Naomi Matsuda (Dr. Li Finnegan) and Romy Park (Poppy Nozawa) from The Bold and the Beautiful sat down for an in-depth look at their careers, their sisterly rivalry on The Bold and the Beautiful and their love of animals. These two on-screen sisters have been at odds for months, but just as things have started to warm, another major bombshell drops.
Naomi Matsuda, born in Nagasaki, Japan, moved to San Diego at five and began training in traditional Japanese dance at seven. She later expanded into jazz and ballet before transitioning into acting. Her credits include The X-Files, Californication, New Girl, American Crime Story, The Rookie, and Bullet Train. In 2022, she earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for her role as Dr. Li Finnegan on The Bold and the Beautiful. Off-screen, she’s passionate about animal rescue.
Romy Park, a New Jersey native, trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She has appeared in The Rookie: Feds and Ghost Whisperer and joined The Bold and the Beautiful in 2023 as Poppy Nozawa, a free-spirited character with a mysterious past. A classically trained violinist and skilled hula hoop dancer, Romy also co-hosted Romy and Dan’s High School Reunion Podcast.
Don’t miss this conversation as we dive into their characters, their time on set, and what’s coming next!
Naomi Matsuda, born in Nagasaki, Japan, moved to San Diego at five and began training in traditional Japanese dance at seven. She later expanded into jazz and ballet before transitioning into acting. Her credits include The X-Files, Californication, New Girl, American Crime Story, The Rookie, and Bullet Train. In 2022, she earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for her role as Dr. Li Finnegan on The Bold and the Beautiful. Off-screen, she’s passionate about animal rescue.
Romy Park, a New Jersey native, trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She has appeared in The Rookie: Feds and Ghost Whisperer and joined The Bold and the Beautiful in 2023 as Poppy Nozawa, a free-spirited character with a mysterious past. A classically trained violinist and skilled hula hoop dancer, Romy also co-hosted Romy and Dan’s High School Reunion Podcast.
Don’t miss this conversation as we dive into their characters, their time on set, and what’s coming next!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
[Music]
(00:07):
Hi everybody, happy to have you all here with me tonight in the locker room. I'm
Alan Locker. Joining me tonight are two incredibly talented actresses from
the Bold and the Beautiful. Naomi Matsuda and Romi Park on-screen they play
sisters whose relationship has been filled with tension, unexpected turns, and
(00:27):
just when things started to warm up we all know another bomb is about to drop.
Naomi who brings Dr. Leif and again to life has an extensive career
spending TV film in dance earning a daytime Emmy nomination for Bold and the
Beautiful. She has appeared on TV in the Rookie all Americans royal runaways
American crime story and in films full of train Christmas for three and
(00:51):
holiday in the Hamptons. Romi also a seasoned actress and musician stepped in to
the world a bobby of into the world of Bold and the Beautiful as poppin Noaazza
a character with plenty of mystery surrounding her. She has appeared in the
films interference and the salon and was seen in TV series such as Ghost Whisperer
(01:14):
Commander in Chief and was featured in the acclaimed UK anthology series End of
the Line with Dame Harriet Walter. Please it is my pleasure.
Help me welcome Naomi Matsuda and Romi Park to the locker room.
Hello there. No. Thank you both for being here. It's a pleasure to meet you and
(01:34):
have you here. Thank you for having us. Well you know I want to go let's go back
in time Naomi your mother moved you and your brother to San Diego when I believe
you were five from Japan. Do you have early memories of your childhood there?
On San Diego years many. No no in Japan. I'm carrying Japan. In Japan a few not a
(01:57):
lot because I was really young. I remember people. I remember the house. I remember
markets but that's about it. Wow and was San Diego home for you? San Diego's
home for me yes. I was there last August for a wedding. It's gorgeous. It's so nice.
I mean the wedding was on the water. It could not have been more beautiful.
(02:23):
Fortes. Yeah. Yeah. Total. Yeah.
It's a really beautiful city. It's a wonderful place to raise kids.
Yeah that's great. That's I love that. And Romi we were talking backstage.
You were Jersey girl like me born in born in mom. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What was your childhood like down there?
Oh. I mean you know what it was it's hard to say I mean because my mother education
(02:54):
was very very important to her and what she did was she moved us to a wealthier area just so I
can go to the public school but we were not wealthy so we looked in through to the poor area.
And so there was a lot of bullying. There was a lot of in it and it wasn't there were lots of
Asians in the school. It's just I wasn't rich. So the you know everybody the girls and the guys
(03:19):
that mean they would get Ferrari when they were six-seeing or they would never wear the same
you know outfit twice in a year or ever. And so you know the Louis Vuitton purses and
and I so I got made fun of a lot for you know just not having money. Kids sadly kids back in the day when
(03:42):
you know I grew up in New Jersey could be cruel and I think today it's still sadly sadly sadly happens.
Naomi you started dancing at a very early age. What led you into dance and if I have it right
first traditional Japanese dance and then jazz and ballet is that correct? Yes that's correct.
(04:02):
Yes so yes I started Japanese traditional dance when I first came to the States because my aunt was
here and my cousin so we all so we were dancing and we danced at Disneyland every year
for the it's a small role to the Japanese section. We were for years so by the time I was I think 10 or 12
(04:26):
Disneyland was just oh I'm there every year so it's fine I don't need to go. It was so I was spoiled
that way I guess with Disneyland but yeah and then after that started dancing well my mother wanted
me to put me soccer tennis like every sport you know just so I can figure out what I want to what
aligns with me and none of it except for dance and so I started dancing yeah that's it and then
(04:50):
started reforming and even when I was in high school I would never really be in school because I'm
always dancing performing at that time because I was with the group. Where there dancers you looked
up to? Back then Paula Abdul because she was it she was the she was it she was every possible in the
(05:11):
not you know 80s dancing yeah we grew up at the same time we must have because Paula and Jenna
were it for sure. Where it where it and my goal back then was I'm going to be one of their dancers
and that's it and that's the whole reason why I moved to LA. And after I booked my first dance video
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all my friends were all waiters they were actors like me and we just had to already hear you in
LA and I said no I'm a dancer I don't act I'm a dancer and then when you know and then one day
yeah I got I got a night agent I said sure okay I got an agent and then my first audition
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I literally walked in and they were all agents but we all looked identical we all have long black hair
red lipstick black dress no let me just make myself different so I went and got my haircut
as short as yours and then that's when I started booking oh wow were you I mean you said everyone
(06:15):
was telling me to go into acting so you did you just finally listened yes wow I did well after
my first job as a dancer I was like wow that was that was great but wow I thought you know coming
from San Diego that everyone in this in the showroom we would just be treated better and just respected
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and no no and it's fun you know it's it's not like actors they like bow down and dancers is like
oh you can just go sit with the background and dancers you have to sweat a lot more than actors
I would dance dance on concrete you know it's just be higher pay if it's concrete all that good stuff
(07:00):
but I loved it but when I got my first acting gig I said oh okay this is kind of cool
the bug got you it got you at that time yeah after I started booking yeah when you start
booking like that it's like of course you're gonna yeah I think they're gonna get really excited
and get the bug bug and just yeah absolutely Remy you trained as a classical violinist right
(07:27):
in a ballerina yes I started um my mother because I grew up without a father so it was really important
for her to know that we wouldn't be deprived my brother and I wouldn't be deprived of anything
and so she made sure that whatever we wanted to do you know so it was ballet classes brownies girl
scout you know a boy's got you from my brother I did soccer um but at one point my you know because
(07:52):
she was a single mother and she was working full-time she could only really afford to do one thing
for both of us and it was the violin now beautiful instrument I hated it hated it hated it hated
it hated it and she always says well then quit and I was like great I quit and she says you're not quitting
so she made me stay with it um and and I actually stayed with her for quite a while like through
(08:18):
drama school and even after just because I thought oh isn't the actor you know Asian string instruments
maybe that could be something but then after while I said I'm not getting called in for anything
that requires me to play the violin so done and I haven't picked it up since I take that back
last year when I went home I got my old violin out and I did try to play a little didly and I know
(08:44):
I know everything you can play for 18 years and not but it just sounded awful and I just very quietly
put it back in shove the case under my bed and I said sounds pretty bad
I love that your mom still had it that that's amazing and and I have it right right Naomi you have a brother
(09:05):
and Romney you have a brother yes I have a younger brother not the oldest but no sisters and you two
play sisters which I love no sisters either want to be right she takes my younger sister so I can
relate to having a younger sibling and can I choose my brother anyway when I work with Romney like
(09:26):
just for the dynamics of you know scenes and stuff how I would treat her because that's how I raise
listen to me how I raise my brother I yeah because my brother was no single mother as well so I was
the oldest so I I pretty much yeah help with hand mom I'm worked so yeah I wanted to read a few
(09:47):
comments angel says they are both beautiful women and Marney wrote after watching today's episode
of the bold and the beautiful I said Lee is going to hit the roof when she finds out about Poppy and Finn
which I know and we'll get to as well yeah and Michael who is an actor is excited to watch this
(10:10):
but he's opening in Susical in 30 minutes he will watch later but much love and appreciation to you both
thank you basically uh Romney you originally intended to be a Shakespearean actress is that correct
yes that's why I got into acting where did the love of Shakespeare begin it was uh senior year my
(10:33):
English class and my teacher rightly said the only way to understand Shakespeare is to perform it
I was not in drama club I had no interest in acting I'd never and I just remember thinking no way
and I ended up you know I chose I chose to be in a group of people you know and I said I'll be
which number three and Macbeth and would end it up to make a long story short Macbeth couldn't
(10:54):
remember his lines and when we were doing the rehearsal for the day before we had to perform it
in the class I knew everybody's lines so I'm there giving the lines in the corner when everybody
dropped the line I would give them their line and then they said you have to play Macbeth and then
I was resistant but if you know it was important for my grade so I that's when the bug hit me and I
(11:19):
just fell in love with everything Shakespeare I've read the entire canon every sonnet um and I said
you know it let me I want to be in the RSC so I'm gonna go to England and I'm gonna do my drama
training there so I can live in England and join the Royal Shakespeare Company I had never
intended to be in front of the camera at all that's crazy both of you like you know Naomi dance you
(11:47):
know that was where you set your heart and yeah it's crazy how you both fell into this career
yeah it's supposed to be yeah yeah yeah doing this when you think back whether whether it's somebody
(12:08):
who helped in acting or dance who do you say like who are the mentors that helped guide you Naomi
