One year, two identities, and a whole lot of drama. Nathan Owens has officially survived his first year on The Young and the Restless.
After getting his start on Days of our Lives, Nathan has returned to the daytime world with a deeper perspective and a character, Holden, who is shrouded in secrets. The TV Watercooler caught up with Nathan to talk about building chemistry on set, the “training ground” of soaps, and what’s really going on between Holden and Audra.
You got your start playing Cameron on Days of our Lives back in 2012. How did that experience prepare you for the roles that have since followed? Did anyone offer any advice that may still resonate with you?
I had done commercials prior to that, but Days of our Lives was the first theatrical job that I ever had.
It wasn’t just the first theatrical role, but my first daytime soap. Daytime is a whole other world! There’s an intensity to it, and there’s so much you need to know – so many words, so many different scenes, and all this stuff that they kind of throw at you! You move so quickly.
It was a great training ground for anything that came after that.
It’s not to say that any other level is easier, but the sitcoms and other shows that I went on to, you had way more prep time and so many more shots – you can go for the wide or a different angle, or coverage – but DAYS really taught me to memorize my lines quickly and how to get it in there fast. [I had developed] different tricks to get those lines into my brain as quickly as I could. On top of that, I [learned to] trust my intentions [acting-wise] going forward.
Was there anyone there who gave you advice? Who were you closest with at DAYS?
Yes, Casey Deidrick (ex-Chad) and Kate Mansi (ex-Abigail). I spoke to them at length. We hung out outside of there.
There was a group of us that were around the same age, and we all hung out. We gave each other tidbits of information, and me being so green, they helped me along as well.
There was also an on-set acting coach who would help us out. There were few tips and tricks that the others would use in their practice and show me how to do a better job on set. One of which is taping yourself once you get the lines down. It was something that simple! “Okay, cool! Good call.” It’s so that you can see the way you act, [and you pick up] on the mannerisms that you can’t really tell until you see yourself on camera.
It was a year ago that it was announced that you were joining The Young and the Restless. What has this year been like for you?
Dang! It has been a year!
Honestly, it’s gone by so quickly. It’s been great.
I had a good amount of introduction to the other characters and got a chance to work with them throughout different storylines.
Truthfully, I’d say the first six to eight months, you kind of just get used to the flow of things. Nerves start to dissipate after six to eight months… In a good way! You still want to have at least a good amount of nerves to kind of go into something with a little bit of energy to it, at least in my experience.
You start to settle in at a certain point. I think that’s one thing that, in my first year, I’ve noticed… Very simple stuff like finding your way around the studio so you know where things are and how to get there. There were so many times I didn’t know where the hell I was going! [Laughs]
I’d go to the wrong stage, and they’d say, “You’re all the way over there!”
So, it takes a little while to get the mapping and spatial awareness of how to get to this point or that point.
And getting to know the other cast members has been awesome.
Your character Holden first came to Genoa City under some shady circumstances…
He did!
He was pretending to be Damian. How much did you know when you first joined that you were actually Holden pretending to be Damian? Or did you think that you were Damian?
So, I originally auditioned for Damian, and they went with Jermaine Rivers – which was great for him. They then hit me up, and were like, “Hey, would you be interested in playing his right-hand man? You’re going to go to Genoa City posing as him, trying to do some recon on this business venture to get information to take back to him.” I’m like, “Cool! Let’s do it!”
Holden has brought out a fun side to Claire recently. What has it been like acting opposite Hayley Erin?
Hayley’s awesome! We got along immediately. I think we both have a good sense of humour. I love a good sense of humour. It’s something that I grew up with. I’m sure everyone says, “Oh, my friends are the funniest,” but I think my friends are very funny. We also have that in our family. Our household has a very good sense of humour.
So, when we arrived on set together, that was the first thing that we bonded over. She’s a great energy as well. Always good and helpful if you want to read through something, no matter how many times you want to do it. She’s willing to participate and be there.
She keeps me on my toes a little bit, too, which is something you want in this scenario.
Holden told Claire his big secret with Audra (Zuleyka Silver). Claire’s admitted that she’s done far worse things than taking a cut of a cheque. Do you think there is more that Holden is keeping from her, or is he completely honest with her?
[Laughs]
Umm… I think that this scenario that he’s mentioned to Claire is cloaked in a lot of mystery.
I think it could be a little deeper than what’s been revealed so far!
I think that’s part of who Holden is. There’s a good percentage of mystery that he holds. I think that he likes that. He lives in that space and kind of enjoys that space!
It’s possible that there’s a lot more there!
There was the Lily and Damian triangle when you first started, and now you’re with Claire, who still has sort of something going on with Kyle (Michael Mealor). Now, if you add Audra into the mix, it’s a square, but now Noah (Lucas Adams) is back in Genoa City. Your character also has a history with Sienna (Tamara Braun). So with all six of you, things could get messy – what can you preview?
I think that there’s going to be some bumps and bruises along the way. There are going to be some revelations! There are going to be some interesting twists and turns with every single person that you mentioned there, and maybe even some new ones! Who knows!
The web that has been created in that world with those relationships is, in my theory, just beginning to expand.
Are you hoping that Holden finally gets the girl? Whether it’s Claire, Audra, Sienna, Lily…
I hope so! Yeah, I think at the heart of it, Holden’s a good guy. There’s a romantic side to him. There’s a heart in there.
He’s a guy who has been through a lot of different things in his life. I think [at his] core, there’s honesty there and a yearning for something more – and that more could be romantic. And I hope, for his sake, that it is.
We’ll see!
I don’t know who is the best fit… but we will see!
I’m trying to tiptoe around it! [Laughs]
Who amongst the cast have you grown the closest with this past year?
I would have to say between Hayley and Zuleyka.
Just because I work with them so often. We’ve been on set [together] so many times and laughed so many times! The bonding chemicals, the oxytocin and all that stuff, is involved in those types of situations! So yeah, I would say between those two!
With a lot of Holden’s past still to be revealed, is there anything in particular you’d love for the writers to explore? Perhaps his own family?
I would like to dive a little more into Holden’s backstory, as in what happened with his family? And also, what’s to come in Genoa City for him? What’s the next iteration – professionally, and not just in the romantic sense – what angle do the powers that be want Holden to go?
And yes, like I said, the backstory for sure!
When they revealed the connection between Holden and Audra, what was your reaction? Were you intrigued?
I thought it was awesome! It added another layer for her and for me.
Just as an actor, it adds a layer there [as well], when it’s underneath in the context of what you’re saying in the dialogue, so there’s something more you can play as an actor, because you [now] have that past relationship. Whether it’s a wink, with nobody else seeing, or other subtleties like that.
The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on Global and CBS. Canadians can catch up with episodes on demand, the Global TV app, STACKTV, and at GlobalTV.com.
