It sounds almost impossible to believe given how talented and loved he is, but veteran soap opera star Thorsten Kaye (Ridge Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful) has never won a Daytime Emmy. He's come close on several occasions, having been nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor category in 2003 and 2004 for his work as Port Charles's Dr. Ian Thornhart, in 2006 and 2009 for his work as All My Children's Zach Slater, and now for his work as The Bold and the Beautiful's Ridge. Could this year be the year that the beloved actor finally takes home the gold? Millions of fans certainly hope so, but as we await the results that will be announced during the Emmy ceremony this Friday, check out the below email interview in which Kaye tells Soap Central what it feels like to be nominated, which scenes he submitted this year, and how he's held up during the coronavirus quarantine.
Soap Central: Congratulations on your Emmy nomination! How do you feel?
Thorsten Kaye: It's a bit surreal to be dealing in self-accolades during a worldwide pandemic and our country's problem of systemic racism. However, that said, we deal in escapism, in television, in entertainment, and if there is one person who watched B&B and felt a moment of joy, then it's all good. Of course, it's nice to be nominated -- but for me, it's about the work, about the people I work with, and the people I entertain.
Soap Central: How did you find out that you'd been nominated?
Kaye: I received a phone call from our executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell. It was very nice that he reached out directly.
Soap Central: Who did you share your nomination news with first?
Kaye: I was home in Connecticut, so, of course, the first people to know were my wife, Susan [Haskell, ex-Marty Saybrooke, One Life to Live; ex-Granya Thornhart, Port Charles], and my daughters, McKenna and Marlowe.
Soap Central: Have you been in contact with your show's other nominees?
Kaye: Yes, we've all spoken. I'm very happy for Heather [Tom, Katie Logan], Kelly [Katherine Kelly Lang, Brooke Logan], and Annika [Noelle, Hope Logan]. They all gave stellar performances. I'm also happy for Brad, the writers, directors, cast, and all of the staff and crew for the show nomination. It truly does take a village to make it happen.
Soap Central: What scenes did you submit for your reel?
Kaye: This year was a series of clips. The two that stand out the most for me were the ones where Ridge confronts Brooke about Thomas' [Matthew Atkinson] fall over the cliff, and then after he awakes, he confronts his son Thomas about his egregious misdeeds. The other was the scene where Ridge breaks up with Brooke. He tells her that she will always be his "Logan" but they can no longer be together.
Soap Central: Did anyone help you narrow down the material, or did you follow your own instincts when it came to choosing the scenes to submit?
Kaye: Honestly, I don't like to look at my own work. I know that sounds cliché, but it is true! I had a trusted confidante choose the scenes. And, obviously, they did a great job! [Laughs]
Soap Central: What do you think about the competition in your category?
Kaye: All the gentlemen in my category have been giving outstanding performances for years. You know what they say -- it's an honor to have been nominated.
Soap Central: Did you celebrate receiving your nomination? Or will you?
Kaye: I celebrate every day when I get to work.
Soap Central: What do you think about the ceremony being televised this year, which is so exciting for the fans!
Kaye: Terrific! It's been a moment since the ceremony has been broadcast. I think the fans of the soaps will be happy to be able to watch it.
Soap Central: Our last question is about the lockdowns that we've all experienced recently. Some people have spent quarantine relaxing and watching Netflix, while others have gone crazy productive and have been doing things like baking bread. Where do you fall on the quarantine spectrum?
Kaye: I commute between the East and West Coast to work, and I miss my girls terribly while I'm in Los Angeles. Quarantine has allowed me to spend quality time with my family. That's the best gift there is.
Soap Central: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Kaye: Thank you to the fans for being loyal viewers of The Bold and the Beautiful and for tuning it to watch us every day. We would not be here without them, and we are grateful!
For more interviews with this year's Daytime Emmy nominees, click here.
What do you think about Thorsten Kaye earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for his work as B&B's Ridge? Do you think he'll take home the gold this year? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
