ZEPHRA: How did the “Kiki Jerome” character come about?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: Well “Starr” had to go off of “General Hospital” because
of legal issues with Prospect Park (Production Company). “Kiki” was founded by
the Executive Producer and Head Writer of “General Hospital”.
ZEPHRA: Two other former “One Life to Live” cast members left their
transplanted characters behind and stayed on “General Hospital”, right?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: Yes, Roger Howarth (Todd/Franco) and Michael Easton
(John/Silas) weren’t going to be their characters from “One Life to Live”
anymore. Frank Valentini (Executive Producer) and Ron Carlivati (Head Writer)
had to come up with new characters for the three of us.
ZEPHRA: Did having other former OLTL cast mates move to “General Hospital”
with you make it easier?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: It definitely made it easier; everyone was so welcoming
at “General Hospital”. I knew a lot of the cast already from events that ABC
would have.
ZEPHRA: “KiKi” is a very strong minded character with serious sexual
overtones, did you have any input in creating this character?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: Frank and Ron wanted me to be a completely different
character to "Starr". They wanted me with dark hair and a slight
edge, with a little more spunk. They had to come up with something original
because "Starr" was so original.
ZEPHRA: Were you nervous about playing this new role?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I was excited. Even though “KiKi” is 21, she is more
immature than"Starr". I didn’t want to make her annoying and too
removed from "Starr". I was very conscious of the fans and what they
thought while introducing this new character.
ZEPHRA: How are your fans adjusting to your new character?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: Soap fans are really loyal. At the same time it is hard
for them to picture people in different roles. In some cases, people that I
talk to like “Kiki” a little more than “Starr”. There are still the die hard
“Starr” fans, so I lucked out with people actually accepting her (“KiKi”).
ZEPHRA: People have watched you grow up on OLTL playing sassy ““Starr”
Manning” and now you are this great new character. How are you adjusting?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: It’s hard for me because the dark hair doesn’t feel like
me, but it does feel like “KiKi”. That helped me get into the character.
ZEPHRA: Was it a tough transition playing a teenager to an adult role?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: It is definitely easier being a new character. Fans would
say that “Starr” had a baby, she would never be so sexual, and she would never
be so explicit. It’s true, “Starr” wouldn’t, but “Kiki” can. It is like hitting
the refresh button.
ZEPHRA: You are in a relationship with “General Hospital” on screen co-star
Chad Duell (“Michael” Corinthos). How did your relationship develop?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: We were friends for a year and we always had this
chemistry. We spent a lot of hours working together and we had a lot of fun, so
we got really close that way.
ZEPHRA: Were you leery about being in a relationship with someone you work
with?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: After a year of working together, we were both single and
we were wondering, should we take that next step. We had a feeling that we
loved being together and that’s not going to go away.
ZEPHRA: How does your personal relationship with Chad affect your on screen
relationship?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I don’t think it affects it at all. The only thing that
was weird was that we got together around the end of when “Starr” and “Michael”
were together.
ZEPHRA: Have you ever dated a co-star before?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I have, it was Brandon Buddy (“Cole Thornhart”, OLTL). No
one ever knew about that and we kept it a secret from everybody. No magazine
has ever asked me about that, you are the first one.
ZEPHRA: Congratulations by the way. You recently won the Daytime Emmy for
your role as ““Starr” Manning” on “General Hospital”; whom you grew up playing.
Did the character of “Starr” influence you as a person?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: It did, because “Starr” went through so many things
before I did. “Starr” had her first kiss before I had my first kiss in real
life. She taught me so many lessons. Obviously, the teenage pregnancy story was
really big, and I felt like I went through such a change during that year. I
grew up and matured a lot.
ZEPHRA: Do you keep in contact with your former TV mom?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I do. We are both super busy, because she is filming OLTL
and I am filming “General Hospital”, so we don’t get to talk as often as we
would like to, but we definitely keep in touch and every time I am in New York,
I see her.
ZEPHRA: Did you relocate to the west coast full time?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I have, yes. My mom and brother moved out here with me,
but I go back to Pennsylvania a lot to visit family.
ZEPHRA: How is your brother? (Michael Alderson who played “Matthew
Buchanan” on OLTL)
KRISTEN ALDERSON: He’s awesome. He has just graduated from High School and
he’s going on auditions, and just enjoying the summer right now.
ZEPHRA: How did you pursue your education while starring on a show?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I went to a performing arts High School in New York and I
went to Pennsylvania for grade school. My mom made sure I stayed in school. I
had a tutor on set, on the days I was working, and it was tough, but it was
important to me. I graduated early, not with a GED, and I am glad I did it.
ZEPHRA: Longtime fans know that you are a great singer, are you still
pursuing your singing career?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I love to sing. On the East Coast, I got to sing more
because they always had charity events or Broadway events I could sing at. Here
in L.A they don’t have any of that (Ha ha). “Starr” sang, but I don’t think
they’ll have “Kiki” sing, that’s too much of a coincidence.
ZEPHRA: What do you do when you are not on set?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I play a lot of tennis. My family and I go to movies,
watch reality TV, “American Idol”. We are pretty chilled and relaxed. We like
to take vacations.
ZEPHRA: Is there a favorite destination?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: We’ve been having a week or two off here and there, and
going on vacations; which become very dangerous, because then you end up
spending too much money.
ZEPHRA: You say you watch TV, Do you ever watch soap operas?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: Yeah, I was a big fan of “General Hospital”. So coming on
the show was a dream comes true for me.
ZEPHRA: What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: Without a doubt my all time favorite ice cream flavor is
coffee.
ZEPHRA: I have watched you since you were a little girl. Now you are an
adult and you have a successful acting career, what are some of the other
things you want to accomplish?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I’m really grateful for what I have. I’d love to do
something with my singing just because it’s something I love to do. I never
felt like I needed to be doing anything more. I’m really happy where I am.
ZEPHRA: Do you have any other roles coming up?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: No, whenever you are working on the soap, you are pretty
much tied into the soap. We have a pretty tight schedule.
ZEPHRA: Soaps are on everyday. Playing major characters you must have a
hectic schedule?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: We can film 80 scenes in a day, which is like filming two
movies in a day. We go very quickly. You don't get to mess up a billion times.
You get used to it. There is no other genre that works as much as soaps.
ZEPHRA: Do you have anything that you want fans to know about you that no
one has ever asked?
KRISTEN ALDERSON: I’ve come up with my own prayer that I’ve said every
night since I was eight years old.
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