LatestArticlesWilliam deVry (GH, Julian)
We met Julian as Derek Wells, media mogul, then knew him as Julian Jerome, mafioso, and now we’re getting to know him as a more relaxed pub owner. How are you enjoying the transition?
“I love it. I really love it. I think it’s a great idea, a great angle. I love that the writers gave Julian a pub where he can interact with different people and he can feel that he is a bit of a hub of activity and not feel like he’s bored. I think he feels challenged by it and I think he feels revived by it. I don’t think the media thing was really his thing; this is right up his alley.”
The media company was more of a Derek thing.
“Yeah, I agree. Absolutely. It was a bit of a shelter, for sure. He can be a little looser [at the pub]; I think it’s easier for him to be himself there. With that media business, he had to still be a little bit heavier. That was more of a burden for him, where this feels a little lighter for him.”
And, of course, he’s made a new friend there, Kim.
“He’s really grateful to have Kim in his life. He appreciates the friendship and it’s helping him take his mind off things.”
How are you enjoying working with Tamara Braun (Kim)?
“Who wouldn’t love to work with Tamara? It’s amazing.”
I like that Kim is smart enough to realize that he isn’t over Alexis.
“Kim and Julian had that moment where she says, ‘You never told me about that stuff,’ and he says, ‘Well, I really haven’t had an opportunity, it’s not something you just blurt out.’ I think he is trying to be honest with her and not hide anything.”
Has it been refreshing to play out something of a reinvention of the character?
“Oh, yeah. For me, it’s great. I do appreciate that aspect of it, that it is sort of a whole new play on [Julian]. I feel like I’ve been given a second character to play, which is kind of neat. This is basically his third life on the show, which is really cool. I am enjoying playing a lighter side to Julian. He doesn’t need to have this wall around him anymore. I think it’s great. I don’t know what the writers have in store, but getting out of the mob is not easy and it could potentially be a really interesting journey for him. Plus, there’s the 20 years that he was in Witness Protection that could still come back to bite him in the ass! Sometimes I get jealous — like with Maurice [Benard, Sonny], he’s got such a great storyline right now with Sonny’s father, stuff from the past that is so interesting to play. There are so many unplayed beats that are out there and available and I think it would be fantastic for Julian to experience some of that. But I look forward to the journey because Julian is obviously trying to make his life better and prove to his family and his kids that he is really giving it a go here.”
Meanwhile, his kids aren’t making it easy for him; he had to agree to not be a part of the life of the baby Brad and Lucas hope to adopt.
“Lucas doesn’t seem to have a problem with Carly and Sonny seeing the baby! So, it’ll be interesting to see how this is going to play out. I see a lot of, ‘When is this going to end for Julian? Things keep getting piled on Julian!’ But for me, I don’t mind it. He’s still paying for his indiscretions, if you will, and I think that’s interesting.”