NBC: Chat Transcripts: JENSEN BUCHANAN

Hi. Welcome to the NBC.COM chat room on the web.

Tonight, we have a special guest here in our New York offices at NBC: JENSEN BUCHANAN of "ANOTHER WORLD."

Before we begin this chat, here are a few background notes on our guest:

Jensen Buchanan rejoined the cast as Victoria Hudson in October 1994 afterhaving portrayed both Vicky and her identical twin, Marley Love, from July 1991 to April 1994. Buchanan also played Sarah Gordon on the daytime drama "One Life to Live." She appeared on stage in the regional musical productions of "The Gondoliers," "The Sound of Music," "They're Playing Our Song," "Pippin" and "Babes in Toyland." She attended Boston University's School of Fine Arts as a music major with a concentration in opera. She also studied at the Boston University Theater Institute and the Circle in the Square Professional Workshop in New York. Buchanan was born in Montgomery, Ala., and raised in Neenah, Wis. She and her husband have two sons. Buchanan's birthday is July 18.

Well, enough of this...let's get chatting! JENSEN is here with us in the NBC Auditorium. Welcome!

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Hi I was really looking forward to this chat. I so enjoyed my chat last time. Let's go and have some fun.

NBC HOST:
Our question collection has begun so start sending 'em in!

What has been your all-time-favorite story that you have been a part of on the show?

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Ryan's death was pretty challenging as an actress and in that sense I really enjoyed that storyline. But the current story involving Ryan, Jake, Bobby phew!! Is a lot of fun!

NBC HOST:
Cheryl from London, Ontario, Canada - Hi Jensen, I think you're doing a marvellous job in the role of Vicki. My question is: Do you enjoy working with 2 gorgeous men (RKK & Tom Eplin) and 1 magnificent ghost (PMV)? I think your so lucky to be working with 3 such HOT men!

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Yeah, it's a job-- someone's got to do it! :)

NBC HOST:
Hi Jens, it's Marie :-) Congratulations on your SOD Nomination!! Will you be attending in February? Marie - Metairie, LA

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Hi Marie!! Thanks as always for all your support. Yes I will be in LA looking forward to seeing you, getting some sun and having alot of fun at the SOD awards.

NBC HOST:
Hello, Jensen! Congrats on your Soap Opera Digest Award! My twin brother and I voted for you. My question is: On Tuesday's show, Vicky told Kirkland that she was going to vote after she dropped him off at school. Who would Vicky vote for (Dole, Clinton, or Perot) and why? Who would Marley voted for and why? Thanks for taking my question. I remember you from your OLTL days. My twin brother and I wrote to you at OLTL? Do you miss your pals at OLTL (i.e. Bob Woods, Clint Richie, Erika Slezak, and Phil Carey)?

Thanks once again, Jensen! Michael and I have our fingers crossed for you at the SOD awards!

Bernard from The Unoffical Alice Barrett Home Page (Oxford, OH),

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I am hoping this won't be incriminating. I think Vicky would vote for Clinton. Even though she's vastly wealthy, I think Vicky believes that people with more have to help people with less. Marley is out of the country and she forgot to send in her abentee ballot. Yes, I miss my friends from OLTL. That was a very magical time for me and for the show, I think. But I couldn't be happier with my current situation at AW. Thanks for being such longtime friends.

NBC HOST:
Hi, just wondering how you got into acting on Another World and Do you plan on moving your carreer on or staying with AW. You are a very good actress, I would like to see you in the movies. Dawn

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I was a music major in college and came to NY to pursue some kind of career in musical theater. But a number of serendipitous events led me to soap opera's. Soap Opera's really suit my current life with 2 small children. But I always am open to movies of the week etc..... And Mr. Spelling are you out there?

NBC HOST:
Will you and Jake end up together or does Bobby Reno take his place in the lives of your kids? Courtney, New Orleans

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I don't really know who I end up with. I think that alot of that has to do with, what you the fans, respond to. However, an interesting part of the story for me is can Vicky be with either of these two men if she's still in love with Ryan.

NBC HOST:
Who is your favorite NBA team? I know you love basketball! Marie - Metairie, LA

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Well the Bulls are my favorite NBA team and I'm in heaven now that the basketball season has started. I'm already working all my angles to A. attend the all star game. B. Sing the national anthem at a Nets game (preferably against the Bulls) and C. meet Bob Costas.

NBC HOST:
Vicky is a wonderful mother! The best I've seen on Daytime. Do you bring any experiences from your own children with you to the role? Lisa NY

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Yeah, I think the writers really have put a nice emphasis on my relationship with my children. I think that's particularly important since Bridget no longer rounds out the family part of my life. My kids on the show are really neat. Good actors but most importantly, they are truly little boys. I can only hope my children grow up to be as nice as the kids I have a chance to work with. Their really cool kids.

NBC HOST:
Where do you see yourself, your career, etc.ten years from now? Would you like to keep doing daytime? gbs96uiuc00 from Urbana, IL

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Myself ten years from now healthy, happy maybe a little girl part of my family. My career, I'll be happy if I'm growing and challenged.
NBC HOST:
Hi Jensen, Just want to let you know that I think your "Official" home page is great. I can't help but notice the Irish in it. Both sides of my family are from Ireland. One from the East (Draughda) N.of Dublin and the other from Cloonaweema, Co. Mayo. Do you have family there? Have you ever visited? Any plans to? Mary Osborne, Abingdon, Va.

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
My husband is the Irish part of my family, Buchanan is actually Scottish. My son Angus O'Hagan O'Brien is Scottish, Scottish, Irish. But really it's just a big melting pot. Both my husband and I would very much like to visit both places, probably Ireland first, when our children get a little older. About the homepage, I'm glad you enjoy it. Marie, my homepage producer, does a beautiful job.

