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Rising Star

The Soap World Always Knew That Jensen Ackles Would Make It Big. Now, The Rest Of The Industry Is Finding Out, Too.

“There have definitely been moments over the last couple of years when I seriously thought about coming back”, confess Jensen Ackles, who left DAYS OF OUR LIVES in the summer of 2000 after a three-year run as Eric. “There have been times when I thought, ‘I want to go back’, and as soon as I built up the courage to say something, I’d get a job.” And how. Since his departure from Salem, the Texas charmer has appeared in the series DARK ANGEL, the miniseries BLONDE, is currently airing on DAWSON’S CREEK and is filming a much-talked-about pilot for Fox called STILL LIFE.

Ackles started on DAYS in 1997, nabbed a Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Male Newcomer the following year, and received Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor for every year he was on the show. But when his contract came up, the actor knew it was time to move on. “Even if I do go back someday, I still think it was the right decision because I’ve been able to go out there, do different things, play different characters, learn about the business and learn about myself,” he reflects.

Like many daytime actors who have sought stardom elsewhere, Ackles faced some obstacles because of his soap roots. “It was kind of hard to break,” he admits. “I definitely carried that around for a while. People would see me, and I would be ‘that soap guy’. But I think after I was able to get things under my belt, they couldn’t just see the soap guy. I’ve been able to shake it.”

JUST THE FACTS

Birthday: March 1, 1978

You Can Go Home Again: “The last time I came home, my mom said, ‘All of your sister’s friends seem to come and spend the night a lot when you’re here.'”

The Crying Game: “I’m not a Deidre [Hall, Marlena] yet. I can’t turn on the tears. She’s amazing. Ali [Sweeney, Sami] can do it now, too. She’s been in the dumps [on-screen] for the past six months and she’s gotten to where she can just hit it.”

Truckin’: Ackles has three sport-utility vehicles: a ’74 Ford Bronco, a Chevy Tahoe and a Nissan Pathfinder. “I’m gonna send the Pathfinder back [to Texas]. My sister wants it and she’s turning 16.”

Must-See TV: “I love FRIENDS. If that’s on, I’ll definitely sit down and watch the whole thing.”

During his ﬁrst year on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Jensen Ackles (Eric) landed on the cover of TVGuide, nabbed the Soap Opera Digest award for Hottest Newcomer and garnered an Emmy nomination.

Then he landed in storyline Siberia.

“My storyline was kind of at a stand-still.” acknowledges the actor. who basically held a camera in the Titan photo lab and bounced from scenes with Taylor to Billie to Nicole. Making things worse were the roles he had to turn down because he was contracted to DAYS. But Ackles isn’t bitter about having to pass up a recurring role on DAWSON’S CREEK and a plum part in the ﬁlm Never Been Kissed. “This is a great job.” he shrugs. “I’m sure doing [those projects] would have been fun, but I’ve learned a lot about the business. I’m just growing up. I’m out of high school and this is the time I’m leaning things, anyway.”

Jensen Ackles

Age: 19, Pisces

Status: Single

Hometown: Richardson, Texas (a suburb of Dallas)

How you know him: This soap stud has been streaming up the screen as good guy Eric on Days of Our Lives. But you might remember him from the short-lived series Mr. Rhodes or his guest roles on Sweet Valley High and Cybill.

Breakin’ into the Biz: “I had done a couple of regional commercials and some catalog modelling in Texas when I was younger. But it really wasn’t until I went with a friend to an open call that I was ‘discovered'”. Isn’t that friend majorly bummed? “No, he’s not mad – in fact, he’s one of my roommates in LA.”

All the right career moves: “Acting wasn’t really something I knew I wanted to do – Days of Our Lives was the turning point. I don’t want to be huge like Tom Cruise. I’d rather have a career like Chris O’Donnell. He gets good parts, but he can still walk around like a normal guy without hiring bodyguards”.

