About
"It is a very, very good job, but it takes a lot of work, and it takes responsibility. You are responsible to the audience for who you're playing. You're responsible to your writers and your producer for the character, And you are extremely responsible to your fellow actors. There are people who don't realize that."
In her two-hour interview, actress Erika Slezak talks about her early years and describes her father, screen star Walter Slezak, and her grandfather, a famous opera singer. She discusses her own training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, shares early stage experiences, and speaks in great detail about the role for which she is most well-known, that of "Victoria Lord" on the daytime soap One Life to Live, a part she had played since 1971. She recalls her audition (she was not told she was reading for "Victoria" until later), establishing her character, and her first storyline. Slezak describes her relationship with initial series producer Doris Quinlan, then-current producer Frank Valentini, and longtime One Life to Live director David Pressman. She recounts working with cast members Ernest Graves, Robin Strasser, and Roy Thinnes, and speaks of her six Emmy wins. Barrie Nedler conducted the interview on April 28, 2006 in Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Erika Slezak on her first day as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on her One Life to Live character's multiple personality disorder and playing her
Erika Slezak on the art of daytime
Erika Slezak on One Life to Live creator Agnes Nixon
Erika Slezak on the popularity of the soap opera genre
Erika Slezak on a typical work week and her preparations on One Life to Live
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences; on her father, actor Walter Slezak; on being born in Hollywood and moving to New York as a child; on her father and grandfather; on her grandfather writing her father letters from Germany during War World II
On her father playing the "bad guy" in the film "Once Upon a Honeymoon" starring Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers; on her father acting in One Life to Live with her
On wanting to become an actress and her father insisting that she be properly trained in acting; on television shows she watched as a child; on her first professional acting job; on performing in the Milwaukee Repertory Theater; on loving theater and wanting to do it for the rest of her life
Chapter 2
On leaving the Milwaukee Repertory Theater; on spending time with her parents in Europe and going to New York to find work as an actress; on auditioning for All My Children, which led to her role on One Life to Live
On her first day as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live; on the art of daytime; on her role as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live and some of her character's early storylines; on her One Life to Live character's multiple personality disorder; on learning to soften "Victoria"
On "Victoria's" loves on One Life to Live; on "Victoria's" father
Chapter 3
On "Victor Lord" on One Life to Live; on her character "Victoria Lord's" children on the show; on how far in advance she would know storylines
On One Life to Live on creator Agnes Nixon; on the producers of One Life to Live; on her input on the show and not ad-libbing at all; on memorizing lines, a typical work week, and her preparations for shooting; on similarities between her and "Victoria"; on shooting on location; on the appeal of soap operas; on advice to aspiring soap actors; on people with whom she's enjoyed working
Chapter 4
On some of her One Life to Live co-stars; on how her character, "Victoria," has changed over the years; on the impact of One Life to Live on her life and on viewers' lives; on other projects in which she's been involved
On her real-life family; on holding the record for most daytime Emmys in one category; on the highlight of her career; on the future of daytime; on how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
All My Children
Erika Slezak on auditioning for All My Children, which led to her role on One Life to Live
One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on her father acting in One Life to Live with her
Erika Slezak on getting her first job in television as "Victoria Lord" (replacing another actress) on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on her role as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live and some of her character's early storylines
Erika Slezak on her first day as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on her One Life to Live character's multiple personality disorder
Erika Slezak on "Victoria Lord's" father on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on her character "Victoria Lord's" children on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on her co-stars of One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on the impact of One Life to Live on her life and on viewers' lives
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Erika Slezak on her role as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live and some of her character's early storylines
Erika Slezak on her character, "Victoria Lord's," children on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on how her One Life to Live character, "Victoria," has changed over the years
Emmy Awards
Erika Slezak on holding the record for most Daytime Emmys in one category (at that time)
Pop Culture
Erika Slezak on her role as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live and some of her character's early storylines
Erika Slezak on her character, "Victoria Lord's," children on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on how her One Life to Live character, "Victoria," has changed over the years
Professions
Actress
Erika Slezak on wanting to become an actress and her father insisting that she be properly trained in acting
Erika Slezak on her advice to aspiring daytime drama actors
Performers
Erika Slezak on wanting to become an actress and her father insisting that she be properly trained in acting
Erika Slezak on her advice to aspiring daytime drama actors
Genres
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Erika Slezak on her role as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live and some of her character's early storylines
Erika Slezak on the popularity of the soap opera genre
Erika Slezak on the impact of One Life to Live on her life and on viewers' lives
Erika Slezak on her co-stars of One Life to Live
People
Jill Farren-Phelps
Erika Slezak on the producers of One Life to Live
Sally Field
Erika Slezak on the popularity of the soap opera genre
Linda Gottlieb
Erika Slezak on the producers of One Life to Live
Cary Grant
Erika Slezak on her father playing the "bad guy" in the film "Once Upon a Honeymoon" starring Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers
Michael Malone
Erika Slezak on how far in advance she would know storylines when Michael Malone was head writer on One Life to Live
Agnes Nixon
Erika Slezak on getting her first job in television on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on Agnes Nixon forgetting to write a Christmas episode on One Life to Live one year
Erika Slezak on One Life to Live creator Agnes Nixon
Nancy Pinkerton
Erika Slezak on Nancy Pinkerton as "Dorian Lord" on One Life to Live
David Pressman
Erika Slezak on getting her first job in television, on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on how David Pressman helped her with her role as "Victoria Lord" on One Life to Live
Doris Quinlan
Erika Slezak on auditioning for All My Children, which led to her role on One Life to Live
Erika Slezak on the producers of One Life to Live
Paul Rauch
Erika Slezak on the producers of One Life to Live
Ginger Rogers
Erika Slezak on her father playing the "bad guy" in the film "Once Upon a Honeymoon" starring Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers
Robin Strasser
Erika Slezak on her co-star Robin Strasser on One Life to Live
Frank Valentini
Erika Slezak on the producers of One Life to Live