Judi Evans Luciano of NBC's "Another World"
December 22, 1997
5pm PT/8pm ET

Judi Evans Luciano joined the cast of "Another World" as talk-show host Paulina Cory in July 1991. Evans Luciano made her daytime debut on "Guiding Light" as Beth Raines and won a 1984 Daytime Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actress. She also created the popular role of Adrienne Kiriakis on "Days of Our Lives" and appeared in the TV movie "Dreams of Gold."

NBC Live:
Welcome to the NBC Live Studio at Yahoo! Chat

NBC Live:
Judi Evans-Luciano of NBC's "Another World" will be joining us this evening!

NBC Live:
Judi Luciano is now with us! Welcome!

Judi Evans Luciano:
Hey everyone, happy holidays! Hello, hello, hello! .


NBC Live:
Congratulations on your nomination. How does it feel?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Very surprising and exhilarating! ..


TWHs_ROCK:
Hi. I love your show so much. When did you first start in TV??

Judi Evans Luciano:
Oh gosh, when I was 18....before that I did Dom Deluise specials, started in 1983. When you get old like me, the years kind of meld together. .. Judi: What will they think of next, plot wise? When will they run out of ideas???

Judi Evans Luciano:
I think the head writers generally do a sixth month layout. As long as there are people alive, I don't think they'll run out of stories!


Bcwvanpelt:
Welcome Judi....I love your character Paulina. How do feel about the way your storyline is going with all the addictions?

Judi Evans Luciano:
It's a true story, maybe not for everyone who has a weight issue, but certainly addictions do slide over to other addictions. I'm very pleased at how real it is, certainly as far as the emotions go. I've been very happy...


NBC Live:
More on the storyline....

Luvjake:
Will AW ever let Paulina become dependable again and drop this diet pills and drinking thing? Miss the old Paulina and Joe.

Judi Evans Luciano:
Well, as far as her addictions have gone, that is the end of it. Just by brute emotional strength she quit her drinking. I think there will be other problems in the future, but that's how relationships go, isn't it?


ChardonnayBleu:
Judy, I enjoy the show (since it first aired). Do you enjoy having your son on the show?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Yes I do, but sometimes I'm more nervous for him than for myself. But he enjoys it, and we have wonderful chemistry! He's my favorite leading man- sorry Joe, but he's my son! ..


TWHs_ROCK:
What is your favorite part of working on the show?

Judi Evans Luciano:
The challenge everyday, having anywhere from 10 to 50 pages of dialogue, and not many rehearsals to tell you where to go, or how you feel.

Judi Evans Luciano:
It's very high pressure, when it gets down to the studio floor, and I kind of thrive on that, getting it right the first time. Sometimes we'll take it without a rehearsal first, and then it's even more real and tangible. And that's even more exciting.

NBC Live:
Very high pressure!

Judi Evans Luciano:
It's neat. It's high pressure and hit or miss...you either suck really bad or do really well.

Bballinventor:
I watch Another World religiously. I wonder, how many hours/days a week do you put into your work - you certainly have my respect.

Judi Evans Luciano:
Well, your studio hours for each actor can vary. The hours are usually a 10-18 hour day, or sometimes even longer. But that doesn't include drive time or the time on weekends learning my scripts or two hours the night before.


NBC Live:
Any tips on memorizing?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I read it over once then highlight all my lines and then go back over it about 4 times. That's after you've done some other techniques that you learn first. Doing each line three times perfectly and then add each line to it. If its a really well written script it'll take me 15 minutes to do it. Then I make sure I can do scene by scene by memory.

Judi Evens Luciano:
I usually do it watching TV!


NBC Live:
Speaking of TV..

Judi Evans Luciano:
I can do both at the same time, that way I know they're learned


Judi Evans Luciano:
Its part of the job...everyone has a different way of doing it.


Judi Evans Luciano:
Like when you cram for a test before finals, then the next day someone will ask you what you learned and you won't know it.


Colleen_OT:
I loved seeing you on the Sally Jesse Raphael Show on Dec 17th. Any other TV appearances coming up?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Nope, but I'm accepting movie of the week offers ;-) I wish!


Judi Evans Luciano:
Anybody need me for a role, I'm there!


Lady_Nightwind:
Which character and soap has been your favorite?

Judi Evans Luciano:
That's hard to say because they've all been different and fun.

Judi Evans Luciano:
I'd have to say right now Paulina is my favorite. She's been bad, she's been good, she can do it all. I just wish she were thinner!


