Marcella: What bands/albums are in heavy rotation on your Ipod these days?
VH: Great question. I love music. In my apartment, when I am home, music is always on. Always. So the bands/ singers that always have a home on my ipod are: The Decemberists, Dirtie Blonde/Amie Miriello, Feist, Modest Mouse, Antony and the Johnsons, Simon and Garfunkel, The National, Johnny Cash, Will Oldham, Loretta Lynn, Bjork, Radiohead, Peter Bjorn and John, David Bowie, Andrew Bird, Final Fantasy, Clap your Hands Say Yeah, Of Montreal, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Bright Eyes, Regina Spektor, Neutral Milk Hotel, Sigur Ros, Scissor Sisters, Martha Wainwright…
I listen to them all. They are all genius. Right now on repeat is the soundtrack to the movie Across The Universe. It is fantastic. My favorite track is T.V Carpio’s version of ‘I want to hold your hand.’ It is so fantastic. Go to iTunes and buy it right now.
JS: I listen to everything from Nick Cave, who I recently discovered and who co-wrote the fantastic score to The Assassination of Jesse James to Feist, Aesop Rock, Of Montreal, Kanye West, Al Green, Depeche Mode and The Good, The Bad and The Queen. And of course, Stevie Wonder.
Insideguy: Thanks for being so available to answer a few question for your nearly rabid fans. LOL. Most actors bring some part of their real experience into the role they play. What do you find useful in your own lives in creating Luke and Noah?
VH: Luke is all about the need to be loved and accepted. I think that need is universal. Life is about acceptance from the people who you want to love you. If that means family, a wife, a husband, a girlfriend/boyfriend, a best friend, you just want people to love you for who you are. Anyone can relate to that.
JS: I don't bring any specific experiences to Noah. I think we can all relate to an unrequited love or a romance filled with obstacles. That’s really all this story is.
Roger Newcomb: Have you always wanted to be an actor? What are your long-term aspirations in the business?
JS: I want to have fun in this business and take interesting and provocative roles. I’ve asked some older, successful actors for advice and been told, "Take the work - as much as you can. The interesting roles don’t come until after 30.” Though, I think I've lucked out with Noah.
Lacon: ATWT executive producer Chris Goutman was correct in the WGN [radio] interview when he said that you were both very modest actors. Both of you have the ability to show the proper emotions in a very subtle and effective way (i.e. Luke's knowing smile and longing look at Noah, Noah's inner pain and fear of his father). Do the two of you rehearse together to decide which facial expressions you will use to convey these emotions in a given scene?
VH: No. We rehearse together to make sure we have the lines right. But it’s not usually about the acting, its just running lines. The acting comes when the cameras are on. We are comfortable with each other as actors, so if one of us does something new during taping the other just rolls with it and it usually creates some nice moments.
twins1729: Since couples in Oakdale tend to date, marry, have a family and divorce extremely fast, do you see Luke and Noah marrying anytime in the future? Maybe not as soon as the straight couples, but happening none-the-less!
VH: Why can’t people on soaps just date? Maybe like five years down the line they should have a kid, but not now. College has a whole slew of potential soap-worthy storylines. I think a lot of cool stories could come out of that.
JS: I have no idea what's in store for Luke and Noah, but I think we can assume it won’t be smooth sailing.
Roger Newcomb: What has been your family's reaction to your role of Luke on ATWT? Are they watching and enjoying as much as the fans?
VH: My parents are so proud of me it sort of embarrasses me. My mom cried on the red carpet at the Emmys this year when she was asked about how she felt for her son to be nominated. It was actually really nice. It’s great to see your parents so proud of your accomplishments. Both my parents now go through the soap magazines at the grocery store and point to pictures of me and tell the cashier “That’s my son!” They are generally busy during the day so I think they watch the show online. But they have always been my biggest fans and I couldn’t ask for anything more.
