CBS' venerable daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful has, in spite of plummeting ratings across the soap opera genre, managed to maintain a sizable audience. A staple on CBS' daytime lineup since 1987, B&B is seen around the globe, where it's reported to be the #1 syndicated show in the world.
Set in the glitzy world of the Los Angeles fashion industry, the series has recently launched its first lesbian love story. For actress Joanna Johnson, who's returning to the series after a long absence, appearing in this storyline is deeply personal. Johnson has herself come out as a lesbian.
"I've gotten incredibly supportive responses from the gay community," Johnson said to the B.A.R. "I wanted to be really honest in my interview with TV Guide about the way I was raised and about the times in which I was a teenager, the 70s and 80s. There was really no public acceptance of being gay. No out celebrities or role models, and I internalized a lot of shame and fear and self-loathing."
The actress shared a few aspects of the very different life she lives today. "It's not like the minute I was introduced to someone I would say, 'Nice to meet you, and FYI, I'm a lesbian. Just like a straight person doesn't announce that they're straight. But when people ask what my husband does, I always say that I have a wife, and that she's an event promoter."
For Crystal Chappell, who's straight and who plays Johnson's onscreen partner, playing a lesbian is old hat. Chappell was seen in a gay role on the now-cancelled soap The Guiding Light. After that show ended its impressive 72-year run, Chappell played another lesbian role on Venice, a Web soap that she herself produced. She says she's not concerned about typecasting.
"The majority of my career, I have played a heterosexual," she told the B.A.R. "I've played plenty of roles like doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, etc. So no, I don't worry at all. I think LGBT people are happy to see themselves represented."
The B.A.R. asked the women if there's been any backlash from the anti-gay.
"I stopped listening to that a long time ago," said Chappell. "There is always backlash and naysayers. I choose to focus on the positive feedback and the effect we are having on people."
"I think [producer] Brad Bell and the writers have written a wonderful story and some lovely scenes that everyone can relate to," added Johnson.
"In my opinion, I think most people have a pretty open mind about who people are," Chappell said. "I'm sure there are people who don't understand, but I think most people will see a loving relationship. If you can affect one person who can see that it is all about love, then we have done something good."
Both actors give President Barack Obama high marks for his recent stand in support of same-sex marriage.
"I commend President Obama for supporting same-sex marriage," said Johnson. "I understand that politically he's between a rock and a hard place, so it's small steps forward. I hope the next step in his evolution is to recognize that it needs to be a federally protected right. We didn't leave slavery and segregation up to the states. Civil and human rights can't be left up to the states, they must be federally protected."
"He is who I expected him to be," was Chappell's take. "He said something that certainly makes him a Democrat and liberal, and I think it's wonderful that a President accepts all citizens of this country for who they are."
The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekday afternoons on CBS.