you start with you me it's me oh you oh absolutely and my well mentors yeah absolutely it's me
(12:30):
but I sure idolized and looked up to Paula Abdul people that are working in amazing in just
just amazing artists yeah when you started acting was were there actors that you were drawn to and
you know you said I want to when I started acting well of course but I was cheap you know she's a
(12:54):
goddess of goddesses of acting of course you know it's like if I was ever to do a scene with her I might
just throw up or something that's how I felt you know with with acting so oh my god how am I ever
oh I can't she's amazing and you know when you're younger you just don't really believe in yourself
and yeah so you don't know yourself as much yet you know because when you're 20 then younger you're
(13:16):
so discovering who you are so yeah I really didn't come into my own own really truly I knew what I
always wanted to do I always believed in myself but not to that where I was where I put other people
you know who are more successful who have who have their success that I'm looking up to them and
going gosh you know what they started somewhere they started somewhere why not why not me so I
(13:42):
mentored myself that way why not me I mean you know we all I think having that kind of confidence is
amazing you know you have to believe in yourself and my mom she's very much like just go and do it
and handle it and when she when it's like that it's like they put a trust into you like like they
(14:07):
believe in you I don't know if it was I'm choosing to say they believe in me but more unlikely it was
poor like get out of here like I just get out of here you know like we grew up in this you know
we're like get out of the house it's not like it is now we were we were out all day messing around
their friends or whatever until this dark until the lights came on and then the the street lights
(14:28):
came on they were a lot worse was come home but otherwise get out go do your thing yeah
good luck back in it yeah back in it was next get out of the house yeah back then it totally was
where I mean when you think for yourself were were there mentors along the way yes I had I started
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off training at the World Academy of Dramatic Arts I auditioned for the eight-week Shakespeare
program of course Shakespeare and then I had a wonderful teacher named Jenny Buckman and I mean she
she was the head of acting and it could be pretty brutal in drama schools there they really do
(15:10):
break you down and it's difficult and but she was very nurturing and she became like a second mother
to me like you know I go meet her family go out to dinner and and she really believed in me and she
says you have something and and it was incredible because she trained Kenneth Brahna Matthew McFadian
(15:31):
I mean some of the greatest actors Ray Fine's you see you know I'm filmed today and for her to say
you've got something kid and keep on going and then I went to the Weber-Dogas Academy but there was
another teacher who had great influence influence on me and sadly both have passed but the second one
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just passed I just got news couple weeks ago that she passed I'm gonna get a little weepy because
she helped me so much find my voice and it was again somebody who was nurturing and not every teacher
was I mean they would be the first one to say you're terrible you shouldn't be an actor why are you
here I mean really coming very hard on you and if we weren't in tears every day then I don't think
(16:20):
they were doing their job but what's her name say her name her name was Barty Thomas and I remember
she even though we had I mean we had not just singing lessons but voice classes for theater and but
at the time because I was so young I didn't know how to sort of apply everything that I was learning
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and movement and voice or in anything that we were doing and apply it to the acting they were just
so separate to me and she kind of helped me find the transition and I just remember one day she
two instances one day she she just stopped me I was doing a monologue it was Crescita from
(17:04):
Toilosing Crescita and she goes from me why are you speaking up here like this you know she goes
you need to speak from here like you're learning in vocal class this is how you connect to your
character stop speaking up here and speak and she put her hand right here and she goes breathe
into my hands and I found my voice and from that moment on it's I stopped speaking like this I had a
(17:28):
very high pitch voice and then but the the point where she was I can't imagine you with that high pitch
voice like when you did that voice you know she was directing us in as it happens to be Macbeth
(17:52):
and and I got cast as this time which number one and I had and I just remember I don't know how I
came up with this but I guess she thought it was ingenious but I remember I still had long here at
the time and I went to pick something up and my hair just got in the way and I couldn't see what I was
doing and I had this idea and I said oh I'm not gonna tell her but I'm gonna come on to stage and
(18:17):
be blind she's a blind witch so this so you know I'm coming on to the stage with the other witches and
she's like wait wait wait stop we all stop and we're like and what's wrong with wrong she goes
Romy she goes are you blind I said yes and she goes oh and she just lost it and from that point on like
(18:37):
I was like a little pet I love that Naomi you said earlier what was the first
job you were hired for as an actor it was a Toyota campaign
Toyota commercial and then that was my first acting job in 97 when I cut my hair short of
(19:00):
shores and that was right Toyota is not a bad first game campaign and that was before the strike
so you know that was a big one it was a huge one yeah Toyota is definitely on it yeah I was a
mess too because it was my first time on a job I didn't know I know I didn't know what first team
(19:21):
was second team was I didn't know any of that so when I when I get there I see another girl
when same thing I'm weighing and I said oh my god I think I'm already replaced I already went there
oh my god I'm in place because she's sitting right next to me in my chair they're like oh yeah
now we just go to have a seat right there that's your chair that's your chair that's okay and I see
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her and I just immediately my heart just drops because I just went oh god just in case I mess up
they're gonna use her watch you know I that's where I thought and then so which I'm just in there I
meet her I was like hi you know just dying they call second team and then but they're looking over
our direction and so when they're looking over I'm like okay so I get it up and they're like never
(20:06):
around me on me second team and I was like oh I don't know what that means and I was like I literally
almost out of crime I was like I think I just got fired I really thought I got fired in that moment
and they were like I'm and I'm just kind of like soaking and like just shrinking and then I see
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what they're doing and they're doing lighting and all that and then then she comes back and she
sitting down I'm just looking at her like I don't even know what to say I'm just I don't even know
to do I was finding out and then they're like okay Naomi you're up and I said she's like okay I just
just yeah and I'm like what do I mean oh so confused oh confused so that was my first experience
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that's crazy imagine you like walked out you like he didn't I just I was frozen in fear I was frozen in
just I was shrinking going they don't want me I'm fired does my very first job and then I booked
exiles after that oh wow nice and then just going from my second job is ex files but then
(21:17):
but immediately yeah I'm blessed I'm so blessed and I think it's because I really I chop my hair off
I chopped all my hair you look like everybody else in the room boom boom boom yeah
they're like all new new face oh and she's got short hair Asian short hair because back then all
the Asians had long hair all the Asians played with Sousa's and hookers what else did we play laundry
(21:40):
man laundry right we were so stereotyped we weren't scared to get any other roles except that
you lost it too yeah I mean yeah I played a hooker and ex files yeah they put a wig on me and everything
so it was nice yeah so that was my thing I mean you first of all you must have been excited when
they called and said you got Toyota but then my god when they called and said you had ex files you
(22:04):
must have I was like dead I didn't even know I was just like what's happening let me just go for it
let's just go for it like I don't know I mean I do remember the director was like Naomi this is not
a vogue shoot you literally just got hit by a car can you like you know the shot was me going oh I'm
gonna get hit but I was like oh Naomi Naomi you're about to get smashed okay okay
(22:33):
hold that oh god here we go amateur that is so fine
and stories in the beginning where I was just coo-luliss we're either of you soap opera fans prior to
coming to the building oh what do you all first thing I watch is sitting in well all the kids are
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playing outside I'm on the couch watching all my children and I said to my aunt and she reminded
that she reminded me because I don't remember this she said Naomi when you were six years old and you
were sitting you all it was watch all my children you said to me in Japanese I'm gonna be just like her
one day pointing to Erica Cain oh wow so when I met her in the bathroom I lost it oh you met her wait
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she went in the bathroom I was like oh you know she was like oh Naomi I'm like you know what I'm like
I just sobbed sobbed on my makeup off in the bathroom can you say what you said in Japanese now
do you still speak no I mean I barely no I don't even know how to say it anymore in Japanese really
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you know what no I'm not even gonna try how about that okay I don't know I have no idea no I don't I can
do I do it I can understand it more than I can speak it and I speak conversational and now they need
to give me a dialect coach like because I have an accent when I speak Japanese now I have an
(24:10):
American accent so it doesn't sound authentic when I have to speak Japanese and which I did in one
movie I had to speak a sentence in Japanese and I said it and but in the audition it was supposed
to be improv so I had my mom translated my mom's from the country and my role was a upscale
woman who doesn't speak country who speaks proper Japanese and so they had to bring in a Japanese
(24:39):
person she's literally like Naomi open your mouth like this like Eeeah like she's showing me because I
could not get the pronunciation wow but I'm Japanese and I'm Korean I'm Korean too I love that
Susan Luchister that's that's phenomenal Leona says the chemistry is beyond awesome and you to act
(25:03):
like you were real sisters in real life and that is so beautiful and so natural but I know
it's a story that happened recently with Naomi and I and I remember Annika brought in like a bunch of
clothes remember she okay and so she brought in a bunch of clothes as she you know wasn't gonna
wear anymore and then I came into you know the hair room where they were and Naomi's like picking
(25:30):
out things and she's like oh here this is you and everything that she was picking out for me I would
have picked out for myself and Annika said you guys are really like sisters and it was just it was
incredible and she's like oh she goes oh here this is so you I'm just like yes it is and
incredible so yeah I love that I love Annika just bringing her you know old clothes to the studio
(25:57):
to pass out yeah yeah it's big family there I love that what while speaking of bold and the
beautiful Naomi you were the first to arrive take us back what do you remember about your audition
your screen test for Dr. Lee no I found out I didn't really audition or have a screen test they
(26:19):
called me and because I know I was like as after my it was initially three days three day rule that
said we're gonna I was gonna come in we're done and then after that they're like oh yeah you know
how about this and you know and she's gonna do this and and I was like oh my god what's happening
like what's going on and um I just just jump right in and I meant to you Naomi that is you know
(26:44):
thank you and I said well first of all oh my god oh wait man I didn't audition did I?
