When you spend as much time together as PORT CHARLES’ Kiko Ellsworth (Jamal) and Erin Hershey (Alison) do, it's a safe bet that you'll wind up good friends. While the couple has parlayed their dynamic chemistry into an on-screen romance, in real life, they are more like brother and sister. They joined Soaps In Depth for brunch — with each other on the menu!
Soaps in Depth: Do you ever discuss your scenes on the phone the night before you tape them?
Hershey: It depends on how in-depth it is. Last year, when Kiko and I were doing our summer storyline, we'd get together three times a week to go over lines, work out our timing, and just talk about the scene to see if we could make it better. When it's really intense, you want to be prepared.
In Depth: What is your fan mail like?
Hershey: It's really positive. All the ladies tell me how much they looove Kiko.
Ellsworth: I wish they'd tell me that!
Hershey: They all tell me to tell you they say, 'Hi.'
In Depth: Nolan North (Chris) jokingly refers to your foursome [Ellsworth, Hershey, Kelly Monaco (Livvie) and Brian Presley (Jack)] as the 'Scooby Gang.' Which Scooby-Doo character would you liken yourselves to?
Hershey: I would be Scooby-Doo because I like the Scooby snacks.
Ellsworth: Yeah, and Kelly would be Scrappy-Doo.
Hershey: (Laughs) That's good!
Ellsworth: I think Brian and I would both be a combination of that one guy... Steve?
Hershey: What? There's no Steve in Scooby-Doo, Kiko. That's Freddie!
Voraciously Loquacious:
In Depth: When you go out as a group, who gets carded?
Hershey: I always do because Kiko knows the waiter within five minutes. Or he knows him from somewhere and the manager comes over and greets him and says 'Hi.' A group of us had dinner one night and Kiko left for five minutes and we're like, 'Where'd you go?' He's all 'Oh I know some people at the bar and I know some waiters and the manager, blah blah blah.' He's the type to go into a restaurant and ask to speak to the manager and then go, 'Hi, I'm Kiko Ellsworth, I just wanted to introduce myself.' (they're both laughing hysterically)
In Depth: Do you spend time together outside of the studio?
Ellsworth: Every now and then for whatever reason, the whole brat pack: Brian, Erin, Kelly and myself might get together. We all have our own lives and we do our separate thing, but every now and then we cross paths. So it's not like it happens on a regular basis, but when we do, we have a good time. We all get along really, really well.
If You Are What You Eat...
In Depth: Erin, can you describe Kiko's tastes in food?
Hershey: Kiko likes to put healthy food in his body. He doesn't eat a lot of fat — he eats a lot of protein, and not a lot of bread. He eats a lot of strange things. Like in the morning, he'll bring in leftover orange chicken and salsa from dinner the night before.
Ellsworth: That's what you call being a bachelor.
Hershey: And like asparagus and just weird stuff.
Ellsworth: It's not weird, it's different.
In Depth: What does Erin eat?
Ellsworth: What do you eat?
Hershey: What don't I eat?
Ellsworth: I don't see a pattern, it's just whatever, whenever. She's a young girl — she eats whatever she wants.
Of Love And Laughter
In Depth: Will doing love scenes always be easier than it was that first time?
Hershey: It will always be easier, but I don't know that if I had to do it with someone else that I would feel as comfortable as I do with Kiko because I know him so well and he's my friend, and I know that he's respectful. I trust him. It would be weird with someone else.
In Depth: What's the craziest thing you've done backstage?
Hershey: We do wacky stuff on stage.
Ellsworth: Yeah, all the stupid things that we've done have been on camera.
Hershey: Yeah, on camera, or during rehearsal, or right before taping.
Ellsworth: That's our problem.
In Depth: Do you get in trouble for it?
Hershey: Everybody laughs. Every once in awhile they'll say 'We really need to focus,' or 'We're running short on time.'
Ellsworth: Yeah, straighten up or ship out!
Hershey: But for the most part, everyone in the booth and our crew is really tight and likes to work as a team. When you have someone who's lightening up the day by doing something that's funny, the whole set has a lightness. It makes it fun.
In Depth: There was a time when you (Erin) were breaking into SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE skits backstage.
Hershey: Well I stopped doing it because Kiko said it was making him sick. He was like, 'Stop doing that!'
Ellsworth: What, all that dancing? Oh my God!
Hershey: Yeah, all the dancing.
Ellsworth: When she does gross things sometimes, it makes me not want to do the scene with her. I mean, she's funny but not right there at that particular time.
In Depth: What's the best gift someone could give to each of you?
Ellsworth: I'd say Erin would like some kind of picture in some kind of big ole' "cabiny" wood frame. She loves that kind of stuff.
Hershey: Kiko is a very deep person, so I think maybe some kind of inspirational book or short story, or a saying in a frame. Something that's really meaningful that stems to the core of life.
Kiko Ellsworth and Erin Hershey