On his Days character: “I’m sure Eric has some skeletons in his closet that are sure to come out. There’s no such thing as a completely good guy on soaps!”

Does he get recognized? “Sometimes. I went to the mall the other day and nobody recognized me. Then I went to see a movie and the girl taking tickets was like, ‘Will you sign this ticket stub?'”. Gentlemanly Jensen did, of course.

Bachelod Pad: “I live with two friends from high school in a small house in LA. We just got a dog. It’s still a puppy – a German shepherd-rotweiller mix named Dallas.”

On his single status: “I don’t have a girlfriend. I did date a lot in high school – I had two serious girlfriends. Right now I’m just busy working.”

What he likes in a girl: “I like a girl I can joke around with and hang out with, someone on the same wavelength, someone who’s smart and can be herself around me.”

Up next: “I have three-year contract with Days so I’ll be there for a while. Eventually, I want to take some basic courses to keep my wits up. I’d also like to be able to do some film work.”

Lone Star

Texas Native Jensen Ackles is Flying High — But Solo — As DAYS OF OUR LIVE’s Eric Brady

JUST THE FACTS

Birthday: March 1, 1978.

Lip Service: “I’ve never been asked about them before. They’re all mine.”

Missing You: “I love Dallas; I miss it tremendously. L.A. is so big; it’s so crowded.”

Am I Dreaming? “I pinch myself every day. I have a great job. (laughs) I’ve never had any real depressions. Life is good.”

Naughty or Nice? “At this point, Eric is nice. But I’m told that can change.”

Movie Maven: “Eventually, I want to do films.”

My Mom Deidre Hall (Marlena): “It’s cool to work with people who are icons.”

Politically Correct: “I’m the most politically illiterate person you will ever find. I read the newspaper for the sports section.”

He says “cool” and he says “awesome”. A lot. You would swear that 19-year-old Jensen Ackles, the soap newcomer, who plays Eric Brady on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, is something of a Valley dude— he certainly looks the part. But Ackles maintains he’s pure Texan. “Amen to that!” he laughs. “I’m holding on to Texas as long as I can. I have too many Texas roots. I have two roommates from Texas; they’re both high school buddies. We have Texas flags all over the place. We have a nasty, nasty case of Texas pride.”

Soap Opera News talks to Jensen Ackles – who plays Sami’s long-lost twin – after his first experience as a member of the Brady Bunch

The first thing you notice about Jensen Ackles – aside from his boyish good looks – is that while he’s from deep in the heart of Texas, he barely has a Southern accent. “Many people in Dallas don’t have a thick accent,” he says.” Plus my dad never had one, because he’s a performer.” But, Ackles admits, the South can shine through. “Sometimes I’ll say ‘y’all’.”

But don’t expect any y’alls from Ackles’ mouth while he`s playing Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives. The young actor, previously seen on the short-lived NBC sitcom Mr. Rhodes, has been thrust into one of the hottest storylines on daytime, and he’s not about to blow it.

“I try not to think about it that way”, Ackles says of the pressures of entering such a high-velocity plot. It`s a job, and for the most part, I`m having fun. I just look at is as a way to meet new people, work on a new set and made new relationships.”

Birthday: March 1, 1978
Hometown: Richardson, Texas (a suburb of Dallas)
Home base: Los Angeles, California
Outstanding atribute: natural acting talent
Pet: a Shepherd/Rottweiller mix named Dallas that he and his roommates rescued from the pound
Early gig: he was a series regular on Wishbone, which was filmed in Dallas
Big Break: long-lost Eric Brady on Days of our lives
Fab fact: Jensen sleeps with Coke, a stuffed pig. Jensen named the plush oinker after the Cola because he spilled Coke all over the pig when he first got him
Fleeting fact: LeAnn Rimes, who was the first to lock lips with Jensen on air, once told Entertainment Tonight, that she had a crush on Jensen!
“I’ve never been in acting classes or studied acting in any way” Jensen told BOP. “IT’s my dad, you know?”

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