Richards details return to set on ‘Bold’ amid virus

LOS ANGELES — When Denise Richards returned to the set of CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful“last week after the pandemic shutdown filming for three months, a detailed, specific plan was in place to keep everyone safe.

The soap opera is under a microscope, as one of the first U.S. productions to resume after COVID-19 outbreak that stopped production throughout the TV and movie industry out of safety concerns.

Richards wasn’t anxious or worried about returning to work. Instead, she felt “very excited,” she said.

“It’s important to move forward and move on. And we have to get back to work,” she said.

Bradley Bell, the show’s executive producer, devised a plan with the help of the studio to create a safe working environment.

Before she could be cleared to work, Richards was tested for COVID-19. She will be tested weekly to get the green light to work the following week.

Richards had her temperature taken upon arrival at the studio known as Television City in Los Angeles. A mask was required to enter the set and must be worn as much as possible during hair and makeup. Richards also had new labeled hair and makeup brushes waiting for her. A separate set was put in a plastic bin for touch-ups.

Crew members all wore masks, and anyone that has to be in close proximity to the actors also wears a face shield.

A designated person was present to ensure that safety guidelines are met. Richards says that person is “watching to make sure that even with a mask, we

Denise Richards in “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

are staying 8 feet from each other. They literally will measure it.”

Mannequins were also brought in to help keep people apart. “We need to give them names,” laughed Richards.

“It was challenging because the times our characters would get a little closer with each other, a mannequin would be there and I, the actor, stepped off to read the lines for the other actor talking to the mannequin.”

As for love scenes, there’s a plan for that, too.

A publicist for the show said mannequins would be used when touching or intimacy needs to happen if there isn’t a “live” stand-in. If mannequins are seen on camera, it would be only briefly.

As for the “live” standins?

“We were asked if our significant others would step in,” said Richards whose husband, Aaron Phypers, will double for actor Thorsten Kaye, who plays her love interest, Ridge Forrester. Phypers is not an actor.

Richards says she asked Phypers to take part by saying, ‘They said I could also have my love scenes with a mannequin — which is fine — but I’d much rather be with my husband.’ ”

There were two other husbands on set helping out when Richards was filming. “That was actually really sweet,” she said. “It was fun to see everyone working together to get the job done.”

On “The Bold and the Beautiful,” Richards’ character, Shauna, is in a love triangle with Ridge and his on-screen wife, Brooke, played by Katherine Kelly Lang.

“Katherine Kelly Lang’s husband was there on my first day (as a stand-in) and then next week both he and Aaron will be there,” she laughed. “So her husband has a wig. Aaron’s hair is very similar to Thorsten’s.”

Richards says face masks smudge makeup so touch-ups were needed more frequently.

“It’s a lot of work and it’s tedious, but they’re doing it,“she said.

Richards is also a cast member on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” which recently paused airing new episodes for a few weeks to film confessional interviews over Zoom. Season 10 resumes Wednesday.