“Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart,” the popular podcast series hosted by soap stars Rebecca Budig (Taylor Hayes, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) and Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark, “Days of our Lives”), now in its third season, will feature “Beyond the Gates” star Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree) on its Tuesday, June 2 episode.
In a clip shared exclusively with Soap Opera Network ahead of the episode’s premiere, Tunie is asked by Rikaart, “Where does this experience and this role and this job at this time, where does this land for you?” referring to the actress being cast as the matriarch on the recently renewed soap opera.
In response, Tunie says, “I don’t know. I mean, this is kind of like, it’s kind of like the ultimate… as I have said before in different interviews, this was the only scenario of daytime drama that would bring me back to daytime drama.” She added, “It feels like everything that I have learned, every experience that I have had has been in preparation for this role and this show.”
Tunie went on to note that just before she got the call for “Beyond the Gates,” she had been acting in a play at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, “Purpose,” which had received an order for a Broadway run at the Hayes Theater, though she was told she wouldn’t be a part of it.
“I’m really just kind of connecting the dots in this moment since you’ve posed the question. But I really believe that that was the journey. And it was always this,” shared Tunie. “I don’t know if you guys are aware of this, but I had done a new play at Steppenwolf Theatre, and long story short, it was a huge success in Chicago, and then it moved to Broadway, and I was told I wasn’t moving with it because they needed stars in the role. And I was like, ‘Huh, I think I’ve been a star a long time. I can’t go anywhere in the world without people [knowing who she is].'”
“It broke my heart. It broke my heart… it didn’t break my spirit,” she continued. “It came close because I was really like, ‘Okay, what is the point? I’ve been doing this for 30-something years. One stellar performance after another in shows that matter, things that matter, and yet I’m not good enough?’ Little did I know that three months later I would get a call that said, ‘We have this new show, and we can’t imagine anyone else playing this role but you.'”
Tunie concluded her story, recalling that she received a personal note from “Beyond the Gates” creator Michele Val Jean, who also serves as the show’s showrunner, executive producer and head writer. “She’s the best,” said Tunie of Val Jean. “Little did I know that this was what I was supposed to be doing.”
Watch our exclusive clip from Tunie’s interview with Budig and Rikaart below.
Tamara Tunie On “Soapy” (Exclusive Clip)
In addition to Tunie, guests appearing this season on the podcast include actors Tanisha Harper (“General Hospital”), Sean Kanan (“The Bold and the Beautiful), Eileen Davidson (“The Young and the Restless”), Robert Scott Wilson (“Days of our Lives”), Brandon Claybon (“Beyond the Gates”), Melissa Claire Egan (“The Young and the Restless”), Joshua Morrow (“The Young and the Restless”), Donnell Turner (“General Hospital”), Morgan Fairchild (“Flamingo Road,” “General Hospital”), Jackée Harry (“Days of our Lives”), and Donna Mills (“Knots Landing,” “General Hospital”), as well as writer Ron Carlivati (“Days of our Lives,” “One Life to Live”) and director Owen Renfroe (“The Young and the Restless,” “General Hospital”).
Hosted by Budig and Rikaart, “Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart” sees two real-life friends having lively, nostalgic conversations with beloved stars from the past and present, and the creative minds from across the entire soap opera community, including all networks, platforms, and dayparts (daytime and primetime), as they take a deep dive into the legacy, fandom and enduring appeal of the genre, allowing viewers to discover behind-the-scenes secrets and insider stories from a diverse array of actors, writers and producers, revealing the magic behind the characters, plots and the industry itself.
Episodes from the audio/video podcast series are available for free via the Audacy app and the CBS brand YouTube channel.
The podcast is produced by the Paramount Multiplatform Production Group, with Mike Benson serving as executive producer.
