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From PV to LA, Eakes dishes about her two favorite roles

 

It was Saturday, March 24, 2007 and a grand night for a celebration.  Bobby Eakes (ex-Macy, B&B, Krystal, AMC) flew into Los Angeles with one thing on her mind, The Bold and The Beautiful’s 20 fabulous years on television. 

Just about the first to hit the red carpet, Eakes wowed everyone with her gorgeous animal print gown and teeny-tiny feathered and flowered handbag.  She had no idea who designed the dress, and didn’t seem to care.  She was thrilled to be back in LA, and more important to see some very special folks and talk about her two lives in daytime – B&B and AMC.

Eakes still gets a great deal of fan mail from B&B fans, some of whom have followed her over to All My Children.  A lot of the fans attend her fan events in New York, especially the European fans, since her B&B episodes are still airing in some countries. “I’m so proud of this show and 20 successful years.”  She still follows the show, watches it faithfully like the rest of the many fans. She was on the show on and off for 12 years. 

It began as a night of looking back at favorite moments and story lines the busy, busy actress, “I really think the alcoholism story line was the most challenging.”  Then she kind of shook her head and laughingly joked, “ I don’t know why? I mean, I’ve had my share of my wine!”  But the writers gave her really great stuff, “I like being challenged like that, especially a character like Macy, who is normally sweet and subdued and sort of the yin to Darlene’s yang.  I like to be able cut loose and get a little rough around the edges with that story line.”

If there are two things Eakes loves, it’s laughter and practical jokes! “All the practical jokes are just non-repeatable.  But she gets a real twinkle in her eye at the thought of life off the set with two very special friends, “Schae Harrison (ex-Darla, B&B) and Darlene and I had three dressing rooms at the top of the stairs that were sort of a suite of rooms. It was like the girl’s dorm.   All three of us running around naked, if you can get that visual in your head, and just being girls, and giggling, and being silly.  I really miss that. I miss that camaraderie.” 

It always comes back to the people for Eakes, “Any time I get a chance to see all these people I jump at it.  They’re like family to me. They always will be.” But there’s one person in particular who has a special place in her heart, Darlene Conley (Sally, B&B), “I’m in NY and I just haven’t allowed myself to believe she’s not going to be at these things.  I keep thinking I’m going to see everybody, I’m going to see Darlene, no I’m not, no I’m not. It’s very hard.  It’s very hard.”  She’s gonna definitely be here in spirit.”  And, what would Conley say if she was there to celebrate, “Oh baby, what would she say?  Oh, golly!  I don’t know. She would just be hammin’ it up.  She’d have a little leg stickin’ out…she’s just so fabulous.”

Eakes moved to New York three years ago when she landed the role of Krystal Carey on All My Children and is having the time of her life. “If this is turmoil I’m lovin’ it. I’ve never had such a big front burner story line before.” 

Her hot story line is burning up the screen, “I’m so glad I got the opportunity to show a different side.  Krystal’s probably a little bit more like me than Macy is, I don’t know if that’s very complimentary to myself.”  She laughs at the thought.  “Macy cried a lot more. And, I yell a lot, too.  And she’s a mom, which is great, and I’m trying to channel Darlene in this role, play the tough mother with a heart of gold.”

B&B and AMC are each a little peace of home for Eakes and as much as she loves to reminisce, she’s most definitely a women who lives in the present. “I’m working off some wonderful actors, David Canary (Adam/Stuart), Michael Knight (Tad), Alexa Havins (Babe), Jacob Young (JR, AMC, ex-Rick, B&B) who used to be here and Sydney Penny (Julia, AMC, ex-Samantha, B&B)) who used to be here, and Ian Buchanan (ex-Greg Madden, AMC, ex-James, B&B, ex-Joshua, Port Charles, ex-Duke, GH) used to be here, and I used to be there. It’s interesting how we all sort of circle around.”

She couldn’t wait to see the old gang, Flannery, McCook, Lange, Moss, and Harmon, who some fans know was the original Dell on AMC.  Call it circling around or musical chairs; there is a certain sort of closeness or fellowship between the men and women on daytime.  Bobby Eakes likes it that way!

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