"The Young and The Restless" star Lauralee Bell plays one of the most hated characters in the daytime soap opera. While playing as Christine "Cricket" Blair has made the actress an icon in the show, Bell admitted that being a villain is quite challenging.
In "Y&R," Christine is a former teen model who grew up being a tenacious district attorney. Bell has played the role since 1983, when she was just 13 years old. After 32 years in character, the actress is still uneasy with the thought of being hated by many fans for the role.
According to Soap Opera Spy, Bell hinted that a new direction in her Christine's storyline will make the character soften up, hopefully making it more likeable to fans. The actress reportedly has been begging "Y&R" writer Chuck Pratt, Jr. for a change in her character's plot and he finally gave in.
Furthermore, the 46-year-old actress also revealed that it has been difficult for her to be in character as a powerful, villainous attorney. The legal jargon alone makes it hard for her to get accustomed to, which results in several takes even after hours and hours of rehearsals.
"I can get tripped up with all the legal jargon," Bell reportedly said in a Soap Opera Digest interview. "Being in a courtroom is not my favorite thing."
In particular, the scene last Nov. 13 with Adam's (Justin Hartley) trial was a tough one to shoot, the actress said. She revealed that she and co-star Christian LeBlanc, who plays the lawyer Michael Baldwin, practiced for one whole day just to get the courtroom scenes right. After the director called it a wrap, the producers reportedly gave them a round of applause.
Bell can be seen on "The Young and The Restless" from Mondays to Fridays, 12:30 p.m. on CBS.