no wait wait I did I like a few couple years ago I did audition for bold and beautiful I remember
like it was it was way back and I said is it the offer were those tapes that you know you hired me
to the Christie duly she's like oh Naomi we looked for you I found you and that's it and I said oh my
(27:10):
god thank you so much and as I'm falling up in the office because I was like can I just go say thank
you I had no idea that's how I got hired and they're like go upstairs go see her three three days
I mean I love I love those stories there's so many in daytime that was literally hired for a day
(27:31):
three days six days that end up like yeah yeah within those three days I got nominated for the scene
so it was incredible it was just line go wow wow wow where I mean what what do you remember about
you coming in for poppy I sent in a self tape and then shortly after I got called in for a chemistry
(27:57):
read with the lovely Lisa Yamada and and there were other people there and I and I you took I wouldn't
have known that but Dan Furegole who was a friend of mine who plays E.J. on days I said what is a
chemistry like for these shows and he had actually been to a chemistry at bold and he goes he goes the
(28:18):
other people who'll be up for your part will be there as well so just be prepared for that and I'm
glad he said that because I would have it would have thrown me off completely because I thought oh
we go in one by one we're not gonna see anybody else but they were all really lovely and when I got
called into Brad's office and there was there was a Brad Casey and Rachel Christie and a few other
(28:43):
people were there and did my no pressure no pressure but I I was bawling just because it just Lisa
and I connected and it was an emotional scene and to where both kind of you know and Casey had to go
and and grab me tissues because my nose was running oh and they love that day time does
(29:08):
but I will tell you that I felt so at home already because everybody was down to earth everybody
was welcoming and they spoke to me afterwards and it was like talking to old friends and I just
remember thinking God I would love to work here because everybody's so wonderful I don't feel like
(29:29):
intimidated or that I have I can just be myself with them and so so yeah when I got and they actually
I got hired the same day which is a few hours later my agent said well that was quick and I was
actually dumbfounded you know because when you're used to hearing no so many times I was I was with
(29:49):
my friend Sarah in fact we were having a coffee or a tea in my case but and I said oh my God I said
I just I just booked it and she's so excited she oh my God it's great and this is me going
because I I was I was just in shock and I said I said I don't know what to do I said do and she
(30:11):
was won't message your agent back but it was it's like I forgot everything I couldn't have
remembered my own name at that point I was really just dumbfounded and then when the shock
were off of course I was just dancing around the room I was like yeah yeah I bet I bet yeah and Lisa
(30:33):
and I I just remember I um I had messaged her because we we were already following each other on
Instagram because we got on like a house on fire from day one and she's like yes she goes I was
waiting for you and and it was great so it was really nice because she was that I didn't meet Naomi
until later um but so Lisa was the first person uh who I had a scene with and so it was great because
(30:57):
it was Lisa who was showing me around initially and it was just really nice because it it was it's
quite I got lost I I went to CVS and I said I said oh my what floor am I on I was on the wrong floor
I couldn't find the stage I couldn't find anything and I had to call up to the office and I said I
don't know where I am and I'm lost so it had to be a lost at television city yes I was lost and of
(31:25):
course in your first day and and I was just kind of like I didn't want to be late for anything and
you know because you know the adage and my and my home is is if you're on time you're already late
it's it to be early so when I hear like my name being called on the intercom to come to set
I just you know two scenes away I I booked I ran down the hallway and and I remember if somebody
(31:52):
said you don't have to run it's okay it's still going to be some time before they get to you and so
I was I just you know I just wanted to make sure everything was right because everything it's really
overwhelming uh you know when you're first there it's incredibly I was so nervous we petrified
really yeah and yeah normal I think we I think everyone gets petrified the first day on a job
(32:19):
where you're seeing it with Naomi the whole cast it was like and I had a monologue on top of it I'm like
I was like oh yeah dying like please god just let me get through this model like just let me get
through the words just let me get the lines out you know just properly because I felt there are I
(32:42):
was just I just felt all eyes off me just they're and I can hear just thinking like oh let's see
how she does let's see she's gonna do it let's look okay let's just what she gonna is she gonna do
it and she gonna die is she gonna melt down and what was gonna happen you know like that's the
energy I've got from everyone in the room and so it's really it's it was just love love love love from
(33:06):
everyone yes the first day it was just incredible the all the veterans coming up and just go and
Naomi did it uh give yes and you could tell me you know did it at whatever did it it's just like
wow thank you so much like when they all came up to me to welcome me and just gave me their little
(33:28):
just for me to just relax and calm down but of course that help but still yeah you just like
yeah we're like you know just like but once that monologue got out
great wonderful you know it was great and then I and then I started to have fun
(33:48):
but I'm sure when you saw that monologue on paper you were petrified and then you walk and set
and you see all of those eyes the the added pressure right there it did and I'm just so glad that I
just remembered to stand my ground and just do it just do it Naomi I was like you're there for
(34:08):
reason just do it thank you I love it yeah why are you surprised you most about both of you what has
surprised you most about daytime the speed at which it goes without a shadow of a doubt thank you
one take get it and one take and you better have your lines down you better have your lines down
(34:31):
you better have it down yeah and so it's hard because sometimes you're used to you know one other
you know um like film or or prime time or anything else you know you can say oh you know I didn't
like that very much you know but once they think that you have it even if you don't feel like that was
your best take that's it moving on and you're like oh oh oh and um so you you have to be very well
(34:58):
prepared just be prepared and just be respectful that's it just be prepared and be respectful of
others and because we move so fast so I think that's yeah absolutely what do you love about your
character Naomi about Lee about oh I love her strength I love and but I also love how she loves
(35:24):
I love the depth that she loves this is ungunniable absolutely and here you are me
I love Poppy's fallibility I think I love that she is so imperfect she tries and and yet she she
(35:48):
can get so much wrong but she she tries but I I think that anybody can relate to just someone who
is because there's no none of us are perfect as much as we'd like to be but um the fun
yeah no imperfect so I love especially like finding that vulnerability from like where her actions
(36:10):
might move from because she never does anything with ill intent it just comes from
I said what's the word I'm looking for yeah it's it's misplaced you know this is this is like she
doesn't see you know the different path the path that she might be able to take you know this is
(36:31):
the good path this is the easier path it's she sees one path and that's it and I think especially
in Naomi and I were discussing this especially being the baby of the family I mean so she is a bit
spoiled and that and that is um and the me the youngest you know and Naomi agreed it's like in
(36:52):
an eight in the Asian culture it's like you are treated you are like the baby you are loaded on
you are loaded on everything's given to you you don't lift a finger everything you do is okay
there's no reprimanding none of it you are you're the baby so you get whatever you want
but your deal you believe understands that part too so she's still given she still's guilty too
(37:20):
the little bits even though she's like but she's like she's all that is halfway to herself
with her sister on the show because she loves her so much and it's like oh my god I love you so
much so much how can you act like this I mean come on so that's how the big the big sister it's like
(37:46):
I've done this for you what this I gave you this what pretends you to hear what what what why
what I'm so confused uh because how I you know so Lee also takes that it's on her too so that's
part of her guilt and her shame also I think she loves her or elders siblings they can they can
(38:11):
be very hard and it's not from a bad place they don't care they don't care and you know I mentioned
this in the bold live with Casey I said oh no no it was the interview I somebody asked a question
and I said you know poppy loves Lee she idolizes her she worships her and she's trying so hard to
(38:35):
please her and she she just can't get it right you can't but but before everything especially
when Naomi has to come down really hard on me she gets into character and Naomi and I said this
in so many interviews because it's the absolute truth she connects so well she'll get into her
character and she'll connect with you and I slip into my character so easily and she'll say
(38:59):
come on baby I love you so much never forget that and this is why I'm about to do what I'm
gonna do sometimes very terrifying so um but I I feel that I feel the love but then I also feel the
anger and disappointment and just yeah it can be it's it's crazy because the anger has been there
(39:23):
for so long now but you know all of us viewers have seen the warmth happening the ice sort of
breaking but we all we all as viewers know that that it's temporary because we know what's about to
come at some point soon so the fans are very excited for that Candace just said okay let me take a
(39:47):
break from my childcare class but I just want to say that Naomi and Romi are both amazing and this
storyline is going to give them both Emmy reels so I just had to say that. Yeah Romi big time yeah
we talked about this backstage but I grew up on as the world turns and worked there and Ming Na
(40:09):
Wen was one of the first Asian actresses on daytime we've had a few sins but here we have you two
right in front of me and Lisa you know kind of an entire family yeah how does that feel for Asian
representation for both of you ladies right on it's it's right on right on and the producers and
(40:36):
directors they've been great because when we've been seen together and our makeup the head makeup
artist Chris like Johnson is also Asian American and they're so great about if Naomi and I say listen
this really isn't this would this is how it would be done the Asian way and they're really great
about respecting that and making those changes is there an example of that Romi like what you mean?
