GL's Crystal Chappell: On Balancing Motherhood And Soap Stardom July 2000 By Jenifer Barend   Crystal Chappell loves playing well-intentioned schemer Olivia Spencer on Guiding Light, but these days, another occupation has captured the actressís heart: her 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week role as mother to Jacob Walker Sabatino, her son with husband and soon-to-be-costar Michael Sabatino (Vince; ex-Jonathan, AMC; ex-Lawrence, Days). ìIt just changes everything,î the actress gushes of her new bundle of joy. ìMichael and I are different now -- I mean, it has to change things. I never realized that it was possible to love anyone or anything so deeply.î Below, Chappell shares her thoughts on mothering, her characterís meddlesome ways, and the -- ahem -- physical changes that go with being a new mom. Digest Online: How has it been for you to return to work after having little Jacob? Chappell: It was really difficult. I mean, physically it was really difficult at first, because itís taken me a good nine or ten weeks to feel like myself again. And emotionally, I have incredible separation anxiety; I miss him so much. I rush home and then I just spend my evenings taking care of him. And Iím so exhausted, but thatís what I want to do. I mean, I just want to hold him and give Michael a break, too. Digest Online: Have you brought Jacob to the studio yet? Chappell: Yeah. Michael and I -- his first day of work here -- we brought him in. Heíll be in the next few days that Michael and I work together. You know, itís a bit of a distraction, although I love it. Digest Online: Itís kind of like youíre working and you look over and you want to run off and be with him. Chappell: Oh, totally! Then you just forget everything that youíre doing and you just want to sit there and stare at him, or tell him stories or watch him smile. Digest Online: Do you understand now when people say that motherhood changes everything and all your priorities shift? Chappell: Oh, completely. And itís a welcome change. Weíre whole different people, Michael and I, having this little baby. Iím Jakeís mom. I mean, I take a good backseat now! [laughs] My life takes a good backseat. And thatís totally okay with me. Digest Online: And I guess you probably start looking at your career in a different light in terms of priority, right? Chappell: Yeah. I mean, itís still really important to me, because thereís the obvious issue of supporting a family and I like the creative outlet, but it makes me realize how silly Iíve been to worry so much about certain things, you know? And to focus so much on things that I really have no control of. And you know, Iíd much rather give my energy to my son and watch him grow and discover what he likes to do. Itís just... itís just such a blessing. Digest Online: Whatís been the most surprising thing to you so far about being a new mom? Chappell: Surprising? I just never knew that I could love somebody so much. I never knew there was such a deep love, you know? And Iíve had wonderful, deep loves in my life, but this is amazing. This goes beyond words. Digest Online: Because itís not like when you fall in love with a person or thereís another person in your life whoís important to you, because itís someone you created, and itís mind-blowing! Chappell: Exactly! It is. Especially, I think, being the mother, youíve carried this baby in you for almost a year. Youíve basically been a home for him. And thatís been your whole world, you know? Taking care of this person you havenít met yet. God, I just want this for everybody! You donít necessarily have to give birth to a child, but if you can in some way, you know, have children in your life, it just makes you a better person. Digest Online: Thereís a certain selflessness, I think, that comes with it automatically. Chappell: Yeah. And you just start to relive the innocence of life again, you know? You get to tell stories, you get to make up songs -- and nobody looks at you in a weird way! [laughs] You kind of get to be a kid again, and itís really worth it. Digest Online: Were you concerned about getting back into shape after having the baby and going back to work so quickly? Chappell: Well, sure. It was sort of a goal of mine to get back in shape as quickly as possible, but -- I think this is something else that comes with being a mom -- youíre a little less worried about being perfect. A little less worried about getting exactly where you intended to go. And I trust that in time I will, but... I mean, the camera adds ten pounds, so Iíve seen some of the shows and I look a little heavier than is comfortable for me... Digest Online: And of course you had to be in that negligee last week! Chappell: Right. And Iím still breast feeding at that point, so my breasts are just enormous! I mean, you could throw my breasts into the ocean and I could save about ten people on them! [laughs] You know, itís a little awkward seeing myself so heavy on camera like that, but Iím losing the weight. And physically Iím healthy and my babyís healthy, and thatís it. And Iím getting a little more rest. You kind of forget about the weight. Itís like, ìBoy, I just want to sleep!î I just want to feel like I can put a complete thought together. I was telling someone the other day, I start to have conversations with people and I realize that I donít make any sense. And Iím so embarrassed that I just keep going as if I do make sense. I just donít want to say, ìYou know, Iím so tired and Iím not making any sense.î And people are so kind. Theyíll sit there and nod their heads like I am. [laughs] Nobody will say to me, ìYou know, Crystal, that just made no sense.