For most actresses, stepping into the shoes of a 3-time Emmy winner would be intimidating, at best. Very few have the courage and fortitude to attempt taking on such a monumental task. Let's face it, soap fans can be some of the most dedicated in the world, and if you're replacing one of their favorites, you're instantly public enemy #1. It takes a special kind of performer to dive head-first into the pool of public opinion, latch on to the goal and try to swim with it. Ashley has not only done a beautiful job, she's excelled at it.

Now, this isn't to say Jennifer Finnigan could be replaced easily. Far from it. Her portrayal of Bridget still ranks in the minds of Bold and Beautiful fans as one of the best in the history of the show. How should an actress taking over that part do it without getting any resentment from fans or trying too hard to be another Jennifer Finnigan? Simply by putting her own feelings into it, studying the background, and not trying to take over a part, but making it her part. Thankfully for Brad Bell, Ashley was able to accomplish this and has successfully made Bridget her own.

Much to my extreme pleasure, Ashley consented to sit down and chat with me for a few minutes about Bridget, Nicket, and her personal life. Chatting with her was as enjoyable as sitting in a cafe on the Boardwalk like two college sorority sisters poking fun at passers-by. I was enjoyably impressed that this very talented woman could go from playful to point blank and back with an ease and felt comfortable enough to let her hair down and fill us in on some goodies. Of course, the top question on everyone's mind was how she really felt and what were her strategies in taking over a role done so magnificently by Jennifer Finnigan. Did she plan on being another Jennifer, or was she going to go full steam ahead and just put herself into Bridget?

“Well, I knew, mentally, that Jenn was so very popular, so brilliant. I watched a lot of her episodes; I did quite a lot of homework on the character, watched tons of scenes with Jennifer in them. I wanted to get a feel for who Bridget was, what her history was, and not really get a feel for how Jennifer played her, because Bold and Beautiful fans are very smart. They're very experienced, and they could see right through it if I tried to be another Jennifer. Nobody could copy another actor or actress's behavior and character, so I knew I had to just make Bridget my own, going by what she had lived through and how she interacted with the other family members. I did want to keep some of Jennifer's persona in the character, but like I said, our viewers would figure it out real quick and see right through it. It had to be me they accepted. I mean, I knew it was a role I could do, and it was time for me to come back to daytime after being off of the Young and the Restless for so long.”

True, I stated, the role she played as Tricia's little sister was done flawlessly and with just as much emotion and talent as she puts into Bridget now. Veering off just a touch, I questioned her about her role as 'Megan', asking her to tell us a little about that part.

 “I absolutely loved working with Sabryn Genet; we were really like sisters in real life, so enjoyable to work with. The story-line I think I loved the most was with Nick Scotti. Nick and I had some really interesting chemistry, we became very close friends. He was authentically sweet, and we worked very well on screen together. I loved his portrayal of Tony. Of course, Jay Bontatibus, the second 'Tony', was also one of my favorites to work with. The hospital wedding scenes we had were fabulous. It just made me so upset that they were ending the character of Tony, but at the same time, there were some heartfelt scenes there that gave me great memories of Young and Restless. Now that I'm at Bold, right across the hall, I still love visiting once in a while.”

I'm sure Bold appreciates the fact that they are fortunate enough to have gained Ashley. Wanting to hear more about her opinions on 'Bridget' and taking over such a powerful role, I playfully told her to spill it. Laughing, she commented that when Brad Bell originally asked her to take over Bridget, she felt comfortable she could do it.

“For whatever reason, it didn't bother me at all that Jennifer had done such a wonderful job on that part. I did my homework to copy her essence, and put my own touch on 'Bridget'. I know that if I were a huge fan of an actress, part of what I love about her is who she is, her own personality that comes through her work, so I didn't try to copy Jennifer's. Like I said, the viewers would just see right through it. But since it was time for me to come back to daytime, Brad made me feel very comfortable about taking over 'Bridget'. We talked about story-lines, what he had planned, and how much he really liked the character of Bridget and wanted to expand her. I really fell in love with Brad's ideas. He truly is a gifted producer and writer, and we have a wonderful relationship.”