(41:00):
yes in fact you remember the DNA test where it was Bill was doing the DNA test and he walks in
and initially I'm supposed to just be like yelling and screaming and throwing her out and
the complete B word and I said I said she wouldn't do that she's I go she's got to reach her tipping point
(41:22):
first where she can't control herself before she gets angry because it is disrespectful and she would
not have been raised this way and they said okay and they said then come at her more softly and then
when you feel it's time to you know getting rid of it out yeah and but I love that that was that
(41:45):
one example I can think of off the top of my head but there have been and they're so great about
saying okay you know of course we don't know what it would what the dynamic would be in in in Asian
or Asian American family so they're very open to listening to that and then applying it and I'm
so grateful for that yeah that's that's wonderful I'm so glad I mean you three really knock it out of
(42:11):
the park together as as family which is you know beautiful beautiful to see thank you you know I
mean you've talked a little bit about you know playing sisters in that you are like sisters of
camera are their favorite scenes that you've had together each like name we what would yours be
why can't we talk about it oh it's coming yeah we can't talk that's the cancel
(42:39):
really you you just teased it that's wonderful what now I'm thinking you keep watching for it because
it's it's it's coming up so it's so deep it's so it's just oh yeah that's all I can say well I think
we all anticipate it I mean you know like I said it's watching the ice break has been wonderful but
(43:04):
we know it's coming so that that's that's beautiful the ice breaking that one this was just I especially
love doing that soft side of Lee that we run I know we should get to be she gets to be soft finally
because she's angry for so I mean every scene she's pissed she's angry she's vile I'm so glad you
(43:28):
brought it up because the gentleman I read earlier Michael had sent me a message about that because
he he adores you but he wondered how you felt about that because Lee has been so high strong my god
it's like wow what is the reasoning well we know well we're about to find out the reason
you guys were like that first yeah but yeah but that was I'd say that was my favorite too so stay tuned
(43:57):
yeah I'm a stay tuned but yeah you'll I mean it's just I'm just so I'm just so happy that the
soft side is coming out that that that the audience can see that there is love there well we get to see
you smile which you haven't been doing much of prior I'm never smiling on the show so only with my
(44:19):
scenes you know lately right yeah I'm softening is I get to smile and actually use my higher voice now
instead of oh Rommie and Angie Angie just said well Lee has been through hell I'd be pissed too
yeah yeah my character has definitely been through hell I I you know it is not my job to judge
(44:46):
my character I have to be her ambassador and you know and if I'm not then I can't play a well-rounded
character I have to know you know so I can't necessarily say oh yeah well this is good this is bad this
is right this is wrong it because my job is to actually you know to bring the character to life
because it is not about poppies about the story it's about the story it's it's a there's a bigger picture
(45:09):
and and I just but I remember like watching a scene I was watching the air show and I texted Naomi
and I said oh I said I love Lee being so soft I said I just really want to slap poppy right now
and I snapped out of it because I was like oh let me just you know but yeah because I felt
(45:33):
for Lee I really did and I was just like yeah everyone is saying Candice and Angie they're all saying
poppy better run she cannot hide when when Lee finds out um well hey we have to talk about all of your
co-stars so I'm gonna say names definitely uh you know what comes to to mine Naomi we'll start with you
(46:01):
Tanner Novelin Finn just lovely just lovely I love him and of course I have love because his character
he's my son he's my every his the whole world but even with just Tanner he's he's so down to earth
he is just that happy go lucky guy he's just kind and sweet and just he's yeah he's this has given him great
(46:28):
stop I have to say I've loved watching him with this story this is really giving him great
I was born in last I watch his scenes yeah I thought he did a great job incredible like
yes and Romeo for you too for Tanner yeah with Tanner everything that Naomi said every I mean I didn't
(46:54):
even really have any scenes with him beforehand and I really just loved him because like to say he's
down to earth he's kind his daughter is named poppy and so I've been wanting to meet his his daughter so
and he is he's a family man and and it was just I remember actually Naomi you were there like the
(47:15):
four of the first days I was there was the first day I met uh Tanner and he was just very welcoming
and he said um if you have any questions don't hesitate to call me to ask you know because I know
it can be really intimidating when you first get here and we weren't even scheduled for any scenes so
yeah lovely man yeah how far back did it go because I haven't watched bold all that long I started
(47:41):
last year sometime but how how far back did it go that we know that poppy slept with him
so I know thing that was it only recently that we discovered that you guys slept together or has
that been oh yes for the audience for a while it's recent yeah okay that's what I thought I yeah
(48:06):
so that was it was a great reveal amazing reveal amazing good scenes whoof poppy and so
like oh I was screaming I was texting poppy I mean Roman I was like oh yeah
it was great yeah yeah Jacqueline McGinnis would steffy oh my gosh she's just she's just a star
(48:31):
she's a unit form she's a light being yes she's a low and powerful and she's just yeah she's she's
an incredible woman yeah the fans were just talking Naomi about your scenes with Kimberly Brown
(48:53):
first of all it when she came back and the toe came out from under the thing that was oh that scene
that was amazing is it fun working opposite her we have so much fun her and I we have the best time
yeah she yeah we have the best time she she's always like trying to you know say she's like well let's
(49:16):
try this let's do that and she's incredible Kimberly she and talk about and you just have
good scene with her too I love her I love her you just have you just have the great scenes in the
in the restaurant yeah she's another one she's such a professional she's so kind and she's like
had and you know and she's very collaborative how do you feel about this you know and and maybe
(49:39):
we should try this one and so it's great that she loves to explore as well and so I would love more
scenes with Kimberly yeah I think she's fantastic well I kind of have a feeling both of you might
be getting more scenes when when this I love feeling too when this news comes out don't you
(50:00):
think so yeah yeah maybe uh roaming down the amount oh I love him I just love him yeah he just makes me
he just makes me laugh all the time and and I it's broken about this on a different um I forgot it
was soap opera digest but it was you know and I think you know Naomi knows um because we're both
(50:24):
huge dog people um yeah I'm gonna talk about that it was one of the first things that we connected on
and what happened was was that two weeks after I got hired my my beautiful little bear passed away
and I just felt the light go out of me and I just you know so I was kind of into scent and I said let's
be professional I'm not gonna bring this into work because I've got a job to do and it's what he
(50:46):
would want me to do and and but I was just kind of smiling and but it was it was hard for me
because inside I just felt so black and dark and I just wanted to sort of crawl you know
buried myself into you know a little hole and then first scene with Don he has me laughing so hard
(51:08):
that I'm crying from laughter and I didn't think that it was possible to laugh like that so soon and
for that I'm so grateful to him yeah but now you know Poppy isn't in scenes with Bill anymore so
well Bruno was asking uh what do you remember about where you danced for him that was really difficult
(51:33):
let me it because okay first of all that was one of my first days and it was only my second time
working with him and it was and I remember Sean Canaan was there Kimberlyn a bunch of extras I didn't
know I still felt very new and we didn't really rehearse the dance at all so I was just like oh my goodness
(51:58):
I go there's no kind of dancing that I can do that I'm familiar with that and so um but you know I
said well let me just jump in feet first and if it had been later they asked me do that now I would
be far more comfortable but just being the new kid and then having all eyes on you um yeah it was very
(52:22):
it was very scary for me and I just remember I was only it was only supposed to be like a little like
you know like three four seconds just like hip swing and and Don was supposed to get up and stop me
and he just he just kept he just watching from the chair and I finally stopped myself and I said can
(52:43):
I hear the director saying Don you can get up I was like did I just do more dancing
Naomi talked about Ted King oh my god I love I love him so much are you kidding me oh my god I
learned so much from him because he was there the first you know when we we came on the same time
(53:10):
because he's placed my husband but he's a veteran soap opera veteran he was on general hospital
for five years so he's like all right Naomi did did did did and did did that I was like okay what else
right but it was just just even the slams time I worked with him he's still he's always like Naomi do
(53:32):
this Naomi do that oh Naomi this this what this means always always teaching me so I really appreciate
him and talk about connection boy I mean Romine couldn't also agree with that because we were talked about
this um pro man pro doesn't get more pro than him I love that I love that you can learn from someone
(53:56):
right just watching him I'll learn you know and when we do things together I watch him so and I
learned from him always and it's almost like okay thank you so much I was like please I love doing
scenes with him because he just talked about connection it's just like pulls you in it's like okay
here I am right yeah right Naomi is not how you feel about him so like when you work with him yeah
(54:23):
do you love that on set do you um love watching others when you're not even in the scene oh yeah
yeah I love it yeah I like watching I like watching it while they're shooting it I like watching it um
you know on the show yeah yeah and then on yeah then I that's what a bully you know like
(54:43):
you know I know but it's like oh my god there's a this actor you watch the performance you know and
then oh yeah the storyline but then you watch the performance it's like because that's that's
our that's what we do right it's a it's a it's a craft it's it's our creation is what we you know
what what are we gonna you know bring to the table here and that's what I love to watch and everyone
(55:06):
when I watch it it's like they're so good in it they're so I mean I have no choice but to believe
and care for them everyone's so wonderful I love I love that you watch um
Romy earlier spoke about her connection with Lisa do you have a connection with Lisa as well
Lisa uh you know not not as much because I don't I don't have that many I haven't had that
(55:31):
many scenes with her actually just a few scenes but um no but when I have done work with her she's
she's so cute she's great she's she's like she's great she's like a lot of wolves yeah
I think lightning bolt a good description Luna is cray um was it fun to have Clint Howard on set
(55:56):
without for me or for Romy Rummy with Clint Howard Tom Sardt yeah yeah it says I didn't have much
interaction with him apart from the scenes we did because he was very he's very private
so but yeah it was really exciting you know because there were definitely people said oh my
god it's going out like some of the other actors and they were you know and but it was fun to
(56:20):
like watch him work because again he's just another you know pro he's just been doing this not
necessarily soap operas with being in film and too late for so long so it was incredible to like
watch him work yeah I love you know it's so amazing because it's like an acting class because you
you really just to be on set you know even you know if you want to direct like you getting to watch
(56:44):
your director do their job or you know the camera operator any of that just having that opportunity
to watch people do those things is like you know a master class you just get to sit there and watch
when you're on set I think just being on set on the soap opera is a master class it is you're
on so much about everything and the number one thing is just let's just respect what we all do here
(57:11):
there's there's it's not just us actors there's so much more there's a lighting guy there's
camera guys I mean there's it's a big family and it takes all of us it takes everyone not just the
actors it takes everyone to make up hair I mean the third you know who you know who you know you know
(57:34):
the the office I mean everybody has a part to play and if and if we don't see our parts not just
the actors then it's it stops being a well-oiled machine so you would never well we would not do
it would be nothing we would be nothing without them so so so so true we have a few minutes left
(57:57):
I want to talk about your love of animals both of you where did your love of animals first begin
Naomi? Well it's a little kidded I would just be always bringing home stray cats home
and remember San Diego we lived next to a shelter and I would always walk by just just to hear just
(58:21):
to you know just to see if anyone does anyone escape but I would always bring home kittens
and in Japan I think my mom taught me how to do the same thing I would be home stray cats even as I
for like little girl and then I'm on my eighth dog now I yeah more eighth dog now my third group
(58:43):
yeah my first group I had in the 90s in my 20s and then after that I had another group in like
2003-04 and then now I'm on my third group you're on your eighth dog how many do you currently have
at once? So this is my third group so I have two now I'm down to two now I used to rescue
(59:04):
in foster and one time I had my four dogs and eight foster in my house that was fun
that was crazy because I was you know I was I was I was part of a rescue so I would foster
these babies and I kept having you know you of course I kept having you know and and Naomi sorry
(59:26):
Remy you your lifelong dream of creating a safe animals is finally taking shape tell us yes well my
love of animals also started when I was young and it was a bird that was dying I was a toddler and
I found him or her in in the backyard and I didn't know how I could save the bird so I'm here trying
(59:48):
to try to see is is he choking on something and I didn't know what had happened and I just in he
died right there sort of like in my my hand and I lost it and my mom was there we gave him a nice
burial and so at that point I actually thought maybe I want to be a vet but since you know
(01:00:10):
untipically not Asian you know a good and great math and science that probably wasn't going to
the route for me to go but I I always said you know if I can I always thought it would be so great to
have an inchuary for animals do something on a bigger scale and I've I've had that dream for quite
(01:00:33):
a while and it was only recently in the last year that it started taking place and coming together
where I got land you know and we're just working on there's already name for it's called the heart of
there and it's being transitioned from a a working cattle farm to a nonprofit land so there's a lot
(01:00:56):
of red tape to go through and then Naomi and I have spoken about that because she she she wants to do
that well and so she's like you got to connect with this person that person and so now it's like
behind the scenes I'm creating a team of people with Naomi's help to actually make this happen because
I want this to be such a grand scale to you know you know start start off reviewing you know
(01:01:21):
domestics of course we'll open it to all animals internationally and so at 27 acres of land
wow have you ever heard of Danny and Ron's rescue
I have not look look them up I I had these two gentlemen on a while ago they
(01:01:43):
they've rescued I don't know in the tens of thousands of dogs really they they came into
being when Katrina happened Hurricane Katrina and they started
rescuing the dogs that were left behind there yeah and Katrina good I'm so glad to hear that because
(01:02:10):
because when Katrina hit all the news there was no coverage of the animals at all at all so even
during Katrina I haven't had held the fundraiser and I raised money just just for the animals
just and I'm not to say okay not for the humans but guess what there's no coverage for the
animals so and I know there's a rescues out there so there was a Noah's foundation that was also
(01:02:35):
assisting back then but yeah that group wonderful so happy yeah they they they're incredible there
was a documentary about them two on Netflix I think called life as a dog or something like that
what was the name of the name of the lion? I'll send Ava the the link so you can take a look at it
I'll tell her to share it with you guys yeah this just been such a pleasure
(01:02:59):
hey thank you so much it's been talking to you you both as well continued success we can't wait
to see your favorite episode oh my gosh you guys you guys just wait is this way thank you both so
(01:03:20):
much for spending the time with us thank you and thank you everyone yep they're all watching
they're there they can't wait to see it all unfold so have a great day thank you guys thank you
everyone we love performing for you yes thank you so much thanks everybody for joining us today
(01:03:46):
thank you to Naomi Matsuda and Romy Park for spending the hour don't forget to tune into the
bouldon in the beautiful weekdays on CBS check your local listings if you haven't yet subscribed to
my youtube channel you can do so down below turn on the notifications for reminders of all upcoming
shows and if you'd like to stream audio versions just search the locker room on your favorite podcast app
(01:04:11):
[Music]
[Music]
(00:07):
Hi everybody, happy to have you all here with me tonight in the locker room. I'm
Alan Locker. Joining me tonight are two incredibly talented actresses from
the Bold and the Beautiful. Naomi Matsuda and Romi Park on-screen they play
sisters whose relationship has been filled with tension, unexpected turns, and
(00:27):
just when things started to warm up we all know another bomb is about to drop.