î Digest Online: Itís that pity nod, like ìAww...î Chappell: Yeah, and you start to think, ìGod, am I ever gonna be smart again?î [laughs] Digest Online: Has it been a major challenge, having to come home and not only care for the baby, but then having to memorize your lines? I would imagine just juggling the time schedule is difficult. Chappell: Yeah, itís definitely been a challenge, but Michaelís such a wonderful dad and such a nurturing person anyway. And heís got the patience of Job. So he kind of allows me to have that free time and actually allow me to get some rest, so that I can do this. I couldnít do this without him; I couldnít do it alone. I donít know how people do that, quite honestly. I mean, this is a hard enough job with two people; I canít imagine being a single parent. I really admire those people, you know? Digest Online: Do you see the baby changing your relationship with Michael, in the sense that being a mom and dad together brings a whole new element beyond being husband and wife? Chappell: Oh, yeah. We were teammates before, but now itís like major team coverage, you know? We do a lot of team tag, where itís about letting him have his time, letting me have my time -- and then trying to find time together. Thatís really the hardest thing, especially now because Jake doesnít like to sleep. Heís wide awake during the day. Michael couldnít get him to take a nap yesterday, and then of course heís up at night for his feedings. So we just kind of look at each other and... But itís a good thing in some ways, because we acknowledge that, you know, ìI really miss you.î ìI want to go out and have a conversation with you, I want to be in your arms for a while, just the two of us.î Itís kind of romantic. So itís the end of something, but itís also the beginning of something else. You know, we have such a healthy relationship. Weíre making it into something good, I think. Digest Online: And I know that you live outside of Manhattan. Are you enjoying the fact that Jacob is going to grow up in an atmosphere where heís close enough to Manhattan and when heís older he can enjoy all of its benefits, but he also has that sense of a quiet, residential area a little bit away from it? Chappell: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Not only for Jake, but for us. Itís a more soothing environment; itís a very family-oriented neighborhood. No high rises, no loud street noises. So yeah, itís good for all of us. And Iím so excited that Jakeís a New Yorker. He was born here in New York. Weíre very proud of that! [laughs] Digest Online: I think you become so much more independent being raised in New York. I think youíre just not scared by things that other people might be scared by. Thereís a certain maturity level that comes with it. Chappell: Yeah. Well, you kind of see a lot really fast, donít you? Digest Online: Are you enjoying the chance to get to work with Michael again? Chappell: Yeah! He just did a play, and heís doing so great here. You know, Iím a big fan of his, so I love watching him work. The trick is whoís gonna get to sleep the night before. [laughs] Because if he has an audition or something, I stay up with the baby. If I have to work, he stays up with the baby. So thatís been a little tricky, but yeah, itís the first time in seven years that weíve worked together on camera. Weíve done plays together. Itís really easy. Digest Online: And itís not even like he works on days that you donít. Heís in your storyline! Chappell: Exactly. Weíre the people over in the corner, scheming. [laughs] Digest Online: Are you just loving this chance to play this character whoís so complex and multi-layered? Chappell: Well, she is now. I mean, honestly, Iíve been struggling for the past year and... Iíve been happy to be working, obviously, but not happy with the character, because Iíve felt she was sort of half made up. And now with Claire and Eleanor and Matt [Labine; the new head writers] writing her, sheís so much fun! And with that in mind, you come in with more energy and more enthusiasm to do the work. So Iím just peeling back the layers as they continue to write, and itís gonna be really interesting and really fun. Digest Online: I think a lot of people were doubtful at the beginning that there was going to be a commitment to really having anything come between Reva and Josh. Chappell: Well, I can see why. I donít know their history, but Iíve certainly experienced the energy and the love that people have for them. You know, obviously itís a little intimidating, but itís going to be an interesting story. Itís going to be a real story about a couple that is going through a crisis. Digest Online: What has been the fan reaction that youíve been getting about being a character whoís breaking them up, or seems like you might break them up? Chappell: Well, obviously the people who enjoy watching my work are very supportive of it! [laughs] Iím not necessarily rooting for Josh and Olivia to live happily ever after. Iím just rooting for really interesting, fun story that will entertain people and thatís grounded in some kind of reality. But there are huge Josh and Reva fans, especially on the Internet, that are doing what they love to do, which is fight and root for their favorite couple. So, you know, I respect that. Thereís really not a lot you can do when youíre the person walking in. But if itís not me, then itís somebody else. [laughs] If itís not Olivia, then itís somebody else thatís gonna come in, so Iím glad itís me!     (C)opyright. 1997. PRIMEDIA. All Rights Reserved. Soap Opera Digest at www.soapdigest.com   Return to Transcripts Page Return to my Days page