I felt like I wasn’t really focused but I felt I was doing okay. But my work wasn’t really what I was capable of. When I hit that six month mark I felt very comfortable in what I was doing. I just really started to kind of put the ego aside and let the head shrink up a little bit because I was twenty-three, I was a kid.

Nadine: What sustained you? What kept you from falling apart? What were you telling yourself.
Stephen: I don’t know. Wendy Rich was very supportive of me and she always kind of stood by me. Herself and Mark Teschner—they always trusted that I could always do better and that I was going to be okay and that really allowed me to push myself. I started to watch the show and I could see where I needed to change and where I needed to commit more. I think it all happened once I got a love interest on the show and Gia started doing really well on the show. The writing was there the support was there. They loved the characters, they loved the couple. I don’t think they expected our couple to take off as well as we did.

Nadine: I loved you guys!
Stephen: Thank you. We had a good time!

Nadine: Is there any particular scene that you remember from your time there that stands out—where you said “wow, I did a really good job on this or I really like the way this scene was written. Anything that stands out.
Stephen: I had a really really good time playing that evil Nikolas when he drugged Elizabeth and did it all for Gia. On the yacht when he was telling her what it was all for. Why he did what he did. I think that whole week of that show was probably my favorite time there being on the show in four years. I had a really good time during that storyline and it was nice to kind of branch out and do something a little bit different from what the characters normally did. I would have to say that whole week was pretty moving for me.

Nadine: What do you do in your free time.
Stephen: In my free time I used to play a lot of golf but I haven’t played in a long time. I guess I’m pretty much a homebody. It’s been really weird coming back [from Australia]. Coming back to your life after having being gone for so long.

Nadine: So you guys have wrapped filming for Monarch Cove.
Stephen: Yes. We finished about eight weeks ago. I got back here about six and a half weeks ago. For me it’s just been about really relaxing and getting ready for pilot season and I have already tested for a couple of pilots. Unfortunately, they didn’t pan out but it’s been fairly busy since I’ve gotten back. I’m kind of gearing up and ready to hit the pavement again. But in my free time to be honest I really don’t do all that much. I’m pretty much a homebody. I try to stay away from the Hollywood scene. I’ve done it. I’m older now and it’s not really for me- the partying. I’m not a big partier.

Nadine: So what do you do at home? Do you watch TV, do you read.
Stephen: I play a little guitar, I watch TV…

Nadine: You’re a musician. Who’s your favorite musician, what’s your favorite song.
Stephen: That’s something that can be argued with a lot of people because I am a big Bon Jovi fan. My music is very derivative of what Bon Jovi has done and I am a rocker at heart so when I write I write in a way—I won’t say it’s depressing but it’s very mellow in the sense of what I feel and what goes on in my head and the scattered thoughts that I do have. A lot of it is derivative of the pain you have in your childhood. That sort of thing. So for me, one of my favorite songs, I always sing it in karaoke. It’s one of my favorite songs ever, it’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi. I think it’s a favorite for a lot of people but for me I don’t know why I love it so much but when I’m on stage and I get the chance to sing it, I go into my own little zone and I’m in my world and I just thoroughly enjoy this song.

Nadine: Yeah. That song, there is just so much of an opportunity to be dramatic and channel all these different feelings. We are just about done. Do you have any favorite TV shows.
Stephen: Monarch Cove, come on.

Nadine: Besides that one! (laughing)
Stephen: I love House. I’ve gotten into House a little bit.

Previous

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Next