Naomi who brings Dr. Leif and again to life has an extensive career
spending TV film in dance earning a daytime Emmy nomination for Bold and the
Beautiful. She has appeared on TV in the Rookie all Americans royal runaways
American crime story and in films full of train Christmas for three and
(00:51):
holiday in the Hamptons. Romi also a seasoned actress and musician stepped in to
the world a bobby of into the world of Bold and the Beautiful as poppin Noaazza
a character with plenty of mystery surrounding her. She has appeared in the
films interference and the salon and was seen in TV series such as Ghost Whisperer
(01:14):
Commander in Chief and was featured in the acclaimed UK anthology series End of
the Line with Dame Harriet Walter. Please it is my pleasure.
Help me welcome Naomi Matsuda and Romi Park to the locker room.
Hello there. No. Thank you both for being here. It's a pleasure to meet you and
(01:34):
have you here. Thank you for having us. Well you know I want to go let's go back
in time Naomi your mother moved you and your brother to San Diego when I believe
you were five from Japan. Do you have early memories of your childhood there?
On San Diego years many. No no in Japan. I'm carrying Japan. In Japan a few not a
(01:57):
lot because I was really young. I remember people. I remember the house. I remember
markets but that's about it. Wow and was San Diego home for you? San Diego's
home for me yes. I was there last August for a wedding. It's gorgeous. It's so nice.
I mean the wedding was on the water. It could not have been more beautiful.
(02:23):
Fortes. Yeah. Yeah. Total. Yeah.
It's a really beautiful city. It's a wonderful place to raise kids.
Yeah that's great. That's I love that. And Romi we were talking backstage.
You were Jersey girl like me born in born in mom. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What was your childhood like down there?
Oh. I mean you know what it was it's hard to say I mean because my mother education
(02:54):
was very very important to her and what she did was she moved us to a wealthier area just so I
can go to the public school but we were not wealthy so we looked in through to the poor area.
And so there was a lot of bullying. There was a lot of in it and it wasn't there were lots of
Asians in the school. It's just I wasn't rich. So the you know everybody the girls and the guys
(03:19):
that mean they would get Ferrari when they were six-seeing or they would never wear the same
you know outfit twice in a year or ever. And so you know the Louis Vuitton purses and
and I so I got made fun of a lot for you know just not having money. Kids sadly kids back in the day when
(03:42):
you know I grew up in New Jersey could be cruel and I think today it's still sadly sadly sadly happens.
Naomi you started dancing at a very early age. What led you into dance and if I have it right
first traditional Japanese dance and then jazz and ballet is that correct? Yes that's correct.
(04:02):
Yes so yes I started Japanese traditional dance when I first came to the States because my aunt was
here and my cousin so we all so we were dancing and we danced at Disneyland every year
for the it's a small role to the Japanese section. We were for years so by the time I was I think 10 or 12
(04:26):
Disneyland was just oh I'm there every year so it's fine I don't need to go. It was so I was spoiled
that way I guess with Disneyland but yeah and then after that started dancing well my mother wanted
me to put me soccer tennis like every sport you know just so I can figure out what I want to what
aligns with me and none of it except for dance and so I started dancing yeah that's it and then
(04:50):
started reforming and even when I was in high school I would never really be in school because I'm
always dancing performing at that time because I was with the group. Where there dancers you looked
up to? Back then Paula Abdul because she was it she was the she was it she was every possible in the
(05:11):
not you know 80s dancing yeah we grew up at the same time we must have because Paula and Jenna
were it for sure. Where it where it and my goal back then was I'm going to be one of their dancers
and that's it and that's the whole reason why I moved to LA. And after I booked my first dance video
(05:33):
all my friends were all waiters they were actors like me and we just had to already hear you in
LA and I said no I'm a dancer I don't act I'm a dancer and then when you know and then one day
yeah I got I got a night agent I said sure okay I got an agent and then my first audition
(05:54):
I literally walked in and they were all agents but we all looked identical we all have long black hair
red lipstick black dress no let me just make myself different so I went and got my haircut
as short as yours and then that's when I started booking oh wow were you I mean you said everyone
(06:15):
was telling me to go into acting so you did you just finally listened yes wow I did well after
my first job as a dancer I was like wow that was that was great but wow I thought you know coming
from San Diego that everyone in this in the showroom we would just be treated better and just respected
(06:39):
and no no and it's fun you know it's it's not like actors they like bow down and dancers is like
oh you can just go sit with the background and dancers you have to sweat a lot more than actors
I would dance dance on concrete you know it's just be higher pay if it's concrete all that good stuff
(07:00):
but I loved it but when I got my first acting gig I said oh okay this is kind of cool
the bug got you it got you at that time yeah after I started booking yeah when you start
booking like that it's like of course you're gonna yeah I think they're gonna get really excited
and get the bug bug and just yeah absolutely Remy you trained as a classical violinist right
(07:27):
in a ballerina yes I started um my mother because I grew up without a father so it was really important
for her to know that we wouldn't be deprived my brother and I wouldn't be deprived of anything
and so she made sure that whatever we wanted to do you know so it was ballet classes brownies girl
scout you know a boy's got you from my brother I did soccer um but at one point my you know because
(07:52):
she was a single mother and she was working full-time she could only really afford to do one thing
for both of us and it was the violin now beautiful instrument I hated it hated it hated it hated
it hated it and she always says well then quit and I was like great I quit and she says you're not quitting
so she made me stay with it um and and I actually stayed with her for quite a while like through
(08:18):
drama school and even after just because I thought oh isn't the actor you know Asian string instruments
maybe that could be something but then after while I said I'm not getting called in for anything
that requires me to play the violin so done and I haven't picked it up since I take that back
last year when I went home I got my old violin out and I did try to play a little didly and I know
(08:44):
I know everything you can play for 18 years and not but it just sounded awful and I just very quietly
put it back in shove the case under my bed and I said sounds pretty bad
I love that your mom still had it that that's amazing and and I have it right right Naomi you have a brother
(09:05):
and Romney you have a brother yes I have a younger brother not the oldest but no sisters and you two
play sisters which I love no sisters either want to be right she takes my younger sister so I can
relate to having a younger sibling and can I choose my brother anyway when I work with Romney like
(09:26):
just for the dynamics of you know scenes and stuff how I would treat her because that's how I raise
listen to me how I raise my brother I yeah because my brother was no single mother as well so I was
the oldest so I I pretty much yeah help with hand mom I'm worked so yeah I wanted to read a few
(09:47):
comments angel says they are both beautiful women and Marney wrote after watching today's episode
of the bold and the beautiful I said Lee is going to hit the roof when she finds out about Poppy and Finn
which I know and we'll get to as well yeah and Michael who is an actor is excited to watch this
(10:10):
but he's opening in Susical in 30 minutes he will watch later but much love and appreciation to you both
thank you basically uh Romney you originally intended to be a Shakespearean actress is that correct
yes that's why I got into acting where did the love of Shakespeare begin it was uh senior year my
(10:33):
English class and my teacher rightly said the only way to understand Shakespeare is to perform it
I was not in drama club I had no interest in acting I'd never and I just remember thinking no way
and I ended up you know I chose I chose to be in a group of people you know and I said I'll be
which number three and Macbeth and would end it up to make a long story short Macbeth couldn't
(10:54):
remember his lines and when we were doing the rehearsal for the day before we had to perform it
in the class I knew everybody's lines so I'm there giving the lines in the corner when everybody
dropped the line I would give them their line and then they said you have to play Macbeth and then
I was resistant but if you know it was important for my grade so I that's when the bug hit me and I
(11:19):
just fell in love with everything Shakespeare I've read the entire canon every sonnet um and I said
you know it let me I want to be in the RSC so I'm gonna go to England and I'm gonna do my drama
training there so I can live in England and join the Royal Shakespeare Company I had never
intended to be in front of the camera at all that's crazy both of you like you know Naomi dance you
(11:47):
know that was where you set your heart and yeah it's crazy how you both fell into this career
yeah it's supposed to be yeah yeah yeah doing this when you think back whether whether it's somebody
(12:08):
who helped in acting or dance who do you say like who are the mentors that helped guide you Naomi
you start with you me it's me oh you oh absolutely and my well mentors yeah absolutely it's me
(12:30):
but I sure idolized and looked up to Paula Abdul people that are working in amazing in just
just amazing artists yeah when you started acting was were there actors that you were drawn to and
you know you said I want to when I started acting well of course but I was cheap you know she's a
(12:54):
goddess of goddesses of acting of course you know it's like if I was ever to do a scene with her I might
just throw up or something that's how I felt you know with with acting so oh my god how am I ever
oh I can't she's amazing and you know when you're younger you just don't really believe in yourself
and yeah so you don't know yourself as much yet you know because when you're 20 then younger you're
(13:16):
so discovering who you are so yeah I really didn't come into my own own really truly I knew what I
always wanted to do I always believed in myself but not to that where I was where I put other people
you know who are more successful who have who have their success that I'm looking up to them and
going gosh you know what they started somewhere they started somewhere why not why not me so I
(13:42):
