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Eric Martsolf |
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Talks with Melt |
Melt model Eric Martsolf, has recently signed on to play Ethan
Winthrop on the daytime soap opera, Passions. Erics
stage credits include: the "Pharaoh" in the Osmond National Touring
Company of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, "Danny
Zuko" in Grease and Count Maoachi in the musical
version of Happy Days.
In addition to modeling, he has appeared in the films, If Lucy Fell, The Cheater and Spanish Fly.
Eric took some time out from his busy schedule to tell us some of the intimate details of his life, from being a soap opera actor, to how he got to where he is today.
Melt: What made you decide to be an actor vs. being a lawyer?
EM: I always had this feeling that I should be a lawyer based on the fact that my father has been an attorney for last thirty-five years, and I enjoyed the debating. Being a lawyer is not too far off from being an actor. When youre in the courtroom and youre trying to argue a case, youre essentially displaying the art of conviction. Its very much like the stage.
When I graduated, I simply said to my father, I wanted to go to New York and get the entertainment bug out of my system. I thought it was something I would eventually get tired of. I would just roll the dice for a year or two maybe and see what comes up, gamble a little bit, and not expecting to land anything significant. It turned out, after a couple of months, I was already traveling and going out of town for jobs.
Melt: Did you experience any rejection? How did you deal with it and keep going?
EM: Rejection is part of the business, and part of the
industry. I think
thats what makes many actors fall off the path -- the rejection.
Melt: How is modeling different than being on a soap opera?
EM: I always thought of modeling as a way to support my acting career and a way to support my career financially. It was always something to lean on. But I love modeling and the creative process of photography.
Melt: What made you decide to model for Melt Magazine?
EM: Well, I thought the magazine was a terrific idea.
When Melanie Tooker (Melts editor), first came to me with the idea of
modeling for this
magazine, I was obviously quite taken by the idea of a magazine for women that
displayed men in a very classy way. I think shes done a good job of that.
Melt: Do you like working on Passions?
EM: There is a certain amount of pressure going into
the situation. The actor before me has a fan base, and was very well-liked so
it was intimidating coming in. The casting department really put me at ease.
They gave me the freedom and liberty to put my own personality, my own self
into the character. They werent looking for a copy cat. They wanted a
new character all together. So, that felt good. Thats wonderful for an
actor to be able to throw himself into the role.
Melt: What kind of research did you do to prepare for playing the role of Ethan Winthrop?
EM: I actually had a lot of research to undertake because he has many different relationships with several characters on the show. I had to find out who I was in love with, who I was sleeping with, who my parents were -- and none of these questions are easy to answer on a soap opera because these are very conflicted characters.
Its a constantly resolving story. Things are changing all the time. So, just when you think you have your feet planted into the character and you know just who he is and what hes up to, the storyline changes at the drop of a hat. I like that though. It makes coming to work interesting.
Melt: Did you watch soap operas before you got on Passions?
EM: I sure did. My mother is a huge soap opera fan. Whenever I was home from school when I was younger, she would make me fold laundry and watch her soaps. So, I grew up watching them and appreciating them. They have their entertainment value. Theyre a lot of fun. And I think Passions, has really broken down the barrier and dared to go where others havent. I commend them for that.
Also, you have to do what you love to do. Dont do it for fame or fortune. Always give it your best. When in doubt -- when its a battle between your heart and your mind, go with your heart because it will rarely lie to you.
Melt: What are your future plans?
EM: I plan to incorporate all three areas of my career. I dont want to stay with one. I want to do television, film and theater. Stage will always be my first home, its what a grew up on and it will always be a love of mine.
In addition to my career, I would like to maintain a strong family unit. That will always be a priority of mine, a balance of career and family
Samantha Plotkin is an award-winning playwright,
screenplay writer, and freelance journalist. She has a Master's degree in
Screenwriting from USC. Her articles have been published and reprinted in
magazines and webzines nationwide. |
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