ChardonnayBleu:
I recently met Victoria W. and Charles K. in Tennessee. Is there a chance you will come down south?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I'm accepting any offers to the south as well! I love the South. I don't think I've ever been to Tennessee, although I did have a Tennessee Walker once!


Route66_:
Who is your favorite person to work with?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Right now Joe, Tom and Kim. And Austin of course. There's no one that I don't like working with.

Judi Evans Luciano:
I'd love for my husband to be an actor someday, I'd love to work with him! ..


PEPSI_200:
do you keep in touch with any of the people from Days? If so, who?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I keep in touch with Wally and Marsha and Becky Greenwall...Marsha was a writer and Becky was a producer. And Kristin and I keep in touch through friends, but being a mom is tough, I have hardly any friends! No time!

Judi Evans Luciano:
Luckily the friends I do have are understanding.


Meliboo:
Do you find it difficult to separate your soap character from your own personality?

Judi Evans Luciano:
No. Certainly some of any character an actor plays is some part of them. Or else you wouldn't be able to get inside the character. But what was difficult about the whole weight storyline is that I have the same issues.

Judi Evans Luciano:
So what I had to work hard on was making her emotions and issues different than mine. I've been having a lot of therapy over it! But she is she and I am I...you get the drift! ..

Tsurn68:
How did you find the discipline to lose the weight?? I've gained about 50 lbs. after the birth of my son but can't seem to find the willpower needed.. is it from knowing you have to be on TV everyday?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I wanted to do it for myself, and I think that's more important. And I also wanted to keep my job, but this is a great show to be on in the fact that they don't pressure me- they're kind and supportive.

Judi Evans Luciano:
Which is good, because if you tell me to do something that I find offensive, I just do the opposite. But if you want to lose the weight do it because you want to, and remember that who you are on the inside is who matters. The people who really love you will love you no matter what...but do it because you want to.

Judi Evans Luciano:
And that will be 50 dollars for that therapy session!


Scarletmarie:
What influenced you to go into showbiz?

NBC Live:
What did you do in the circus as a child?

Judi Evans Luciano:
What influenced me as an adult- I grew up being a clown in the circus- was that I grew up in show business. When I was in high school I wanted to be a doctor and a girlfriend was auditioning for a play and convinced me to, and I go the part she wanted! I got laughs from the audience and I decided to do acting right now instead of 10 years of medical school. If you can find what you enjoy it's certainly a gift.

Turneno:
I've watch you since your role on Days - your wide range of characters shows your great acting ability. Which character or phase of a character was your most difficult?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Actually it was Beth on Guiding Light. The first year on the show I cried for about nine months straight because it was a very emotionally draining- but rewarding- storyline...


Pooh31_97:
Does your son find it strange when you call him Dante instead of Austin???

Judi Evans Luciano:
I don't think he understands. ..


Prairie_Canine:
Do you miss working with Tom Eplin on a regular basis

Judi Evans Luciano:
Yeah, he's a lot of fun. He's very wild and unpredictable, so that adds a certain element of excitement to the scene.


LaineLea:
Do you have a say in what your character will or will not do?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Honestly, I never really thought about whether I should or not. As I understand it the writer writes the script and I do it and go home. I can certainly make suggestions, but I want to be surprised by the writer and meet the standards of their script.


Bdssweetie:
Back on Days when you did the rape storyline, I found so much comfort in the way you played the recovery. I went threw a rape at that same time and I want you to know how wonderful you were and how strong your portrayal helped me be. Your wonderful.

Judi Evans Luciano:
Thank you. I'm sorry that happened to you, but if I gave you any kind of hope or relief than that's a gift from God for me. That really means a lot...


B_Lass:
Hey, I applaud "Another World" for dealing with the weight, drugs and alcohol issues. I have to say that your the most "real" character in daytime drama today. Is your "real" husband as handsome as Joe? Lucky Lassie!!!

Judi Evans Luciano:
Thank you. No offense Joe, but my husband is even cuter.

Judi Evans Luciano:
He's 5'11 with dark hair, blue eyes, long and lean, a beautiful body, and he's my best friend too...just gorgeous!


SantasBarbieDoll:
Would you say that it is too late for someone in their 30's to begin an acting career?

Judi Evans Luciano:
It's never too late if it's something you want to do. You should always go for your dreams. If you don't try you've already failed.

Judi Evans Luciano:
You don't have to make a lot of money to enjoy it, it's something you can do in your community theatre. If you're in it for the money, at any age, I wouldn't recommend it.

Yar_eindeer:
This may have already been asked, I’m late, but are they planning a breakup of Paulina and Joe? (I hope not).