NBC HOST:
Jensen - congratulations on your terrific acting this year! Who would YOU like to see Vicky with - Jake, Bobby, or Ryan's ghost? Also - heard you had a great voice - any chance that Vicky will burst into song on the show?

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I'm not interested in singing on the show. In order to be credible I would have to sing like Vicky. And I'd like to think that I have a better voice than she does :). I was trained classically and I think it would be kind of odd if this girl from the wrong side of the tracks burst into a little Mozart. :)

NBC HOST:
Jensen, I was very upset when they killed off Ryan. How do you feel about this plot change? I know Ryan is back as a ghost in your attic. What is going to happen? Will you ever be able to see him? Diane from Washington, D.C.

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I was sad when Paul decided to leave the show. Sad for myself but excited for him. Without putting words in his mouth I think he was looking for new challenges. AS far as Ryan leaving, it gave me one of the best storylines of my career. Nothing I like more than a little pain and agony :).

NBC HOST:
Since you are on so often on the show, do you ever get burned out?

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Don't you see the circles under my eyes? :) It's every working mothers challenge to balance career and family. I'm not the first person whose ever struggled with it and I know I won't be the last. But who is going to pick up the milk tonight? :)

NBC HOST:
Tina Tennyson/Maryland---Hi, Jensen--You are one of my favorites, I just wanted to ask you what is going to happen with the ghost of Ryan, I heard Paul Michael had a contract for 3 months, Is that true, & Give us a hint in who you will be with at New Year's Eve?!!!!

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I can't give away too much but let me just say that I am SO excited about the potential Ryan being back provides. I've heard little whispers about how full the next couple of months will be and I'm really thrilled. I think you'll really be moved by the story the writers have come up with.

NBC HOST:
If you could bring back any actor to the show that is gone, who would it be?

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Bridget. Bridget. Bridget.

NBC HOST:
Jensen, I love the clothes they dress you in for Vicky. How much say do you have in your clothing design and where do those great clothes come from? Diane from Washington, D.C.

JENSEN BUCHANAN
I love most of Vicky's clothes too. Shawn Dudley, our costume designer, is really sensitive to working with us and our particular ahem, figure flaws. He was very patient with me after I had Angus and continues to move Vicky in a direction I'm VERY comfortable with. Just the whole notion of Vicky as Chaplain couldn't have been more perfect for the way I see the character.

NBC HOST:
Whats it like living in New York verses Wis.?

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
McDonalds delivers in NY. :)

NBC HOST:
I've been an NBC soap fan for over 10 years, and I must say the "death" scene with you and Paul is one of the best scenes ever!!!! I still tear up just thinking about it. I also loved the reunion with Jake in the park. YOU ARE THE BOMB! (that's good) You deserved the emmy for the death scene alone. Are you as excited as the fans at Ryan's return? Was it is sad to say goodbye as it seemed? Althea in Lanesville, IN

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I'm so thrilled about Paul's return. And I'm hoping some of the future story will make the death scene look like a lovely stroll in the park. :)

NBC HOST:
How many days a week do you tape &how many hours a day do you tape? Also what do you like to do if you get to go out on the town with your husband? Debi from Tenn.

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I usually tape four or five days a week. And there is no typical day. A bad one could be 7 AM to 10 PM a good one could be 1 PM to 4 PM. My going out in a BIG way days, are behind me. 6:30 AM comes so quickly with little voices calling out for Mommy. But Gray and I do love to catch a movie now and again. A big night for the O'Brien's is Chinese delivered and a video. Whoopee! Life is good!! :)

NBC HOST:
I enjoy watching you on Another World, you're a very talented person. My question is how in the world do you memorize all the lines you have in one script on a daily basis? Deb from PA deb@epix.net

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
After a while you get kind of comfortable with the subject matter. It's much easier to memorize when you're very familiar with what you're talking about. I watch ER and I don't know how they do it. But the more you memorize, the better you get at it. The minute I walk out of the studio doors at the end of the day, I can't remember a word I said. That's the power of short term memory. :)

NBC HOST:
Bonnie-Livingston,NJ- Did you find it very difficult playing both Marley and Vicky? Are you anxious to play both roles again? Is Marley ever coming back?

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Hi Bonnie. :) I have moments of brief insanity where I am actually tempted with the thought of a great twin storyline. Then I come to my senses and realize I still don't know whose going to get the milk. I really enjoyed my sister relationship on OLTL and would love to have something like that on AW I just don't want to play her. I would love the idea of another actress being cast to play my twin sister. Is that so far-fetched?

NBC HOST:
How dose it feel to kiss all those great looking guys! Lisa Deltona, FL

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Every time I smootch that little Kirkland and Steven my heart soars. :)

NBC HOST:
I know you wanted a break but is are there any plans to bring back Marley for any guest spots. Jim Woodbine NJ

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
If the story was right and it was short term, I'd think about it.

NBC HOST: Jensen - how did you get on AW? What is the best way to start a career in soap operas?? - Amy, Brown Univ. RI (I think you're fabulous, BTW)

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
I think anybody who wants to be an actor should go to school, preferably for something else, take acting classes, but most importantly live. I feel more grounded as an actress the older I get. (Where's the justice in that? :)) I auditioned just like anybody else for the part. I had already been on OLTL so that probably helped.

NBC HOST:
THANK YOU for a great chat everyone. :-)

Special thanks to JENSEN BUCHANAN for taking the time off her busy schedule to chat with us.

JENSEN BUCHANAN:
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for coming tonight. Sorry we couldn't get to every question. The questions were great and I hope everybody had a good time and maybe even a little giggle. Check out my homepage. And let's chat again soon! Bye....

NBC HOST:

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please e-mail us: entertainment@nbc.com

Thanks and good night!