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Meet Theresa's New Boy Toy on Passions
by Daniel R. Coleridge

Soap fans probably best know James Stevenson as the hot boyfriend of Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe, Days of our Lives). The couple met last year while working on UPN's short-lived series Sex, Love & Secrets. The show was canceled after just four episodes, but the romance of Bjorlin and Stevenson lives on. Now Stevenson, who has signed a one-year contract with Passions, is poised to make own his mark in daytime. As TVGuide.com told you first, he will debut on July 21 as Jared Casey, a sexy young executive who will impress Theresa (Lindsay Hartley) in the boardroom and the bedroom. Let's see what Harmony's newest hottie has to say for himself!

TVGuide.com: So you're here to distract Theresa from her lifelong obsession, Ethan (Eric Martsolf). How long before your first makeout scene?
James Stevenson: It happens fast! I'd say I'm moving her on pretty well. [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: You're new to daytime. Were you nervous about doing those steamy soap opera love scenes?
Stevenson: Kissing a beautiful girl in private is different — you feel confident. It's hard to be that way in front of a whole crew of people. But my first scene like that was on Sex, Love & Secrets. The script called for [the series' star] Denise Richards to jump on me and maul me. My girlfriend didn't appreciate that!

TVGuide.com: She didn't, huh?
Stevenson: When Nadia saw that in the script, she was like, "Oh, c'mon." I went on the set that day with cold sweats. It's Denise Richards!

TVGuide.com: So how is it doing that kind of scene with Lindsay Hartley?
Stevenson: Lindsay is a cool chick. She's a very regular person and you don't meet too many people like that in the business. I'm gradually learning that the Passions cast is very fun and down to earth. On a prime-time show, they treat you like you're platinum. They won't even let you get your own can of soda. You stay in your trailer while other people do everything for you. It's not like that in daytime.

TVGuide.com: And Passions is unlike any other soap. What's the craziest stuff you've had to shoot so far?
Stevenson: We've had some scenes where I'm shooting hoops or playing baseball. Of course, naturally, the guys are shirtless. I guess Harmony is a very sunny, muggy place and it's difficult for men to be outside with their shirts on.


TVGuide.com: That sounds like Passions to me. Do you feel extra pressure to hit the gym on this show?
Stevenson: When I got the job, all hell broke loose! I started dieting like crazy and I really had to start working out a lot. I'm not where I'd like to be yet, but I'm gettin' there. You guys will be able to note my progress, since I'll probably be shirtless at least once a week on the show.

TVGuide.com: At least! By the way, how did you and Nadia Bjorlin get together? Tell me the story.
Stevenson: After I did the [Sex, Love & Secrets] pilot, Nadia and I were good friends. So I went back back to New York to my job as the doorman at a nightclub. I missed her, so I'd watch Days of our Lives to catch a peek at her. Then our show was picked up, and as soon as I was back in L.A. we were together every day. There wasn't a day or night we didn't spend together. It's been a year and a couple of months now.

TVGuide.com: How has Nadia been doing lately?
Stevenson: She's doing well. She's doing some reshoots for a movie she finished awhile ago. We'll see how it turns out.

TVGuide.com: I've been rooting for her to be cast as the lead in Joss Whedon's Wonder Woman movie for a long time.
Stevenson: There's still talk about that, actually. I'm 100 percent behind that. She'd be perfect for it. Nadia and I have the same manager, Melissa Prophet, who also reps Lynda Carter. We're hoping that helps as well! Melissa is a cool chick, by the way. She's like my mother away from home. She's an old school manager who takes care of me through everything. She found me an apartment in L.A., she met me at the airport with a car she'd gotten for me, she just goes overboard. She doesn't have to do these things for me, but it's very nice!

TVGuide.com: Well, that's all for now except to say "Welcome to Harmony!"
Stevenson: Thanks, man. It's gonna be great.

i like this guy!

i think he's going to be similar to when jh first started.

and i still don't rule out him being our Dylan.

LMAO. he picks up fast.

I think I am going to like him!

I like him, a lot. He handles himself well. I do NOT however, like the relationship questions. I'm OK with it for now I guess, because we don't know too much about him, and his girlfriend was a popular daytime star, on NBC no less. But I'd appreciate if those would cease somewhat quickly. I love Nadjia (and wow, she would make a kickass Wonder Woman. Never considered her), but I wanna make sure the focus is on Jared Casey, you know what I mean? Not for that trip again.

Can't wait til he's onscreen. Also cannot wait until Whitney gets to question his intentions. Good times.

:cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9:

Not sure if he enough to get me to watch Passions though.

im gonna at least check him out. he's too cool not to.

yeah i wont be surprised if he turned out to be Dylan either, but then again wouldn't "Fox" recognize him?

yeah I agree Sylv, the focus should be Jared Casey and Jared Casey alone.

Nadia would be a kickass Wonderwoman, hope she gets that gig.

Well maybe I will tape it Friday I wonder does he speak or does she just dump the booze on him?

The actor seems definitely like a cool guy but I'm forever an ET fan and I'm not at all happy about this. But more and more it seems like Ethan will learn the truth dump Gwen for Theresa but by then Theresa will have moved on. I would like to see Ethan fight for Theresa.

Can't wait for him. :cloud9:

I would like Ethan to take a flying leap!

I dig him...plus he can act so that's a plus......

I'm w/ Sylv, I can't wait for Whitney to have a "talk" w/ him.

Nadia as WonderWoman....I'm feeling that....I wasn't a fan of Chole but chic has talent.

that is true. but you never know. i still like the theory that this is some sort of podFox, so maybe he won't know what he looks like anyway.

The guy is cool and down to earth. And he is lucky that he has Nadia. I heard about her being Wonder Woman I think she can pull it off.

Oh yeah and another good point like Mika said he can act and has charm.

Yeah I can't wait till he works with Brook and Whitney checks Jared out for Theresa. I hope James has chemistry with both girls ( judging by the promo I think he and Lindsay will be fine)

i saw the promo. i dont see chem between lindsay and jared.

maybe it'll be different onscreen idk.

Its only 5 second promo. And it was a quick bump than it showed Jared's face the rest oft he way. I dont consider that good choice of judgement but hey that's me. IMO they looks fine standing together but as everyone knows the chemistry is when the interacting starts.

I think with Lindsay finally getting new material she will be fine with James in the long run. Anything better than that Toxic or ETG garbage.

I am just glad they at least casted someone who can act. If/When Reilly wants to bring ET back he can easily write Jared into another storyline and keep him on canvas.

after theresa had her shot at him?

whatev. im still mad he was written for theresa and not whitney or gwen.

I do not think Gwen needs another Theresa leftover. I don't like her but I think she would be interesting away from Ethidiot. They should either put Chris with her, a whole new guy, or recast Hank.

Whitney just needs a recast Fox or a return of Frank.

ia, gwen shouldn't be with a man theresa was invovled with ever again. but ethan is not theresa's left overs, if he's anyone's left over's he's theresa's. if you technically think ab it.

this wont happen. so i have to hope for a new char.

yeah thats true about Ethidiot. Sorry about that I tend to forget about history sometimes lol

lol, i can see why you forget!

you have nothing to be sorry about dear.