Christel Khalil has become a household name after years of playing the iconic character of Lily Winters on The Young and the Restless. But did you know she almost walked away from Hollywood forever right before landing her biggest role?
Key Takeaways
- Christel Khalil almost quit acting at age 14.
- A bad audition left her questioning her future in Hollywood.
- Her brother encouraged her to attend one final audition.
- That audition led to her landing the role of Lily Winters on The Young and the Restless.
- Khalil credits the late Kristoff St. John with helping her feel comfortable during her screen test.
- Today, she considers The Young and the Restless “the best job in the world.”
In a recent episode of the CBS talk show Soapy, hosted by soap faves Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart, Christel opened up about her intense journey. From the failed Disney audition to her career where it stands now.
Here is what went down during her candid interview.
The Audition Heartbreak That Almost Ended Her Career
When Christel was just 14 years old, she was a finalist for a brand-new Disney Channel project called Absolutely Psychic. If that name doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because the role eventually went to another young star, and the network renamed it That’s So Raven.
Losing the part to Raven-Symoné absolutely crushed Christel. Dealing with severe performance anxiety, she completely froze up in front of 20 network executives.
“I completely bombed the audition, and it was terrible,” Christel shared. “I was just devastated, and I was actually going to quit acting.”
She was ready to give up the Hollywood grind to just hang out with her friends. Luckily, her older brother stepped in. Having quit acting himself at that exact age, he told her he deeply regretted it. He suggested that she go to one last audition, and if you don’t get it, you can quit.
That final audition was for The Young and the Restless.
Tapping Into Deep Emotions at Just 14
Getting onto a real television set for her screen test changed everything for her. Instead of reading lines in an intimidating executive conference room, she got to act alongside the late, legendary Kristoff St. John (who played Neil Winters).
Christel explained that working with him made it incredibly easy to naturally access heavy emotions, even as a self-conscious teenager.
“Because I was there with him, it just came, and it happened, and it was natural, and I felt so good.”
She got the part instantly. Though she left the show a few times during her late teens and twenties to explore life outside of daytime TV, she always found her way back. Today, she calls it “the best job in the world,” especially because the schedule allows her to be a hands-on mom.
Playing Storylines That Actually Changed Lives
Over the years, Christel Khalil has tackled some incredibly heavy storylines. In her early days, her character was involved in an awkward internet predator plot with Kevin Fisher (played by her Soapy host, Greg Rikaart). It was a groundbreaking storyline at the time, shedding light on the early days of “catfishing” and STDs.
But the plot that impacted her most was Lily’s battle with ovarian cancer, which led to a deeper look into infertility and surrogacy.
“So many people were like, ‘You know, I have cancer, and this brought so much inspiration,’” Christel recalled.
“When it actually happens to you, you’re like, ‘Wow, like this really did affect someone.’ And you know, that’s such a nice feeling to have.”
Finding Healing Beyond the TV Set
Growing up as a child star isn’t easy, especially when home life is complicated. Christel opened up about dealing with a lot of childhood trauma and a difficult relationship with her father.
After having her first son at age 22, she realized she needed to work through her past.
Instead of traditional therapy, she found deep healing through spiritual medicine and Reiki.
Describing her very first emotional breakthrough ceremony, she admitted it was incredibly intense but completely life-altering.
“I had so much self-hatred that I didn’t realize was there,” she said, describing the feeling of wanting to escape her own body.
Her guide helped her focus on the immense love she had for her newborn son to bring her back to a safe space. “I would say that was like 10 years of therapy in one night… it was transformative.”
What’s Next for Lily Winters?
When asked about her craft and what she wants to see next for Lily, Christel didn’t hesitate. After playing a sweet, straight-laced character for so long, she is ready for some drama.
“I’d love to see Lily, you know, go through something and like lose control,” she laughed. “That would be really amazing!”
Whether Lily loses control on screen or stays the rock of Genoa City, fans of Christel Khalil are just glad she didn’t pack her bags and quit showbiz back when she was 14!
You can catch Christel Khalil in the interview below!
Would you like to see Lily take a walk on the wild side? And what’s your favorite Christel Khalil storyline from her years on The Young and the Restless?
Let us know in the comments below.
Photo Credit: CBS Broadcasting Inc.
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