mentored myself that way why not me I mean you know we all I think having that kind of confidence is
amazing you know you have to believe in yourself and my mom she's very much like just go and do it
and handle it and when she when it's like that it's like they put a trust into you like like they
(14:07):
believe in you I don't know if it was I'm choosing to say they believe in me but more unlikely it was
poor like get out of here like I just get out of here you know like we grew up in this you know
we're like get out of the house it's not like it is now we were we were out all day messing around
their friends or whatever until this dark until the lights came on and then the the street lights
(14:28):
came on they were a lot worse was come home but otherwise get out go do your thing yeah
good luck back in it yeah back in it was next get out of the house yeah back then it totally was
where I mean when you think for yourself were were there mentors along the way yes I had I started
(14:49):
off training at the World Academy of Dramatic Arts I auditioned for the eight-week Shakespeare
program of course Shakespeare and then I had a wonderful teacher named Jenny Buckman and I mean she
she was the head of acting and it could be pretty brutal in drama schools there they really do
(15:10):
break you down and it's difficult and but she was very nurturing and she became like a second mother
to me like you know I go meet her family go out to dinner and and she really believed in me and she
says you have something and and it was incredible because she trained Kenneth Brahna Matthew McFadian
(15:31):
I mean some of the greatest actors Ray Fine's you see you know I'm filmed today and for her to say
you've got something kid and keep on going and then I went to the Weber-Dogas Academy but there was
another teacher who had great influence influence on me and sadly both have passed but the second one
(15:53):
just passed I just got news couple weeks ago that she passed I'm gonna get a little weepy because
she helped me so much find my voice and it was again somebody who was nurturing and not every teacher
was I mean they would be the first one to say you're terrible you shouldn't be an actor why are you
here I mean really coming very hard on you and if we weren't in tears every day then I don't think
(16:20):
they were doing their job but what's her name say her name her name was Barty Thomas and I remember
she even though we had I mean we had not just singing lessons but voice classes for theater and but
at the time because I was so young I didn't know how to sort of apply everything that I was learning
(16:43):
and movement and voice or in anything that we were doing and apply it to the acting they were just
so separate to me and she kind of helped me find the transition and I just remember one day she
two instances one day she she just stopped me I was doing a monologue it was Crescita from
(17:04):
Toilosing Crescita and she goes from me why are you speaking up here like this you know she goes
you need to speak from here like you're learning in vocal class this is how you connect to your
character stop speaking up here and speak and she put her hand right here and she goes breathe
into my hands and I found my voice and from that moment on it's I stopped speaking like this I had a
(17:28):
very high pitch voice and then but the the point where she was I can't imagine you with that high pitch
voice like when you did that voice you know she was directing us in as it happens to be Macbeth
(17:52):
and and I got cast as this time which number one and I had and I just remember I don't know how I
came up with this but I guess she thought it was ingenious but I remember I still had long here at
the time and I went to pick something up and my hair just got in the way and I couldn't see what I was
doing and I had this idea and I said oh I'm not gonna tell her but I'm gonna come on to stage and
(18:17):
be blind she's a blind witch so this so you know I'm coming on to the stage with the other witches and
she's like wait wait wait stop we all stop and we're like and what's wrong with wrong she goes
Romy she goes are you blind I said yes and she goes oh and she just lost it and from that point on like
(18:37):
I was like a little pet I love that Naomi you said earlier what was the first
job you were hired for as an actor it was a Toyota campaign
Toyota commercial and then that was my first acting job in 97 when I cut my hair short of
(19:00):
shores and that was right Toyota is not a bad first game campaign and that was before the strike
so you know that was a big one it was a huge one yeah Toyota is definitely on it yeah I was a
mess too because it was my first time on a job I didn't know I know I didn't know what first team
(19:21):
was second team was I didn't know any of that so when I when I get there I see another girl
when same thing I'm weighing and I said oh my god I think I'm already replaced I already went there
oh my god I'm in place because she's sitting right next to me in my chair they're like oh yeah
now we just go to have a seat right there that's your chair that's your chair that's okay and I see
(19:41):
her and I just immediately my heart just drops because I just went oh god just in case I mess up
they're gonna use her watch you know I that's where I thought and then so which I'm just in there I
meet her I was like hi you know just dying they call second team and then but they're looking over
our direction and so when they're looking over I'm like okay so I get it up and they're like never
(20:06):
around me on me second team and I was like oh I don't know what that means and I was like I literally
almost out of crime I was like I think I just got fired I really thought I got fired in that moment
and they were like I'm and I'm just kind of like soaking and like just shrinking and then I see
(20:27):
what they're doing and they're doing lighting and all that and then then she comes back and she
sitting down I'm just looking at her like I don't even know what to say I'm just I don't even know
to do I was finding out and then they're like okay Naomi you're up and I said she's like okay I just
just yeah and I'm like what do I mean oh so confused oh confused so that was my first experience
(20:51):
that's crazy imagine you like walked out you like he didn't I just I was frozen in fear I was frozen in
just I was shrinking going they don't want me I'm fired does my very first job and then I booked
exiles after that oh wow nice and then just going from my second job is ex files but then
(21:17):
but immediately yeah I'm blessed I'm so blessed and I think it's because I really I chop my hair off
I chopped all my hair you look like everybody else in the room boom boom boom yeah
they're like all new new face oh and she's got short hair Asian short hair because back then all
the Asians had long hair all the Asians played with Sousa's and hookers what else did we play laundry
(21:40):
man laundry right we were so stereotyped we weren't scared to get any other roles except that
you lost it too yeah I mean yeah I played a hooker and ex files yeah they put a wig on me and everything
so it was nice yeah so that was my thing I mean you first of all you must have been excited when
they called and said you got Toyota but then my god when they called and said you had ex files you
(22:04):
must have I was like dead I didn't even know I was just like what's happening let me just go for it
let's just go for it like I don't know I mean I do remember the director was like Naomi this is not
a vogue shoot you literally just got hit by a car can you like you know the shot was me going oh I'm
gonna get hit but I was like oh Naomi Naomi you're about to get smashed okay okay
(22:33):
hold that oh god here we go amateur that is so fine
and stories in the beginning where I was just coo-luliss we're either of you soap opera fans prior to
coming to the building oh what do you all first thing I watch is sitting in well all the kids are
(22:55):
playing outside I'm on the couch watching all my children and I said to my aunt and she reminded
that she reminded me because I don't remember this she said Naomi when you were six years old and you
were sitting you all it was watch all my children you said to me in Japanese I'm gonna be just like her
one day pointing to Erica Cain oh wow so when I met her in the bathroom I lost it oh you met her wait
(23:26):
she went in the bathroom I was like oh you know she was like oh Naomi I'm like you know what I'm like
I just sobbed sobbed on my makeup off in the bathroom can you say what you said in Japanese now
do you still speak no I mean I barely no I don't even know how to say it anymore in Japanese really
(23:48):
you know what no I'm not even gonna try how about that okay I don't know I have no idea no I don't I can
do I do it I can understand it more than I can speak it and I speak conversational and now they need
to give me a dialect coach like because I have an accent when I speak Japanese now I have an
(24:10):
American accent so it doesn't sound authentic when I have to speak Japanese and which I did in one
movie I had to speak a sentence in Japanese and I said it and but in the audition it was supposed
to be improv so I had my mom translated my mom's from the country and my role was a upscale
woman who doesn't speak country who speaks proper Japanese and so they had to bring in a Japanese
(24:39):
person she's literally like Naomi open your mouth like this like Eeeah like she's showing me because I
could not get the pronunciation wow but I'm Japanese and I'm Korean I'm Korean too I love that
Susan Luchister that's that's phenomenal Leona says the chemistry is beyond awesome and you to act
(25:03):
like you were real sisters in real life and that is so beautiful and so natural but I know
it's a story that happened recently with Naomi and I and I remember Annika brought in like a bunch of
clothes remember she okay and so she brought in a bunch of clothes as she you know wasn't gonna
wear anymore and then I came into you know the hair room where they were and Naomi's like picking
(25:30):
out things and she's like oh here this is you and everything that she was picking out for me I would
have picked out for myself and Annika said you guys are really like sisters and it was just it was
incredible and she's like oh she goes oh here this is so you I'm just like yes it is and
incredible so yeah I love that I love Annika just bringing her you know old clothes to the studio
(25:57):
to pass out yeah yeah it's big family there I love that what while speaking of bold and the
beautiful Naomi you were the first to arrive take us back what do you remember about your audition
your screen test for Dr. Lee no I found out I didn't really audition or have a screen test they
(26:19):
called me and because I know I was like as after my it was initially three days three day rule that
said we're gonna I was gonna come in we're done and then after that they're like oh yeah you know
how about this and you know and she's gonna do this and and I was like oh my god what's happening
like what's going on and um I just just jump right in and I meant to you Naomi that is you know
(26:44):
thank you and I said well first of all oh my god oh wait man I didn't audition did I?
