Sweet, smart, funny, beautiful and classy are just a few words that
jump into my mind when someone mentions Noelle Beck. Did you
know that those exact words can also be used to describe the
characters Beck has played in daytime?
For some of us, our first introduction to Beck happened in May
2008 when she assumed the role of Oakdale heroine Lily Walsh Snyder
from longtime cast member (and fan fave) Martha Byrne. “I guess you
could say that ignorance was bliss at first,” shares Beck regarding
her initial feelings about taking over the role from Byrne and
entering the world of daytime, a world she had been absent from. “I was more worried about how I was going to handle going back to
work full time and raising 3 very active kids and then all of a
sudden it was like Oh My God,” Beck says with a laugh.
Eventually (and quickly too I might add) Beck got her groove back and
once again won over fans and her fellow co-stars. “Everyone
here is so gracious and wonderful,” she shares. Its one
co-star that Beck cannot thank enough for their graciousness and
patience, as she acclimated herself to the pace of daytime once
again and began to learn Lily’s history and ties to many of the
character’s in Oakdale.
“Jon Hensley (Holden) is absolutely WONDERFUL,” shares Beck
about her onscreen husband. “Jon has made me feel so comfortable
and at ease here on the show and with the role of Lily. He has
provided me a lot of good information and history about the
character and the connections she shares with various people in
Oakdale.”
Hensley also helped Beck get up to speed on the love story that
has unfolded between their characters over the years. The love
story between Holden and Lily has spanned decades, and for some
viewers their story encompasses what true, old fashioned, daytime
love and romance is all about. Even though they seem to get ripped
apart, Lily and Holden always manage to somehow find themselves back
in each other’s arms.
“Their love story is one of the show’s longest running love
stories, and I did not realize until I took over the role of Lily,
just what a strong and large fan base this couple has,” shares
Beck. “I’m always curious to see what the writers have in store for
them, the producers know what a large following these two have and
they don’t want to do anything to upset the audience.”
Perhaps that is why the show put the kibosh and what appeared
to be a blossoming relationship between Lily and Holden’s cousin,
Jack Snyder. “I’d love to see the show continue the interactions
between Lily and Jack and see where it leads,” she shares. “I think
that there is a lot of good and interesting storyline that could be
written for them, that could also include Carly, Holden and the rest
of the Snyder family and their thoughts and reactions to a romance
or even a friendship between Jack and Lily.”
Whatever happens between the two of them, Beck would at least
get to work opposite of Jack portrayer, Michael Park. “Everybody in
the cast wants to work with Michael Park,” she says with a laugh. “And I see why, he extremely talented and VERY funny……..he is just
an all around great guy.”
Until the writers decide whether or not to
explore anything else between Jack and Lily, Beck will be keeping
busy with another man who just re-entered Lily’s life, her
ex-husband Damian. Now that he has breezed back into town, viewers
can’t help but wonder whether his presence will cause a tad more
waves in the Snyder’s tumultuous relationship??
“Paolo Seganti,
(Damian) and I hit it off
with one another immediately,” says Beck. “He is a GREAT addition
to the cast and so much fun to work with……I’ve learned so much about
the Lily/Damian relationship from him.”
So does that mean reconciliation between the former spouses, might just
possibly be on the horizon?
“Honestly, I don’t know what is in the works for Lily and Damian.” It’s obvious however; that the flame that once burned between them
may indeed still be burning. “I’m curious to see if they’re still
feelings between the
two or whether or not something could actually
happen between the two of them again. As viewers know Lily is a
trustworthy person and she is giving Damian the benefit of the doubt
that he has truly changed for the better. You will begin to see her
pushing everyone in Oakdale (including their son) to give Damian a
chance and that he has indeed changed.”
But whether or not Damian is pulling the
wools over her eyes and the eyes of others remains to be seen?
“That is the key question.”
Whatever happens with Damian, Lily can
certainly count on one thing being affected…..her relationship with
her son Luke. “I think the whole mother/son dynamic between Lily
and Luke is fantastic and I applaud the show for exploring this
storyline and a relationship between a mother and her gay son that
is something that is not always seen or explored in daytime.”
The other part of this storyline Beck
enjoys is the opportunity to work with Van Hansis who plays her
onscreen son, Luciano “Luke” Grimaldi Snyder. “He is a FABULOUS
actor isn’t he,” gushes Beck. “Van is very talented and I have no
doubt that he will go far in this field, I just absolutely ADORE
him.”
Even though Lily’s relationship with Luke
has been a pivotal part of the show for the last few years, Beck
gives her thoughts on some storyline ideas that she would like to
see the writers and producers explore.
“I would definitely enjoy seeing the show
explore a storyline for Lily and Holden that involves their
children. Lily is a fantastic character to play, and they’re so
many layers to her personality and who she is as a wife, business
woman and a mother………..I would like to even see the writers explore
the mother/daughter relationship between Lily and her girls more in
depth,” offers Beck.
And when Lily needs a sympathetic ear to
listen to her woes of raising daughters, she can always go to her
adoptive mother Lucinda Walsh. “Liz (Hubbard, Lucinda) is great,”
shares Beck. “I still think that there is so much potential
storyline for Lily and Lucinda that could be written and I say to
the writers, throw it my way………I would definitely enjoy the
opportunity to work more with Liz, it is definitely a lot of fun
having scenes with her.”
Life in Oakdale could not be better for
Beck. “I’m having a GREAT time and am enjoying being back on
daytime,” she shares. “I’m excited about the show’s fan club event
and having the opportunity to interact with the fans again this year
and tell them thank you for all the support they’ve given to me.”
Beck did inform me that she attended last
year’s ATWT fan club luncheon, but the event was held before
she debuted on the show and not many viewers realized who she was,
unless they tuned into another daytime show.
And that daytime show was the now
cancelled Loving, which made its home on the alphabet network
and aired on most ABC affiliates during the 12:30 time slot. Once
Beck discovered that this writer was a diehard Loving fan
(and got one of her early introductions to soaps with this show), we
quickly took an entertaining stroll down memory lane and dished
about her character Trisha Alden Swolosky Mackenzie.
“Those were the days,” says Beck with a
laugh. “So many of us in daytime past and present got our start in
this genre on that show…….just like today it was a lot of work, a
lot of dialogue and a lot of memorization but we did it and a lot of
great storylines were launched by that show.”
One of the things I was quick to discuss
with Beck was her characters love stories with police officer with
heart of gold, Steve Swolosky and the dashing yet mysterious,
Trucker Mackenzie. “Those were both great love stories weren’t
they,” says Beck. “I loved working with those two guys and with
everyone on the show as a matter of fact.”
Classy, Elegant, fun and downright
fascinating…………..New words I can add to my vocabulary when someone
asks me about Noelle Beck. I’d like to thank Noelle for taking time
out of her super busy schedule to talk with us here at Soaptown.
Additionally, a thank you goes out to the the publicists at Telenext
for coordinating this interview and making it happen.
