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CenterStageDays of our Lives

CENTER STAGE: ‘DAYS’’ Robert Scott Wilson Opens Up About Ben’s Explosive Past!

Fall may be fast approaching, but there’s no need to worry about getting cold: “Days of our Lives” is keeping it hot with an exciting story involving new resident Ben Rogers! Soap Opera Network caught up with the character’s portrayer, Robert Scott Wilson, to get the scoop on what’s to come for his alter ego in the weeks ahead. You better hold on tight, because it’s going to be a wild ride!

HOME / Interviews / CenterStage / CENTER STAGE: ‘DAYS’’ Robert Scott Wilson Opens Up About Ben’s Explosive Past!

CenterStageDays of our Lives

CENTER STAGE: ‘DAYS’’ Robert Scott Wilson Opens Up About Ben’s Explosive Past!

Fall may be fast approaching, but there’s no need to worry about getting cold: “Days of our Lives” is keeping it hot with an exciting story involving new resident Ben Rogers! Soap Opera Network caught up with the character’s portrayer, Robert Scott Wilson, to get the scoop on what’s to come for his alter ego in the weeks ahead. You better hold on tight, because it’s going to be a wild ride!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Fall may be fast approaching, but there’s no need to worry about getting cold: “Days of our Lives” is keeping it hot with an exciting story involving new resident Ben Rogers! Soap Opera Network caught up with the character’s portrayer, Robert Scott Wilson, to get the scoop on what’s to come for his alter ego in the weeks ahead. You better hold on tight, because it’s going to be a wild ride!

Wilson is no stranger to soap operas, having played Pete Cortlandt on the online version of “All My Children,” so jumping into the quick-paced “DAYS” world was a piece of cake for the actor, who joined the NBC sudser this spring. “It’s just as fast [as “AMC”] but maybe even faster here, because obviously, they’re just a well-oiled machine,” he says of the transition. “Everybody is pro. Everybody from the crew to the cast, so I feel completely comfortable compared to my first couple of weeks getting used to everybody and new sets and everything. But it’s been really, really fun.”

And getting to explore Ben, whose history is quite mysterious outside of the reveal that he’s Jordan’s (Chrishell Stause) brother, has been even more fun for the Massachusetts native. “I’m learning more about him as we go on. They really gave me a lot of creative control, which was great, but it was almost overwhelming!” he shares. “I want to make sure he’s going in the right direction. They keep us in the dark with so much, but they give us a lot of freedom to really be in the moment. So I’m learning a lot more about Ben and trying to create more layers to him and let people learn more about him as the show goes on. I’m really excited to see what’s on the brink right now that’s starting to air.”

Howard Wise/JPI Studio
Howard Wise/JPI Studio

Viewers had to wait for what seemed like forever to learn about Jordan’s sordid past, but Wilson reveals that Ben’s history will be exploding much quicker. “It’s definitely still building up. I think that’s the name of the game here. But at the same time, you’re going to find out a lot more about Ben faster than you did with Chrishell’s Jordan,” he says. “Once it kind of goes, it goes. So it should be a really fun ride.”

Speaking of Jordan, Wilson has loved every minute of working with his onscreen sister — and he teases that their dynamic is only going to get juicier. “Chrishell is great. She’s such a sweetheart, and it’s really, really fun working with her,” he says. “The dynamic with Clyde being in town now has been really fun to play, as well. It really puts a nice color into everything. Obviously we’re [taping] so far ahead, but there’s another great storyline that’s going on right now, another storyline that’s coming that’s been even more fun. So there’s a lot of stuff coming that I think the fans will really like.”

Howard Wise/JPI Studios
Howard Wise/JPI Studios

Ben has been on the move for quite some time trying to avoid being found by his and Jordan’s father, Clyde (James Read). But now it seems he’s ready to put down roots — especially since he’s grown quite fond of Abigail (Kate Mansi)! “This is the first time in Ben’s life where he’s actually wanting to settle down and wanting a relationship; it’s all really new to him,” explains the actor. “He has a protective nature that’s really embedded in him, so those women close to him, I think he feels obligated to try and protect and look out for, so this whole issue with Abi loosing her job and everything else going on, I think he really just wants to be her rock.”