no wait wait I did I like a few couple years ago I did audition for bold and beautiful I remember
like it was it was way back and I said is it the offer were those tapes that you know you hired me
to the Christie duly she's like oh Naomi we looked for you I found you and that's it and I said oh my
(27:10):
god thank you so much and as I'm falling up in the office because I was like can I just go say thank
you I had no idea that's how I got hired and they're like go upstairs go see her three three days
I mean I love I love those stories there's so many in daytime that was literally hired for a day
(27:31):
three days six days that end up like yeah yeah within those three days I got nominated for the scene
so it was incredible it was just line go wow wow wow where I mean what what do you remember about
you coming in for poppy I sent in a self tape and then shortly after I got called in for a chemistry
(27:57):
read with the lovely Lisa Yamada and and there were other people there and I and I you took I wouldn't
have known that but Dan Furegole who was a friend of mine who plays E.J. on days I said what is a
chemistry like for these shows and he had actually been to a chemistry at bold and he goes he goes the
(28:18):
other people who'll be up for your part will be there as well so just be prepared for that and I'm
glad he said that because I would have it would have thrown me off completely because I thought oh
we go in one by one we're not gonna see anybody else but they were all really lovely and when I got
called into Brad's office and there was there was a Brad Casey and Rachel Christie and a few other
(28:43):
people were there and did my no pressure no pressure but I I was bawling just because it just Lisa
and I connected and it was an emotional scene and to where both kind of you know and Casey had to go
and and grab me tissues because my nose was running oh and they love that day time does
(29:08):
but I will tell you that I felt so at home already because everybody was down to earth everybody
was welcoming and they spoke to me afterwards and it was like talking to old friends and I just
remember thinking God I would love to work here because everybody's so wonderful I don't feel like
(29:29):
intimidated or that I have I can just be myself with them and so so yeah when I got and they actually
I got hired the same day which is a few hours later my agent said well that was quick and I was
actually dumbfounded you know because when you're used to hearing no so many times I was I was with
(29:49):
my friend Sarah in fact we were having a coffee or a tea in my case but and I said oh my God I said
I just I just booked it and she's so excited she oh my God it's great and this is me going
because I I was I was just in shock and I said I said I don't know what to do I said do and she
(30:11):
was won't message your agent back but it was it's like I forgot everything I couldn't have
remembered my own name at that point I was really just dumbfounded and then when the shock
were off of course I was just dancing around the room I was like yeah yeah I bet I bet yeah and Lisa
(30:33):
and I I just remember I um I had messaged her because we we were already following each other on
Instagram because we got on like a house on fire from day one and she's like yes she goes I was
waiting for you and and it was great so it was really nice because she was that I didn't meet Naomi
until later um but so Lisa was the first person uh who I had a scene with and so it was great because
(30:57):
it was Lisa who was showing me around initially and it was just really nice because it it was it's
quite I got lost I I went to CVS and I said I said oh my what floor am I on I was on the wrong floor
I couldn't find the stage I couldn't find anything and I had to call up to the office and I said I
don't know where I am and I'm lost so it had to be a lost at television city yes I was lost and of
(31:25):
course in your first day and and I was just kind of like I didn't want to be late for anything and
you know because you know the adage and my and my home is is if you're on time you're already late
it's it to be early so when I hear like my name being called on the intercom to come to set
I just you know two scenes away I I booked I ran down the hallway and and I remember if somebody
(31:52):
said you don't have to run it's okay it's still going to be some time before they get to you and so
I was I just you know I just wanted to make sure everything was right because everything it's really
overwhelming uh you know when you're first there it's incredibly I was so nervous we petrified
really yeah and yeah normal I think we I think everyone gets petrified the first day on a job
(32:19):
where you're seeing it with Naomi the whole cast it was like and I had a monologue on top of it I'm like
I was like oh yeah dying like please god just let me get through this model like just let me get
through the words just let me get the lines out you know just properly because I felt there are I
(32:42):
was just I just felt all eyes off me just they're and I can hear just thinking like oh let's see
how she does let's see she's gonna do it let's look okay let's just what she gonna is she gonna do
it and she gonna die is she gonna melt down and what was gonna happen you know like that's the
energy I've got from everyone in the room and so it's really it's it was just love love love love from
(33:06):
everyone yes the first day it was just incredible the all the veterans coming up and just go and
Naomi did it uh give yes and you could tell me you know did it at whatever did it it's just like
wow thank you so much like when they all came up to me to welcome me and just gave me their little
(33:28):
just for me to just relax and calm down but of course that help but still yeah you just like
yeah we're like you know just like but once that monologue got out
great wonderful you know it was great and then I and then I started to have fun
(33:48):
but I'm sure when you saw that monologue on paper you were petrified and then you walk and set
and you see all of those eyes the the added pressure right there it did and I'm just so glad that I
just remembered to stand my ground and just do it just do it Naomi I was like you're there for
(34:08):
reason just do it thank you I love it yeah why are you surprised you most about both of you what has
surprised you most about daytime the speed at which it goes without a shadow of a doubt thank you
one take get it and one take and you better have your lines down you better have your lines down
(34:31):
you better have it down yeah and so it's hard because sometimes you're used to you know one other
you know um like film or or prime time or anything else you know you can say oh you know I didn't
like that very much you know but once they think that you have it even if you don't feel like that was
your best take that's it moving on and you're like oh oh oh and um so you you have to be very well
(34:58):
prepared just be prepared and just be respectful that's it just be prepared and be respectful of
others and because we move so fast so I think that's yeah absolutely what do you love about your
character Naomi about Lee about oh I love her strength I love and but I also love how she loves
(35:24):
I love the depth that she loves this is ungunniable absolutely and here you are me
I love Poppy's fallibility I think I love that she is so imperfect she tries and and yet she she
(35:48):
can get so much wrong but she she tries but I I think that anybody can relate to just someone who
is because there's no none of us are perfect as much as we'd like to be but um the fun
yeah no imperfect so I love especially like finding that vulnerability from like where her actions
(36:10):
might move from because she never does anything with ill intent it just comes from
I said what's the word I'm looking for yeah it's it's misplaced you know this is this is like she
doesn't see you know the different path the path that she might be able to take you know this is
(36:31):
the good path this is the easier path it's she sees one path and that's it and I think especially
in Naomi and I were discussing this especially being the baby of the family I mean so she is a bit
spoiled and that and that is um and the me the youngest you know and Naomi agreed it's like in
(36:52):
an eight in the Asian culture it's like you are treated you are like the baby you are loaded on
you are loaded on everything's given to you you don't lift a finger everything you do is okay
there's no reprimanding none of it you are you're the baby so you get whatever you want
but your deal you believe understands that part too so she's still given she still's guilty too
(37:20):
the little bits even though she's like but she's like she's all that is halfway to herself
with her sister on the show because she loves her so much and it's like oh my god I love you so
much so much how can you act like this I mean come on so that's how the big the big sister it's like
(37:46):
I've done this for you what this I gave you this what pretends you to hear what what what why
what I'm so confused uh because how I you know so Lee also takes that it's on her too so that's
part of her guilt and her shame also I think she loves her or elders siblings they can they can
(38:11):
be very hard and it's not from a bad place they don't care they don't care and you know I mentioned
this in the bold live with Casey I said oh no no it was the interview I somebody asked a question
and I said you know poppy loves Lee she idolizes her she worships her and she's trying so hard to
(38:35):
please her and she she just can't get it right you can't but but before everything especially
when Naomi has to come down really hard on me she gets into character and Naomi and I said this
in so many interviews because it's the absolute truth she connects so well she'll get into her
character and she'll connect with you and I slip into my character so easily and she'll say
(38:59):
come on baby I love you so much never forget that and this is why I'm about to do what I'm
gonna do sometimes very terrifying so um but I I feel that I feel the love but then I also feel the
anger and disappointment and just yeah it can be it's it's crazy because the anger has been there
(39:23):
for so long now but you know all of us viewers have seen the warmth happening the ice sort of
breaking but we all we all as viewers know that that it's temporary because we know what's about to
come at some point soon so the fans are very excited for that Candace just said okay let me take a
(39:47):
break from my childcare class but I just want to say that Naomi and Romi are both amazing and this
storyline is going to give them both Emmy reels so I just had to say that. Yeah Romi big time yeah
we talked about this backstage but I grew up on as the world turns and worked there and Ming Na
(40:09):
Wen was one of the first Asian actresses on daytime we've had a few sins but here we have you two
right in front of me and Lisa you know kind of an entire family yeah how does that feel for Asian
representation for both of you ladies right on it's it's right on right on and the producers and
(40:36):
directors they've been great because when we've been seen together and our makeup the head makeup
artist Chris like Johnson is also Asian American and they're so great about if Naomi and I say listen
this really isn't this would this is how it would be done the Asian way and they're really great
about respecting that and making those changes is there an example of that Romi like what you mean?
(41:00):
yes in fact you remember the DNA test where it was Bill was doing the DNA test and he walks in
and initially I'm supposed to just be like yelling and screaming and throwing her out and
the complete B word and I said I said she wouldn't do that she's I go she's got to reach her tipping point
(41:22):
first where she can't control herself before she gets angry because it is disrespectful and she would
not have been raised this way and they said okay and they said then come at her more softly and then
when you feel it's time to you know getting rid of it out yeah and but I love that that was that
(41:45):
one example I can think of off the top of my head but there have been and they're so great about
saying okay you know of course we don't know what it would what the dynamic would be in in in Asian
or Asian American family so they're very open to listening to that and then applying it and I'm
so grateful for that yeah that's that's wonderful I'm so glad I mean you three really knock it out of
(42:11):
the park together as as family which is you know beautiful beautiful to see thank you you know I
mean you've talked a little bit about you know playing sisters in that you are like sisters of
camera are their favorite scenes that you've had together each like name we what would yours be
why can't we talk about it oh it's coming yeah we can't talk that's the cancel
(42:39):
really you you just teased it that's wonderful what now I'm thinking you keep watching for it because
it's it's it's coming up so it's so deep it's so it's just oh yeah that's all I can say well I think
we all anticipate it I mean you know like I said it's watching the ice break has been wonderful but
(43:04):
we know it's coming so that that's that's beautiful the ice breaking that one this was just I especially
love doing that soft side of Lee that we run I know we should get to be she gets to be soft finally
because she's angry for so I mean every scene she's pissed she's angry she's vile I'm so glad you
(43:28):
brought it up because the gentleman I read earlier Michael had sent me a message about that because
he he adores you but he wondered how you felt about that because Lee has been so high strong my god
it's like wow what is the reasoning well we know well we're about to find out the reason
you guys were like that first yeah but yeah but that was I'd say that was my favorite too so stay tuned
(43:57):
yeah I'm a stay tuned but yeah you'll I mean it's just I'm just so I'm just so happy that the
soft side is coming out that that that the audience can see that there is love there well we get to see
you smile which you haven't been doing much of prior I'm never smiling on the show so only with my
(44:19):
scenes you know lately right yeah I'm softening is I get to smile and actually use my higher voice now
instead of oh Rommie and Angie Angie just said well Lee has been through hell I'd be pissed too
yeah yeah my character has definitely been through hell I I you know it is not my job to judge
(44:46):
my character I have to be her ambassador and you know and if I'm not then I can't play a well-rounded
character I have to know you know so I can't necessarily say oh yeah well this is good this is bad this
is right this is wrong it because my job is to actually you know to bring the character to life
because it is not about poppies about the story it's about the story it's it's a there's a bigger picture
(45:09):
and and I just but I remember like watching a scene I was watching the air show and I texted Naomi
and I said oh I said I love Lee being so soft I said I just really want to slap poppy right now
