On August 18, Days of Our Lives fans will be introduced to actor Carson Boatman as he makes his debut as Johnny DiMera. His excitement was evident as the up-and-comer shared with Soap Opera News that he truly feels like this role is his big break.
While he has always had a love for movies and music, growing up in Iowa wasn’t a place where the arts were prominent. “I just never really knew how to get into it,” he recollected. “Then I got an opportunity when I was 19 to go out and do some cold reads and different types of mock auditions for managers and agencies. A couple of them liked me and I moved out to L.A. in 2013.”
Boatman told us that over the last couple of years he has built up a good relationship with DAYS casting director, Marnie Saitta, having auditioned for several roles on the NBC soap. “They were kind enough to keep bringing me in for roles and finally when I auditioned for Johnny it went my way.”
The actor revealed that it feels “surreal” to be sharing the screen with Alison Sweeney and the rest of his fellow castmates. “[Days of our Lives] was definitely the show that was on in my living room growing up. All the soaps were always on but DAYS was always the favorite. And it’s so funny because Sami Brady was always the one who stood out. Now, [Alison] plays my mom on the show. It’s like you have to pinch yourself sometimes.”
Carson admitted that the fast-paced atmosphere was a bit of a challenge at first but having the support of the cast and crew has made it an incredible experience. “It’s been a dream. It’s been an absolute dream. Everyone there is so gracious and talented. It definitely took me a couple weeks to get the groove of the pacing and so everyone was very patient and very helpful.”
As for what we can expect for Johnny’s return to Salem? “It’s gonna be a family affair with family drama right off the bat,” he teased. “He finds himself at odds with his sister and his dad fairly early on in his return to Salem. I’m excited for you guys to see it!”
In addition to his Daytime debut, Boatman has a new film, Runt, premiering on streaming platforms in October. The movie, which also stars the late Cameron Boyce in his final role, follows the story of a teenage boy who experiences troubling incidents that make him a cold and callous person. Carson also has a love for country music, having drawn inspiration from artists like Tim McGraw, Justin Timberlake, and Maroon 5 for his own sound. He has released a number of songs on Spotify, which you can check out here.
As Carson enjoys the success of his role on Days of Our Lives, he hopes to continue to nourish his budding career. “I just want to do and take the necessary steps to keep achieving success on the acting front. And once I’ve gotten to a place where I feel like that’s in a healthy spot, I’d love to venture out and do some sort of philanthropic endeavor in my hometown of Des Moines.”
Thank you, Carson, for the lovely chat! Be sure not to miss his DAYS debut on August 18!
Tori
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