But following The Great EJ DiMera (James Scott) has got to be intimidating, right? According to Wilson, maybe, but maybe not! “I think it’s one of those thing where Ben is vey confident in his own ways, but he also knows, who is he to compete with the rich, powerful guy in this new town where I’m just a number, and he’s EJ DiMera, you know?” he asks. “It’s sort of a David versus Goliath thing, but I don’t think Ben is at all afraid. I think he actually sort of likes the challenge, and I think he’s going to rise to the challenge, and that’s it. I’m not going to say anything else!”

Howard Wise/JPI Studios
Howard Wise/JPI Studios

Ben versus EJ? That’s quite a tease. But it’s nothing compared to the tease that viewers are getting regarding Wilson’s body — which “The Price Is Right” says is coming up shortly. “We have so much story to tell, but I have popped up shirtless from time to time, and I think in the coming months, because again, we are so far ahead, there will be a lot more of that, too,” he reveals. “But at the beginning, we didn’t shove that down anybody’s throat. I’m just trying to be friends with everybody here and play nice and not be that guy! But it always makes sense [story wise]. They’re really cool about everything, and everything has been done very tastefully and it’s been fun to play. There haven’t been any computer lessons, like ‘All My Children’ style [when Colby (Brooke Newton) gave Pete oral sex]. But who knows! Maybe I’ll give some lessons in bartending or something like that.”

Monty Brinton/CBS
Monty Brinton/CBS

Since both being on “DAYS” and on “The Price Is Right” require Wilson to keep physically fit, you’d think he’d feel pressure to stay perfect. But he explains that’s not the case at all. “I don’t feel pressure [because] it’s literally been part of my regimen for years now,” he says. “I consider it part of my brand and what I do, and it’s part of my schedule, like going to work every day. I just will always do that. I happen to love to eat all types of food. I’m not a crazy dieter, so if I decide to eat a bunch of cupcakes or something like that, I’ll go train harder. But I don’t feel pressured to. I feel enough pressure outside of that. That’s like, for me, that’s part of my therapy and just getting it all out of my system. It’s just part of my daily routine, to be honest.”

Except, he says with a small laugh, when it comes to love scenes! “I had a scene in the morning, and it was in bed, and I was going to be shirtless, and I was like, ‘Oh crap!’” he recalls of recently having to pump up quick for an onscreen mattress mambo. “I got it in real quick: Push up, sit up, push up, sit up. The jail routine, whatever you can do in the house, you know?”

Doing shirtless scenes wasn’t much of a surprise for Wilson (“I signed up for it, and it is what it is,” he says), but what has been a surprise is Ben’s hot-headedness. “I like how Ben is a protector, and we all kind of knew that he had a little bit of a temper, but I think he’s got a lot more temper than most people think,” teases the actor. “He’s got to go through some trials and tribulations in learning how to control that, and I really love playing the bottled up tempered guy who finally gets to let loose a couple of times. That’s one of the most fun things to play. It’s therapeutic.”

He assures, however, that his alter ego’s violent streak won’t be taken too out of control — for now, anyway! “’DAYS’ really goes for it, and I thank the writers for taking him in that direction — with moderation!” he explains. “He’s not a hot head, but at the same time, he’s the first one to step up, I feel, and it’s really fun to play. It’s been such a blast.”

Howard Wise/JPI Studios
Howard Wise/JPI Studios

Fortunately, Wilson says the whole “DAYS” experience has been fun, from working with his new co-stars, to exploring the character, to hearing opinions from viewers. “Fan reaction has been great so far. Really, really great.,” he enthuses. “I’m not like jumping all over message boards or anything like that, but the stuff that has come to my attention has been great, and I can’t thank them enough. Especially to be so welcoming to the new character. It’s tough getting adjusted to new people and things like that on the show where a lot of fans have been watching for a long time, but they’ve been really, really good to me. And I think the longer they watch, obviously, the story was a little dragged out to introduce us, but I think they’re going to find a lot more levels and layers to myself and Jordan and Clyde, as well. And I hope they’re really going to enjoy it!”


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