It’s not often that you come across someone who has both actress and lawyer on their resume! The Young and the Restless’ Lauren Woodland is undoubtedly unique as she gets to take on both careers. She began her acting career at a young age after being enrolled in classes by her mother. Loving the art form, she eventually made the move to Los Angeles to pursue it full time.
However, life evokes change. And at the age of 30, Lauren made the momentous choice to attend law school. Check out our interview with the star below as she discusses Y&R, as well as the challenges and the rewards she has encountered in her dual professions.
Do you remember what your first day on the set of The Young and the Restless was like?
“I had just wrapped filming a project in Vancouver and I literally went from that set straight to Y&R. I jumped on a plane to LAX, a car picked me up and took me to CBS Television City. I got into wardrobe, hair and makeup, and then to the stage to film my first scene. It was with Jess Walton and the scene was about Brittany’s relationship with Billy Abbott. Jess was very welcoming and warm which helped me a lot.
I remember how fast the pace was. They shoot entire scenes in one to two takes with three or four cameras and little to no rehearsal. I was just trying to get through the scene without flubbing my lines.”
Do you have a favorite storyline from the show?
“There are so many good ones. I loved all the singing and dancing shows we did at Marsino’s with John Enos (Bobby Marsino) and all the characters from that club.
But I also loved when Brittany had just had baby Joshua and was living with Mrs. Chancellor. She was just starting to really grow up then. And she was getting a lot of good advice from Kay, Jill, and Esther. Of course, it was always fun to catfight with Mac. And I had a great scene with Nikki where I screamed at her for flirting with my husband and I got myself so upset that I (Brittany) went into labor. That was fun!”
We love that Brittany was written as a lawyer to mirror your own career.
“I love it too. I was very flattered.“
Can fans expect to see you pop back up in Genoa City anytime soon?
“I hope so.”
What made you decide to step back from acting and become a lawyer? Was the transition between careers challenging?
“I was tired of auditioning and pretty burnt out. I wanted to be empowered, educated, and independent. And I wanted a stable career that I could build on as I got older. I had always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. When I was growing up not many women were doctors and lawyers, so getting that degree was a big deal.
The transition from actor to lawyer was very challenging. It was a total culture shock. I went from a creative world with a lot of freedom into a very structured legal world. The personalities involved are very different.
I miss acting a lot but I also enjoy being a lawyer. I’m grateful to live at a time when you can have multiple careers.”
Are there any surprising parallels between your work as a lawyer and acting?
“I think the pressure to perform is present in both professions. And preparation is key.”
Do you have any upcoming projects that we can look forward to at this time?
“I sometimes co-host the KABC Los Angeles radio show Gurvey’s Law. You can go to https://www.gurveyslaw.com/ to hear my recent interview.”
Do you have a message for your fans?
“Thanks for your years of support and enthusiasm. I love playing Brittany and I hope she brings some fun to your day.”
Thank you, Lauren!
Tori
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