpetual victim, unlike Crystal, who is more assertive and doesn't allow herself to get into situations that would handicap her in any way.
Q: What draws Crystal to Lawrence?
Crystal: She really believes there is goodness in him. She's been loved by him, and has experienced that side of this man. I think she's still searching for that. Carly is hopelessly hopeful.
Q: Does Lawrence have real emotions for Carly, or is she just a prize?
Michael: As a child, his parents told him he was matched with Katarina (her given name), and it became a great fantasy for him. When he learned Katarina was not open to a prearranged marriage, he became James and they fell in love. He thought it would be great news to her that he was, in fact, her husband-to-be. Even though his plan backfired, he's still locked into the romantic fantasy of a wedding. It's hard for him to give that up.
Q: Does Lawrence really believe he'd have a clear path to Carly's heart if Bo were out of the picture?
Michael: Yes, he never looks at himself as lacking. Bo is the problem, the perfect displacement for a guy like Lawrence. Without Bo, Lawrence believes this great, lost love between Lawrence and Carly would suddenly reappear.
Q: Are you upset watching your lover in intimate scenes with another actor?
Michael: There's absolutely no threat. None whatsoever.
Crystal: Initially, I found it very strange to see someone you're intimate with kissing someone else. Now, I don't even think about it anymore. I guess it has a lot to do with our relationship.
Q: If you could write your own story, what would it be?
Michael: Lawrence has such enormous baggage to carry with him that it's too late to present him as a true leading man. In his first 13 weeks, he raped the ingenue and killed the favorite character. Just like Charlie Brown, Lawrence should never get the girl.
Crystal: Carly should fall in love with another man, someone entirely different. Neither Bo nor Lawrence.
Q: Is there anyone presently in Salem who might fit the role?
Crystal: DR. MARCUS HUNTER (Richard Biggs). There was friendship there, something to build on. Bo and Carly have been trying to figure things out for three years and they still haven't gotten it right yet; at some point, it gets to be too convoluted. With Marcus, I think it could have been simple, comfortable, friendly.
Q: Who is the better dad: Bo or Lawrence?
Crystal: Finding Nikki after eight years makes him all the more precious to Lawrence. He's very attentive to his child. You don't see that with Bo and SHAWN DOUGLAS (Scott Groff). Bo's always working and the kid is always over at grandma and grandpa's house. They're very different.
Q: Do you think the two of you would make good parents?
Crystal: I'm sure Michael will be a good dad. He knows himself very well, knows how important it is to create something good. He'd be just as attentive as Lawrence, although he'd probably take his own son hiking more.
Michael: I'd definitely do lots more blue-collar things with him. As for Crystal, she's great with my nieces and nephews. I've also seen Crystal with her own nieces and nephews, and there's a lot of attentiveness, lots of empathy, giving.
Q: Does your personal relationship help or hinder your work together?
Michael: On one hand, it's an interesting obstacle. To be intimate with each other when our characters aren't - but are trying to be.
Crystal: Our private relationship probably adds something to what we do, but I'm not sure exactly what it is.
Q: Are fans of Carly and Lawrence distracted by the fact that you share a real-life romance?
Michael: No, not at all. Whenever we walk into a room together (at personal appearances), the fans see us as Carly and Lawrence. Not Michael and Crystal.
Q: Is that something you've encouraged because you don't do covers together, or "couple" interviews often?
Crystal: We don't do them because we try to have some space between our professional and personal lives.
Michael: If our stories came together, if Lawrence and Carly were a couple, we'd do more press together. But to put us together only because we're an item is a strange distraction to me. We're two separate people.
Q: Would it help or hinder your personal relationship if one or the other of you left the show?
Michael: Ask that in about four months. My contract is up in mid-August and Crystal's is up in November.
Crystal: We have each other for emotional support through any period of non-work. We've talked about it. We're each looking forward to seeing the other do other things. It would be nice to come home from different places, share different experiences.
Michael: Crystal has an entirely separate career; it will be exciting to watch her soar from here.
Q: What is the greatest gift Michael has given you in your relationship?
Crystal: He's certainly reintroduced me to my love of sports and exploration. He also offers me unconditional friendship and a lot of patience.
Michael: Professionally, she has shown me a great integrity as an actor; she's inspiring. Personally, she's given me a greater sense of adventure. We both have a wanderlust and it's great to look at the horizon together and say, "Let's go, let's see what's there, together."