and I snapped out of it because I was like oh let me just you know but yeah because I felt
(45:33):
for Lee I really did and I was just like yeah everyone is saying Candice and Angie they're all saying
poppy better run she cannot hide when when Lee finds out um well hey we have to talk about all of your
co-stars so I'm gonna say names definitely uh you know what comes to to mine Naomi we'll start with you
(46:01):
Tanner Novelin Finn just lovely just lovely I love him and of course I have love because his character
he's my son he's my every his the whole world but even with just Tanner he's he's so down to earth
he is just that happy go lucky guy he's just kind and sweet and just he's yeah he's this has given him great
(46:28):
stop I have to say I've loved watching him with this story this is really giving him great
I was born in last I watch his scenes yeah I thought he did a great job incredible like
yes and Romeo for you too for Tanner yeah with Tanner everything that Naomi said every I mean I didn't
(46:54):
even really have any scenes with him beforehand and I really just loved him because like to say he's
down to earth he's kind his daughter is named poppy and so I've been wanting to meet his his daughter so
and he is he's a family man and and it was just I remember actually Naomi you were there like the
(47:15):
four of the first days I was there was the first day I met uh Tanner and he was just very welcoming
and he said um if you have any questions don't hesitate to call me to ask you know because I know
it can be really intimidating when you first get here and we weren't even scheduled for any scenes so
yeah lovely man yeah how far back did it go because I haven't watched bold all that long I started
(47:41):
last year sometime but how how far back did it go that we know that poppy slept with him
so I know thing that was it only recently that we discovered that you guys slept together or has
that been oh yes for the audience for a while it's recent yeah okay that's what I thought I yeah
(48:06):
so that was it was a great reveal amazing reveal amazing good scenes whoof poppy and so
like oh I was screaming I was texting poppy I mean Roman I was like oh yeah
it was great yeah yeah Jacqueline McGinnis would steffy oh my gosh she's just she's just a star
(48:31):
she's a unit form she's a light being yes she's a low and powerful and she's just yeah she's she's
an incredible woman yeah the fans were just talking Naomi about your scenes with Kimberly Brown
(48:53):
first of all it when she came back and the toe came out from under the thing that was oh that scene
that was amazing is it fun working opposite her we have so much fun her and I we have the best time
yeah she yeah we have the best time she she's always like trying to you know say she's like well let's
(49:16):
try this let's do that and she's incredible Kimberly she and talk about and you just have
good scene with her too I love her I love her you just have you just have the great scenes in the
in the restaurant yeah she's another one she's such a professional she's so kind and she's like
had and you know and she's very collaborative how do you feel about this you know and and maybe
(49:39):
we should try this one and so it's great that she loves to explore as well and so I would love more
scenes with Kimberly yeah I think she's fantastic well I kind of have a feeling both of you might
be getting more scenes when when this I love feeling too when this news comes out don't you
(50:00):
think so yeah yeah maybe uh roaming down the amount oh I love him I just love him yeah he just makes me
he just makes me laugh all the time and and I it's broken about this on a different um I forgot it
was soap opera digest but it was you know and I think you know Naomi knows um because we're both
(50:24):
huge dog people um yeah I'm gonna talk about that it was one of the first things that we connected on
and what happened was was that two weeks after I got hired my my beautiful little bear passed away
and I just felt the light go out of me and I just you know so I was kind of into scent and I said let's
be professional I'm not gonna bring this into work because I've got a job to do and it's what he
(50:46):
would want me to do and and but I was just kind of smiling and but it was it was hard for me
because inside I just felt so black and dark and I just wanted to sort of crawl you know
buried myself into you know a little hole and then first scene with Don he has me laughing so hard
(51:08):
that I'm crying from laughter and I didn't think that it was possible to laugh like that so soon and
for that I'm so grateful to him yeah but now you know Poppy isn't in scenes with Bill anymore so
well Bruno was asking uh what do you remember about where you danced for him that was really difficult
(51:33):
let me it because okay first of all that was one of my first days and it was only my second time
working with him and it was and I remember Sean Canaan was there Kimberlyn a bunch of extras I didn't
know I still felt very new and we didn't really rehearse the dance at all so I was just like oh my goodness
(51:58):
I go there's no kind of dancing that I can do that I'm familiar with that and so um but you know I
said well let me just jump in feet first and if it had been later they asked me do that now I would
be far more comfortable but just being the new kid and then having all eyes on you um yeah it was very
(52:22):
it was very scary for me and I just remember I was only it was only supposed to be like a little like
you know like three four seconds just like hip swing and and Don was supposed to get up and stop me
and he just he just kept he just watching from the chair and I finally stopped myself and I said can
(52:43):
I hear the director saying Don you can get up I was like did I just do more dancing
Naomi talked about Ted King oh my god I love I love him so much are you kidding me oh my god I
learned so much from him because he was there the first you know when we we came on the same time
(53:10):
because he's placed my husband but he's a veteran soap opera veteran he was on general hospital
for five years so he's like all right Naomi did did did did and did did that I was like okay what else
right but it was just just even the slams time I worked with him he's still he's always like Naomi do
(53:32):
this Naomi do that oh Naomi this this what this means always always teaching me so I really appreciate
him and talk about connection boy I mean Romine couldn't also agree with that because we were talked about
this um pro man pro doesn't get more pro than him I love that I love that you can learn from someone
(53:56):
right just watching him I'll learn you know and when we do things together I watch him so and I
learned from him always and it's almost like okay thank you so much I was like please I love doing
scenes with him because he just talked about connection it's just like pulls you in it's like okay
here I am right yeah right Naomi is not how you feel about him so like when you work with him yeah
(54:23):
do you love that on set do you um love watching others when you're not even in the scene oh yeah
yeah I love it yeah I like watching I like watching it while they're shooting it I like watching it um
you know on the show yeah yeah and then on yeah then I that's what a bully you know like
(54:43):
you know I know but it's like oh my god there's a this actor you watch the performance you know and
then oh yeah the storyline but then you watch the performance it's like because that's that's
our that's what we do right it's a it's a it's a craft it's it's our creation is what we you know
what what are we gonna you know bring to the table here and that's what I love to watch and everyone
(55:06):
when I watch it it's like they're so good in it they're so I mean I have no choice but to believe
and care for them everyone's so wonderful I love I love that you watch um
Romy earlier spoke about her connection with Lisa do you have a connection with Lisa as well
Lisa uh you know not not as much because I don't I don't have that many I haven't had that
(55:31):
many scenes with her actually just a few scenes but um no but when I have done work with her she's
she's so cute she's great she's she's like she's great she's like a lot of wolves yeah
I think lightning bolt a good description Luna is cray um was it fun to have Clint Howard on set
(55:56):
without for me or for Romy Rummy with Clint Howard Tom Sardt yeah yeah it says I didn't have much
interaction with him apart from the scenes we did because he was very he's very private
so but yeah it was really exciting you know because there were definitely people said oh my
god it's going out like some of the other actors and they were you know and but it was fun to
(56:20):
like watch him work because again he's just another you know pro he's just been doing this not
necessarily soap operas with being in film and too late for so long so it was incredible to like
watch him work yeah I love you know it's so amazing because it's like an acting class because you
you really just to be on set you know even you know if you want to direct like you getting to watch
(56:44):
your director do their job or you know the camera operator any of that just having that opportunity
to watch people do those things is like you know a master class you just get to sit there and watch
when you're on set I think just being on set on the soap opera is a master class it is you're
on so much about everything and the number one thing is just let's just respect what we all do here
(57:11):
there's there's it's not just us actors there's so much more there's a lighting guy there's
camera guys I mean there's it's a big family and it takes all of us it takes everyone not just the
actors it takes everyone to make up hair I mean the third you know who you know who you know you know
(57:34):
the the office I mean everybody has a part to play and if and if we don't see our parts not just
the actors then it's it stops being a well-oiled machine so you would never well we would not do
it would be nothing we would be nothing without them so so so so true we have a few minutes left
(57:57):
I want to talk about your love of animals both of you where did your love of animals first begin
Naomi? Well it's a little kidded I would just be always bringing home stray cats home
and remember San Diego we lived next to a shelter and I would always walk by just just to hear just
(58:21):
to you know just to see if anyone does anyone escape but I would always bring home kittens
and in Japan I think my mom taught me how to do the same thing I would be home stray cats even as I
for like little girl and then I'm on my eighth dog now I yeah more eighth dog now my third group
(58:43):
yeah my first group I had in the 90s in my 20s and then after that I had another group in like
2003-04 and then now I'm on my third group you're on your eighth dog how many do you currently have
at once? So this is my third group so I have two now I'm down to two now I used to rescue
(59:04):
in foster and one time I had my four dogs and eight foster in my house that was fun
that was crazy because I was you know I was I was I was part of a rescue so I would foster
these babies and I kept having you know you of course I kept having you know and and Naomi sorry
(59:26):
Remy you your lifelong dream of creating a safe animals is finally taking shape tell us yes well my
love of animals also started when I was young and it was a bird that was dying I was a toddler and
I found him or her in in the backyard and I didn't know how I could save the bird so I'm here trying
(59:48):
to try to see is is he choking on something and I didn't know what had happened and I just in he
died right there sort of like in my my hand and I lost it and my mom was there we gave him a nice
burial and so at that point I actually thought maybe I want to be a vet but since you know
(01:00:10):
untipically not Asian you know a good and great math and science that probably wasn't going to
the route for me to go but I I always said you know if I can I always thought it would be so great to
have an inchuary for animals do something on a bigger scale and I've I've had that dream for quite
(01:00:33):
a while and it was only recently in the last year that it started taking place and coming together
where I got land you know and we're just working on there's already name for it's called the heart of
there and it's being transitioned from a a working cattle farm to a nonprofit land so there's a lot
(01:00:56):
of red tape to go through and then Naomi and I have spoken about that because she she she wants to do
that well and so she's like you got to connect with this person that person and so now it's like
behind the scenes I'm creating a team of people with Naomi's help to actually make this happen because
I want this to be such a grand scale to you know you know start start off reviewing you know
(01:01:21):
domestics of course we'll open it to all animals internationally and so at 27 acres of land
wow have you ever heard of Danny and Ron's rescue
I have not look look them up I I had these two gentlemen on a while ago they
(01:01:43):
they've rescued I don't know in the tens of thousands of dogs really they they came into
being when Katrina happened Hurricane Katrina and they started
rescuing the dogs that were left behind there yeah and Katrina good I'm so glad to hear that because
(01:02:10):
because when Katrina hit all the news there was no coverage of the animals at all at all so even
during Katrina I haven't had held the fundraiser and I raised money just just for the animals
just and I'm not to say okay not for the humans but guess what there's no coverage for the
animals so and I know there's a rescues out there so there was a Noah's foundation that was also
(01:02:35):
assisting back then but yeah that group wonderful so happy yeah they they they're incredible there
was a documentary about them two on Netflix I think called life as a dog or something like that
what was the name of the name of the lion? I'll send Ava the the link so you can take a look at it
I'll tell her to share it with you guys yeah this just been such a pleasure
(01:02:59):
hey thank you so much it's been talking to you you both as well continued success we can't wait
to see your favorite episode oh my gosh you guys you guys just wait is this way thank you both so
(01:03:20):
much for spending the time with us thank you and thank you everyone yep they're all watching
they're there they can't wait to see it all unfold so have a great day thank you guys thank you
everyone we love performing for you yes thank you so much thanks everybody for joining us today
(01:03:46):
thank you to Naomi Matsuda and Romy Park for spending the hour don't forget to tune into the
bouldon in the beautiful weekdays on CBS check your local listings if you haven't yet subscribed to
my youtube channel you can do so down below turn on the notifications for reminders of all upcoming
shows and if you'd like to stream audio versions just search the locker room on your favorite podcast app
(01:04:11):
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