Yasmine Bleeth: The Bitch Is Back

(By Jacquelynn D. Powers, Sent to us by Ed)

Move over, Alexis Carrington—there’s a new bitch in town. Her name is Heather Lane, and she has no qualms about sleeping her way to the top. It may have been 11 years since Joan Collins arrogantly sauntered across our television sets on Dynasty—shoulder pads, blood-red nails and all—but Yasmine Bleeth was already taking notes and getting some soap experience of her own on Ryan’s Hope and One Life to Live. And last month, Bleeth emerged not as a busty Baywatch babe, but as a scheming vixen with a hot wardrobe on NBC’s much-anticipated Titans. Within the first episode, she was already causing trouble, bedding both a father and son—and even marrying one of them.

So let the catfights and scenery-chewing begin. After all, both Dynasty and Titans were created by the most prolific television mogul ever, Aaron Spelling. And as his latest muse, Yasmine simpers and struts all over the Wednesday one-hour drama, which pits her against another nighttime-soap veteran, Victoria Principal. A stylish homage to Dynasty, Dallas and Knots Landing, Titans boasts a neverending closet of over-the-top designer gowns, scalding one-liners, grand exits, and cliffhangers in the who-shot-J.R.? vein. Of course, there are the obligatory supersexy and libido-driven men such as Casper Van Dien, John Barrowman and Jack Wagner for Bleeth to manipulate. And the 32-year-old native New Yorker is at the center of it all, a Versace-clad ice princess who knows how to drive her Jimmy Choo stilettos into the hearts of each character on the show. Talk about must-see TV.

JACQUELYNN D. POWERS: Is Titans going to be the next Dynasty?
YASMINE BLEETH: We hope so. We’re all working hard and having fun. But the show has gotten a lot of hype, which makes me nervous. I don’t want to put too much hope into it, just in case.

JDP: How would you describe your character, Heather?
YB: She’s a home-wrecking bitch from hell! I’m a real girly-girl so I couldn’t ask for a better part. She’ll do everything anyone normal would think twice about doing.

JDP: Like sleeping with a father and a son.
YB: She didn’t mean to do that. At the time, she didn’t know. She’s not vicious. But she’s definitely out for the bigger, better deal. If she does something wrong, she’ll make the best of the worst circumstances. But she won’t take the high road.

DP: What is your inspiration for your character?
YB: I didn’t have to look that deep down. Of course, it’s nothing I would ever do. But, you know, you’re a girl. We all have a little bitch in us. It’s that instinct we have. She doesn’t have any issues with women. It’s about power. She wants to be in control. My inspiration is every woman who’s ever gotten screwed by a guy in life. She does what a man would do.

JDP: Are you using any past characters for guidance, like Alexis Carrington?
YB: Alexis is always inspiring. But actually, I go by Jackie Collins novels. I’ve read every single one. So I think of Heather as Lucky Santangelo, with no morals at all.

JDP: You are no stranger to soaps. What is the number-one rule for acting on soaps?
YB: Not being afraid to vamp it up and be over-the-top. You have to be able to laugh at yourself, too.

JDP: So Titans is campy?
YB: Of course it is. The difference between us and Dynasty is that we are winking at ourselves. This is pure fantasy.

JDP: It’s a guilty pleasure.
YB: Yeah, but what do you have to be guilty about? It’s like people having sex or eating ice cream and feeling guilty afterward. You shouldn’t feel guilty about something that is fun—it’s not bad for you. I shop on the Internet and don’t feel guilty.

JDP: Why did prime-time soaps die out after being so popular in the ’80s?
YB: Everything is cyclical. When something gets popular, TV jumps on the bandwagon. There was ten years of Dynasty, Dallas and Knots Landing. It all has to die and come back—just like ’70s and ’80s fashion.

JDP: What were your thoughts when Aaron Spelling approached you to play this role?
YB: I liked it. I was so sick of playing the good girl. I wouldn’t call them victims, but all of my characters have made the right choices. But this is a fantasy role. This is the first time I’ve played such a character.

JDP: You’ve turned Aaron Spelling down twice before. What was different this time around?
YB: It’s not actually like that. We talked a few times, but the part or the timing wasn’t right. I’m not snubbing my nose at working for Aaron Spelling, but it had to be the right part.

JDP: How is it working with the creator of Dynasty, Love Boat and Charlie’s Angels?
YB: Great. He’s a lovely man. He knows what he’s doing, and I know what I’m doing. I couldn’t be happier.