Judi Evans Luciano:
I honestly don't know what the story projection is, but you can't have a daytime drama without hurt and growth. Hopefully they'll grow closer, but we'll see what they have in mind...giggle, giggle!


Dawniec:
Do you miss your 'romantic' storyline with Jake?

Judi Evans Luciano:
We did have a lot of romance didn’t we. Yeah I do, we had a lot of fun. That romance was so wild and fun, I miss that, but I like the romance with Joe and Paulina also, it has a whole different flavor.


Aureliee:
Is your husband ever jealous of any scenes on the show?

Judi Evans Luciano:
No, it's funny because a lot of his friends try to break his chops about it, get him fired up, but he's a camera man, and he's actually worked on a show a couple times and they happened to be scenes when I was having sex with Ian.

Judi Evans Luciano:
He knows it's nothing romantic, but I was so nervous, and afterwards I asked if it bothered him, and he said no, he was working on his shots! But hey, it's a job.

Judi Evans Luciano:
He's also been friends with the costars as long as we've been together, so he knows that nothing is going on. We know each other well enough to know that we're honest and true.


Judi Evans Luciano:
There's nothing ever to worry about. But I'd probably have a hard time if he had to do love scenes, to be honest! ..


NBC Live:
More on the storyline.....

Tsurn68:
What's your vote for the Jake/Vicky/Shane triangle?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Personally, I'd like Pauline to be with Shane, so I'd go with a Vicky/Jake thing! ..


Lakewood98:
Can you tell us what's in store for your character in the New Year?

Judi Evans Luciano:
She's gonna have some trouble in December and January. Some trouble in paradise I'm afraid. Hopefully she'll get through it and overcome her weaknesses and be happy again! (About five years down the line...)


Lessparky:
I have been an admired fan of your for many years. How hard is it transferring from one soap to another?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Well I've been pretty lucky, I haven't been out of work between soaps for very long. But it's scary, the older I get the more scared I become.

Judi Evans Luciano:
I was in California and 18 when I was hired on Guiding Light and moved to New York City without even thinking about it. When I got the job as Paulina I was living in New Jersey and drove to Brooklyn and was so petrified that I almost turned around and went home. ..

Mapmaker50:
Most soap stars also sing, do you have a good voice?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Let me put it this way, when I was a little girl and used to sing, my brothers would say "Shut up!" I sing really good with the radio really loud. I enjoy singing, but just no one enjoys listening! I'm kind of tone deaf, so I don't sing on key, but I think I do :-) ..

Dawniec:
How do you feel about the show bringing back departed actors to play different parts, i.e. Shane/Nicos?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I don't really have an opinion...It's great to have them back on the show, in any role, even if they came back as Paulina (although I don't think they'd look good in a bra!) But it's great to have them back!


Tenderheart_74:
What would you advise for a 23 year-old college grad. who would like to get into show business, namely on soaps?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Well, you need an agent, community theatre is good, have backup so you have food and shelter, and go for it!


Judi Evans Luciano:
You also need an 8x10 and a resume, either padded or true! And have your agent send you out for everything.


Celis95:
Paulina has turned into a "good girl", do you ever miss playing a nasty character?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Yes. There are no boundaries for a nasty character, and all the things you want to do when you're driving on the road you can do at work! But I miss it a lot...I hope there is an element that comes back in her that is a little sleazy and convincing.

Lemon_Dog:
Judi, are you going away for a holiday family get-together? How much time does the cast receive for Christmas/Hanukkah/New Years/etc.?

Judi Evans Luciano:
We usually get ahead enough to get a week off, but this year we worked our butts off hard enough to get 2 weeks off. This year my husband and son and I are just going to spend a quiet holiday. This is a time for peace and love and joy...god I sound like a Hallmark card! Throw up now! ..

Georges_gal:
Judi, how in the world did you ever get your son to cooperate so well on the show? Or is there a lot of wasted tape out there somewhere?!!

Judi Evans Luciano:
My son...I don't know where he gets it ;-) but he's a big old ham. He'll be in a cranky mood, but when attention is on him he'll light up. I get the biggest chuckle out of him...I really love that we can work together....I think it's fun...

NBC Live:
Have you shown Austin what he looks like on TV?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Oh yes, we were watching it today. And he doesn't really recognize himself, but he recognizes me. He doesn't look in the mirror a lot, so maybe that's why.


NBC Live:
People are asking..... will your son continue in show business?

Judi Evans Luciano:
If he wants to. This will probably only last a short period of time, and then he'll have a "normal" life. But if that's what he chooses that's what he chooses. Whatever he's happy doing is what I want for him.





