MEET Y&R’S KELSEY WANG
■ When Kelsey Wang first moved from Singapore to the United States with her family, she watched soaps to learn English, which is why landing a contract role on Y&R as Allie is a full-circle moment for the actress. “I really do have a special connection to this genre,” she enthuses.
“There’s so much that I respect about this world and I’m so happy to be a part of it. Watching YOUNG AND RESTLESS is how I found my love for acting. It just seemed like the coolest dream job ever.”
Wang, who begins airing on March 10, got her first taste of soaps with a 14-episode arc as GH’S Daisy. “That gave me a running start in daytime and it was a great experience,” she points out. “Y&R is definitely a different show and I’ve been learning a lot of new things.” When first auditioning for Y&R, Wang got a boost of confidence from Peter Bergman (Jack). “I read with him and he was a-ma-zing,” she praises. “Peter is not only one of the cornerstones of the show, he’s also one of the genuinely nicest and truly professional actors I’ve ever met. He’s such a great human being. He came out and talked to all of us. He was so generous and present in the audition. He gave so much in each take, which just helped me to amp up my performance.”
On her first day of work, Wang shares, “I was definitely nervous and everyone was so kind to me. When I stepped onto the stage for the first time, the whole crew welcomed me. The cast who I was working with showed me where everything is. One of the cast members even asked for a second take just so I would feel comfortable. The people here have really set me up for success and it feels like a family at Y&R.”
As for her character, Wang offers, “Allie is very dynamic, there’s a lot of layers to her. She’s allowed to be soft but also strong and resilient. There’s a lot about her that I very much understand. Because of my own life, I understood part of her journey. There are a couple of secrets she’s keeping and she definitely has solid connections to Genoa City. I’m excited for the audience to meet Allie.”