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Grayson McCouch made his daytime debut in 1993 as Dr. Morgan Winthrop
on Another World. After a stint in feature films like Armageddon
and the prime time series, Legacy, he is returning to daytime
in the role of Dusty Donovan, last played by Brian Bloom.
SoapCityAlina: Welcome back! Does it feel strange, ten years
later, to be back in the studio where you shot Another World?
Grayson McCouch: I have very fond memories of Another World.
It was my first real stable gig. It honed my craft in front of the
camera. And it was fun. I developed great relationships with guys
like Stephen Schnetzer (Cass) and Alice Barrett (Frankie). It’s
like old home week being back here in Brooklyn, but it’s changed
a lot. Another World was a little chaotic. I think we went
through four Executive Producers in the three years I was there.
It wasn’t the tight ship it is now. But Another World
was a very special show.
SCA: What are your favorite memories of Bay City days?
GM: I remember the first day I started work, I met Stephen Schnetzer.
I saw him show up, all clean cut and with a suit on, and I asked,
"Are you one of the producers of the show?" And he said,
"No, I’ll be playing your brother. You idiot." In
retrospect, looking back at the influence of shows like ER
and how we tried picking up the ball and building this huge hospital
set that was absolutely impossible to work in because they didn’t
account for how they were going to put the sound booms in! I remember
spending nights there. We’d be working till one in the morning
or so, and you’d have a 6AM call, and you’d just sleep
in your dressing room.
SCA: You left the show in 1996 and went straight into feature
films. That’s pretty extraordinary. How did that happen?
GM: I had about four call-backs for Armageddon , starting
with the assistant casting director, then the casting director,
and eventually I did my work in front of (Producers) Michael Bay
and Jerry Bruckheimer. They said I was a little young, but I was
the best actor that walked in. I was so elated. I called my mother
first thing; to tell her. I was so, so pleased. As small of a part
as it was, it was a real opportunity. Besides, everybody really
was secondary to the special effects, the explosions. Doing that
movie, I felt like I had, on a certain level, broken into the fraternity
of Hollywood. It was a real lesson. I was playing ball with a caliber
of people that I respected and (they) found that I was a real player.
And it put things in perspective. I realized that it really is about
time and place and opportunity. So, it gave me great confidence
as an actor from which I could then take on leads in prime time
shows. Often, we wish to have leads in movies or TV shows, but rarely
do we ask ourselves if we’re really prepared to be granted
those parts. I think when you’re really, truly ready, you will
receive.
SCA: And then you did Legacy, All Souls and some
TV movies. You had a pretty good prime time career going. What prompted
you to return to daytime?
GM: I thought when I passed into doing prime time work, I would
never return to daytime. But it’s very competitive now. The
lines are no longer strongly inscribed for film actors and prime
time actors and daytime actors and theater actors. People are welcoming
work wherever it lies. Three years ago, I was getting calls from
(Aaron) Spelling and being given pilots to do. But now, guys like
Keifer Sutherland (24) and the (Charlie and Martin) Sheens
have proven prime time to be a viable stomping ground for film actors
who need a buck. So, it’s become quite saturated and quite
competitive. Which isn’t bad; I feel I can compete with them.
But the reality of marquee name value is what it is.
SCA: So, it’s the lack of prime time parts that prompted
you to look at daytime?
GM: I don’t look down upon doing daytime at all. You kind
of map out your fate and then you realize that you are in so many
ways not powered to do so. Events occur like 9/11 that throw things
off-kilter and you end up seizing opportunities that present themselves.
9/11 affected everybody’s choices, because it put everybody
in a depression on one level or another; whether it be mental or
economical. No one went unaffected. I felt the despair that the
economy placed on people. The despair to make a buck. It gave me
a great sense of patriotism toward New York and I really wanted
to return to it (from California). My family and friends were here.
I knew there wasn’t a lot of work to be had in New York. There
were only a few jobs I could sustain my bills with.
SCA: Which is where daytime came in?
GM: ATWT had expressed interest to find out if I was available.
They’d called me previously, and I’d passed on that role.
When they called this time it came at a very opportune time. I wanted
to come and work here and stabilize my life. When I was testing
for this part, there were other gentlemen also testing for it, who
had great credits. People are certainly willing to work where they
can. I don’t feel it to be regressive at all. But, most importantly,
it feels great to be back in a cerebral, cultivated town. And it’s
interesting to find myself back in the same studio.
SCA: So, how are you enjoying stepping into Dusty Donavan’s
cowboy boots?
GM: Dusty is an odd character, and he’s certainly nothing
like he was before. He’s a very beloved character. It’s
nice to come back and jump into a pool of expectation. His circumstances
have changed, the times have changed. I am motivated by a different
MO than Dusty used to be. Also, at first I thought it was a weird
name. But when I learned he was an existing character, there was
no editing to be done.
SCA: How are you enjoying working with the two faces of Martha
(Byrne), since Dusty is going to interact with both Rose and Lily?
GM: It’s fantastic. She does a fantastic job. It’s
very, very palpable when you’re working with her; she gives
you such a different, distinct character from each. Lily being a
very, very grounded soul, and her other half a very boisterous,
insecure soul. In a really shallow way, I kind of like the way Rose
dresses and wears her hair. If it’s got to be a cheap, one-night
stand I might go for Rose, but I’d certainly put my money on
Lily and Dusty for the long haul!
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