Mammie2:
Hi Judi, Will you be at the N.Y. Fan Luncheon this year? I met you twice there before!

Judi Evans Luciano:
Oh, hello again! I will do my best, I believe it's April 18, but it is my dog's birthday ;-) I will try very hard to make it.


Celis95:
Do you ever dream of doing prime time or movies?

Judi Evans Luciano:
All the time! I've tried to audition for both. With film I probably won't have a career because I don't want to travel. But if the opportunity arose I would love to do that. But nobody's knocking at my door! .


. Celis95:
Are you as good a cook as Paulina, or does Michael do the cooking?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I'm not very good at cooking Italian, Michael does a lot of that. My spaghetti sauce is called Ragu... My husband loves my meatloaf, and I cook a few things he likes. I enjoy cooking, but Paulina's the real cook!


Colleen_OT:
Judi, you're my FAVORITE actress and I often check your official web page. How much input, if any, do you have with regard to the page?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Actually the webmaster and I are pretty good friends, and all the information is true and accurate, and I let her know anything new that happens.


Aureliee:
Do you or your husband spend time on the internet? (other than here and now?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I think my husband has a computer at work and accesses the web when he has down time. But we don't have a computer at home and I am computer stupid. But one of my goals for the year is to get a computer and become acclimated to it.

Turtle7jmh:
You said that April 18th is your dog's birthday, what kind of dog is it?? What’s its name?

Judi Evans Luciano:
That's Pupshire's birthday, and he's a sheltie. And I have another Sheltie and a kitty named Kitty, and a quarterhorse named Luke.


Onewyldangel:
Many soap stars support charity events. How do you determine who you'll support?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I certainly support any cause. I used to do a lot of charities, but since I've had a baby I've unfortunately had to cut it down quite a bit. But every charity is important so I try to do as many as I can.


Judi Evans Luciano:
I think it's www.judirocks.com, but don't quote me on that!


NBC Live:
For those of you who are asking about Judi's personal URL, the address is www.judirocks.com

Lemon_Dog:
It seems that cast members from Another World really like to show fans their appreciation through public appearances and online chats like this one. We love you all!

Judi Evans Luciano:
We love you all, and honestly from all of our hearts, without viewers like yourself, we wouldn't be able to do the thing we love most, which is acting. So thank you, thank you, thank you.


Dawniec:
If you had one Christmas wish, what would it be?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Boy. This is gonna sound really hokey, but I wish there was a lot less anger in the world, and that people learned to love themselves and each other. Okay, I'm getting tears in my eyes and I'm getting really gross and Hallmarky. But I think that would help everyone, and the world.

_x_l_:
Judi, Do you feel the drinking problem that "Paulina" has is a good thing as far as shining a light on the fact that everyday women have this problem as well?

Judi Evans Luciano:
Certainly. Absolutely. Especially a lot of new mothers, because you never have time for yourself, so it makes an excuse. So yeah, definitely.

Judi Evans Luciano:
I'm proud to be a part of a team telling it so honestly. You always like to do true stuff. You don't want to bang people over the head with the message, but you want to put a little one in.

Texsnick:
Do any of the other actors or actresses have children on the set?

Judi Evans Luciano:
I think everyone brings their child occasionally. I bring my son a lot. I nursed the first seven months of his life, so I brought him every day. That's why it was so easy to put him in the cast. But I don't like to take him off his schedule. It's his home away from home.

NBC Live:
What's your favorite holiday memory?

Judi Evans Luciano:
The first Christmas that my husband I spent together he rented a cabin in Vermont and gave me tree ornaments and we bought each other simple, meaningful gifts, and we really spent the holiday with true love, true romance and a lot of laughs.

Judi Evans Luciano:
We skied and watched Christmas videos and took walks in the snow, it was the best Christmas I've ever had. It was really, really beautiful.

NBC Live:
That is so special.

Judi Evans Luciano:
Another Hallmark moment!


NBC Live:
We don't want to say goodbye, but thank you for joining us this evening!

Judi Evans Luciano:
I really don't want to say goodbye, but I have to put my son in his crib. I had a great time and look forward to seeing you again!


NBC Live:
Happy holidays and have a wonderful 1998!

Judi Evans Luciano:
Thank you!


NBC Live:
Thanks, Judi! Next to chat with be Francesca Roberts of NBC's "Fired Up"! Francesca Roberts will be joining us at 6:30pm PT/9:30pm ET! Be sure to get your questions in for Francesca!