JDP: What is the working environment like?
YB: Everyone is comfortable and gets it. We don’t stop laughing all day. There’s no ego.

JDP: Casper Van Dien is stunning.
YB: He’s pretty okay. For once, it’s nice to have somebody undressed on the show more than I am.

JDP: The pilot had to be reshot and Jack Wagner was a last-minute addition.
YB: Part of the pilot was reshot, just a few scenes. As for Jack Wagner, they wanted to bring him on because they were thinking about not keeping one character.

JDP: And he’s going to be a villain, as well?
YB: They wanted a guy who could be a counter part to me. They felt that the character of my husband—which has nothing to do with the actor—was written a little weakly.

JDP: Will there be any catfights between you and Victoria Principal?
YB: I’m into it. Apparently Victoria doesn’t want to do it. I was hoping for a Jell-O fight. And if she won’t do it, I’ll settle for one of the other girls.

JDP: Is trying on all of the fabulous clothes on Titans the best part?
YB: Every day Catherine, our costume designer, brings me in the most beautiful clothes. Yesterday, she brought me a gorgeous John Galliano/Christian Dior gown.

JDP: Do you get to keep any of the outfits?
YB: No, but I have the wardrobe at my disposal, which is just as good. That way it doesn’t take room in my closet. And you can only wear an outfit once, darling! It’s a fantasy role: She wears ridiculous clothes. You know you want to wear high heels with your bathing suit, but you don’t.

JDP: I want the heels with the fluffy feathers.
YB: I got to wear those marabou shoes with my negligee on my wedding night. She just doesn’t care.

JDP: What about you in real life?
YB: I’m a little more subtle than she is. She knows she’s having fun and loves life.

JDP: Titans is the lead-in to The West Wing. Does that match up?
YB: I like that. It goes Titans, The West Wing and Law & Order—from light, fluffy entertainment to serious. It gives the night a nice edge.

JDP: Will Titans help you lose the title of a Baywatch babe?
YB: Well, honey, I thought I had lost it. Guess not! When I first left the show I didn’t want to be labeled that. I wouldn’t wear a bathing suit, and tried to be very serious. But it’s ridiculous. I have no issues with it now. Put me in a bathing suit, I don’t care. It’s a compliment to be a Baywatch babe—as long as it doesn’t mean bimbo.

JDP: Why is Baywatch such a phenomenon?
YB: Did you ever look at our cast? We had some of the most beautiful actors on TV. Baywatch was so huge internationally because it didn’t lose anything in the translation. I’m not joking. It was visual—beautiful California and healthy people.

JDP: Titans has a pretty good-looking cast, too.
YB: There aren’t too many ugly people on TV.

JDP: Any plans for you to show off your swimming on Titans?
YB: I show off my body. But she doesn’t get wet. It would ruin her shoes and makeup.

JDP: You grew up in New York City. What are your best memories?
YB: I had the greatest life growing up in New York. I saw all walks of life. I learned to be savvy. My mom would send me on modeling and commercial jobs when I was 12. I moved out when I was 17. When all of my friends were applying to college, I got on a soap opera, so I didn’t have to go to college. I was so excited.

JDP: Are you totally an L.A. girl now?
YB: I’ve grown accustomed to it. It’s a beautiful place. When I go back to New York, I get a little claustrophobic. You’re so overwhelmed by people all the time. In L.A., you don’t have to see anyone.

JDP: Your Website mentions that you support breast-cancer research and awareness. How involved are you in this charity work?
YB: My mom died of breast cancer ten years ago and I started working to raise money for research. I do this because it’s something that I care about. I can say something to younger girls. But I’m not trying to be one of these people with issues who put their name on every charity.

JDP: Are you currently dating anyone?
YB: Currently not. It’s the first time in my life I’ve been single for this long, and I like it. It’s good for me. I’m having fun without any men in my life.

JDP: What is your biggest indulgence?
YB: Shopping. That’s what I spend money on. My dad says it’s ridiculous. I don’t even wear the stuff. I just look at it in my closet. But it makes me happy. I can’t help it.

JDP: What makes you laugh?
YB: I laugh at myself. I love people who love life and don’t take themselves too seriously.

JDP: What is the most bizarre request you have ever gotten from a fan?
YB: One guy asks for pictures of my toes in different types of shoes. He’s very specific. Mostly they’re open-toed shoes. Like I’d take the time to photograph my feet for him in different shoes. People are bold.

JDP: What are you looking forward to most about Titans?
YB: Sleeping with all the different men on the show. What more could you ask for?