 I agreed with Ashley there. Brad is a very gifted writer and producer, and I teased her a little about Brad being a maverick of sorts, pushing envelopes and stirring up the waters a little. We both chuckled and agreed that love him or hate him, Brad is a character. I questioned Ashley on how her first week went, diving into the role of 'Bridget.'

“Well, honestly, on the very first day I felt totally at home. Kelly (Katherine Kelly Lang) made me feel so at ease! She is such a sweet woman. It was great getting my feet wet finally after being off daytime. Most of my first scenes were highly emotional, with Bridget just coming back from Europe, still struggling with her feelings, but it all just seemed to flow out. It had a lot to do with Kelly; she was so patient and professional.”

I totally agreed with Ashley on this. Katherine Kelly Lang is simply outstanding. She exemplifies Brooke.

“I was so shocked when Kelly didn't get an Emmy,” Ashley quickly added, “She's extremely talented. She captures the essence of Brooke. You can see it in her eyes when she's on set that she's totally in her part, she puts herself totally into it.” Well now, I told Ashley, Megs here is gunning for Katherine, and I hope to get her interview soon. I've loved to hate Brooke for years because Katherine does such a fantastic job of making Brooke believable. I even told Ashley that once Jack Wagner came on the scene, I was rooting for Brick. ME, I told her, a dedicated Brooke basher, actually rooting for Brooke to be happy! We both got a great giggle out of that one. But what, I asked her, is her opinion on the whole Bricky situation?

“It is kind of awkward, isn't it?” she laughed. “Bridget is marrying the man who slept with her mother and almost married her. I don't know if Brad is keeping us together or not, since he has been quoted as saying he's not done with Brick yet. Personally, I love the relationship with Nick and Bridget. They're funny together. I think that they compliment each other. Bridget brings out a vulnerability to Nick, allows him to be everything he's capable of being, a good husband, a good father, something that's not been there in the past for him. Bridget loves him unconditionally and gives him tons of confidence. I think he's really falling in love with her and in the next couple of weeks, what happens is going to sell the story-line.”

She continues on, still with that bubbly, friendly attitude. “We film two months ahead so the viewers don't know what I know, so it's hard to describe. But we will see the story opening up. We'll see the real attraction between them. I don't know if Brad plans on keeping them together for the long term, but there's so much there between them that can involve Ridge and Brooke, Jackie and Massimo, even Eric and Stephanie's reaction that could make for some great story-lines. I think their bottom line is a relationship built on friendship even though there is some controversy there. I mean, he is much older, almost married to her mother, so to make the story-line work is challenging and super fun for me. I love working with Jack. Him and Ronn Moss are the best! I so totally loved working with Ronn, he's nothing like Ridge. He's such a sweetheart.” Another actor, I chuckled to Ashley, that I plan on nailing to an interview soon. Winding down our chat, I asked this very sweet woman to fill us in a little on Ashley herself.

 “You mean, like my marriage and personal life? Well, I married Noah, of course, who's been a friend since I was fifteen. Rumors are running wild now that Bridget will be having a baby because I said Noah and I wanted to start a family, but we really do want to wait a little while until we're both more financially stable, and we do want to spend a little more time together before adding another member of the family. I do want kids sooner rather than later, but that could mean two or three years. If it happens sooner, then great, no disappointments either way.”

It's not like Bell couldn't work around it, one way or another, right? I told her. Either way, it looks like we're in for a very interesting ride with Nicket. Asking her to sum up her feelings about Bridget, she thought for a moment.

“Honestly, I'd love to know what the viewers think of me as Bridget. I try to put my whole self into the part, and it wasn't easy jumping right into emotional scenes because Bridget had confusing feelings for Ridge knowing he felt the same way at one time, then turning to Nick, who had almost been her mother's husband, especially considering the controversy there. I'm trying hard to fill those huge shoes left by Jennifer without trying to clone her, to make the part mine.”

A job, I told her, she did brilliantly. In this writer's opinion, Ashley not only filled those shoes, but filled them with enough cement to do a statue of Ridge's huge ego on the front lawn of CBS headquarters. So while I truly miss Jennifer Finnigan, Ashley has earned her stripes. And my loyalty. (snap) YOU GO, girl!

Soaptown USA would sincerely like to thank Ashley Jones for taking the time from her busy schedule to chat with us.