Charmed Robbery:
Soaps' Scene Stealers

To catch a thief is not difficult in daytime. After all, scenes are being stolen on a regular basis by a number of fabulous filchers. Here, through their own priceless lines, as well as the two cents added by co-stars, we showcase 10 talented scene stealers who make our shows arresting television on a regular basis.

1. Steve Blackwood (Bart, DAYS OF OUR LIVES)
2. Olivia Birkelund (Arlene Chandler, ALL MY CHILDREN)
3. Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, YOUNG AND RESTLESS)
4. Kassie Depaiva (Blair Buchanan, ONE LIFE TO LIVE)
5. Trent Dawson (Henry Coleman, AS THE WORLD TURNS)
6. John Ingle (Edward Quartermaine, GENERAL HOSPITAL)
7. Darlene Conley (Sally Spectra, BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL)
8. Ben Masters (Julian Crane, PASSIONS)
9. Jeffrey Byron (Mark Boardman, PORT CHARLES)
10. Michael O'Leary (Rick Bauer, GUIDING LIGHT)
Ben Masters
(Julian Crane)
 STEAL BIG - Julian (Handcuffed and sitting in the Crane library in his robe, talking to himself): "My little crepe Suzanne should teach Luis how to properly handcuff people [raises hand with cuffs on] without bruising them. Still, my injuries would no doubt be worse if Eve hadn't lied to Luis and Sheridan about the night Martin Fitzgerald disappeared. [Raises glass to cheer] To a crisis diverted."

Ben Masters Says:
 How much of the scene stealing is you, and how much is the writing? "I think the character of Julian that [Head Writer/Creator] James Reilly created has morphed into a rather odd bird. When I was first cast for the part, I decided to go over the top with it. But I never change my dialogue."
Are you always conscious not to upstage the other actors? "One doesn't go in and say, 'I'm going to steal the scene today,' When I get in the scenes playing Julian, weird things just come out of my mind. I make strange choices that are not to try to be funny; it just happens. Sometimes I wonder if I've gone too far with some of this weird stuff, But then again, there have been 20 or 30 times when I thought I could have gone farther."
How important is humor to soaps? "Humor to this soap rates right up there with love and romance. I think it's that important."
What do you think of Julian? "The way I look at Julian is that he acts how a 3-year-old would react to the world. It's all about him."
Favorite scenes? "There are so many fun things that I've gotten to do. Going back to all the stuff with Suzanne on the plane with the cowbell - that was really a high point. It's very hard to top that."
On The Scene (Stealer): "He has a sarcastic approach to scenes that's refreshing and alive and has bite," states Eva Tamargo Lemus (Pilar). "Ben is so committed in scenes, It's amazing. It's like I have a safety net. I don't have to worry about a thing. He makes me feel comfortable - even though he makes me crack up with his funny faces. It's a lesson in how to not break character because he really takes [his co-stars] to the limit."


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