CBS's beloved TV soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful is back filming, ensuring that safety guidance such as social distancing is followed to the T. With health being number one priority in these unprecedented times, actress Denise Richards opened up in a new interview about how the pandemic has impacted how they film the show.
The Bold and the Beautiful (also referred to as B&B) premiered in Mar. 1987, and is one of CBS's most popular soap operas. The beloved show returned to filming with health regulations, social distancing guidelines, and testing in place. B&B is the first major American scripted drama series to get back to business after the coronavirus first started.
Aside from the show making a grand comeback, its sister soap dubbed The Young and the Restless, and ABC's soap opera entitled General Hospital is slated to return in June and July respectively. While the show resumed production, the show makers have ensured that its cast and crew members are safe by implementing specific guidelines amid the ongoing pandemic.
Since last year, Richards has portrayed the role of Shauna Fulton on The Bold and the Beautiful. She made her first appearance as Flo Fulton's mother. She was romantically involved with Bill Spencer and Storm Logan in the past, and Logan was revealed as Flo’s father.
Following this revelation, Richards became a member of one of the show's core families, the Logans. Shauna has a reputation for being Quinn Fuller's best friend and for being romantically involved with Ridge Forrester.
During an interview with the Associated Press, Richards opened up about her experience of returning to work and being back on the show's familiar set. She revealed that they cast and crew members have to take weekly tests while discussing some of the challenges associated with filming during the coronavirus pandemic.
Richards said she has her temperature taken every time she visits the studio, adding that they have to wear a mask throughout the studio, hair, and makeup as much as possible. It is specifically challenging because characters were replaced with a mannequin every time a closer shot was required, she explained.
She then has to step off and read the line for the other actors to the mannequin, adding that it was understandably taking longer than usual because of the eyeliner and everything. She echoed head writer Bradley Bell's earlier statement about the noteworthy adjustments they have had to make by changing the love scenes, Showbiz CheatSheet reported.
At the moment, intimate scenes are shot either with a mannequin or the actor's real-life partner to ensure social distancing guidelines, Richards explained. Richards and the cast were asked if their significant other would step-in, otherwise, they would have to shoot her love scene with a mannequin, which she said she didn't mind. But she would've preferred her husband.
She said the overall experience of everyone coming together, being supportive, and unitedly working towards getting the show made was quite fun. Richards noted that people must learn to work and do their job in this world we are living in, adding that they have been off work for over three months.
The actress said she was lucky to be working with a production company, a television studio, and a network that doesn't jeopardize the safety of their cast and crew members, and are willing to do what is needed to keep everyone safe to make a great show. Richards said it is time for her to return to work.