Brett Claywell dishes on “Kish”

For fans of ABC’s daytime soap One Life To Live, actor Brett Claywell has been nothing short of a revelation. Joining the show last year as sneaky lab technician Kyle Lewis, Claywell played the sleazy blackmailer with such charm and appeal that viewers were eager to see more of him, despite his crooked ways.

And as part of daytime television’s current burst of gay characters, alongside out actor Scott Evans who plays Oliver Fish, Claywell plays one half of soaps’ most popular new gay pairings. Together the due charismatic duo are commonly referred to as “Kish” and Claywell is quickly proving to be the soap find of the year as he steals scenes and wins hearts with his soulful performance as the love struck medical student.

AfterElton.com recently talked to Claywell about his character, how he felt learning he would be playing a gay man months after taking on the part, his thoughts on the Kish romance and much more.

AfterElton.com: When did you first realize the writers were going to take the story in the direction that they have?
Brett Claywell: They told us with the gym scene, when Oliver and Kyle see each other and there's a lot of innuendo, I guess, in the writing. Scott and I had read into things and had our ideas about where they were going, but we finally asked what was the past between us, because they'd never told us. Frank Valentini [One Life To Live executive producer] took us up to his office and told us that this was where the storyline was going.

Audiences instantly picked up on the
sexual tension between Oliver and Kyle.

AE: How did you feel about it? Did you have any reservations?
BC: I think, naturally, the history there was definitely something that I had to take some time and think about. There's a lot that goes with it, because after a year, I've lived through some things and have some connection with the character.

You start going through a lot of the same emotions I'm sure a man coming out and realizing that he actually is gay, there's a lot of emotions you go through as an actor to play that role. When the things are coming out of your mouth, listening to what you're saying and the emotions you're feeling towards another man, even when it comes down to the phone call to your father saying, "Dad, I have to play a gay man. This is what you're going to see me portraying on television."

There are some similarities between that and a gay man calling his father and coming out to him. I wouldn't say there were hesitations at all. I’m just the kind of guy who likes to invest himself as completely as possible in a role, and I don't take it lightly. Therefore, I would say there were less reservations, and more experiences I lived through to be more comfortable in it.

AE: At this point, are you more comfortable with it?
BC: Absolutely. It's a process. Just as I would say a gay man is probably more comfortable three years down the road of being out than he is the first day. I believe it's a process. It's an evolution in terms of mindset and character and comfort level. I absolutely, 100% believe that Scott Evans playing opposite me is a huge factor in that.

He's a great actor to work with. I believe this is something kind of rare, a straight man playing opposite a gay man. I'm not sure how often that happens. Scott has just been a great resource for me, and a great partner to work with. I really, really enjoy working with him, and I'm grateful that he's the actor I was playing opposite.