The Daytime Emmy Awards are fast approaching, and the excitement is ramping up to unbelievable heights. This is especially the case for fans of The Young and the Restless, who have not one but four actresses to root for in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category -- one of which includes talented star Camryn Grimes (Mariah Copeland). Read on to find out what she told Soap Central about the competition in her category and the submission advice she knew she had to follow in order to snag the nomination.
Soap Central: Congratulations on your Emmy nomination, Camryn!
Camryn Grimes: Oh, thank you so much!
Soap Central: It's been a couple of weeks since the nomination news came out, but are you still feeling the excitement?
Grimes: Yes, definitely! I've had a couple of people say, "Now the competition has begun," but for me, the competition is over. I know most actors say this, but in this case, it really is true; just to be recognized for that work is really awesome. I have three other actresses from Y&R in the category with me, so really, it's more fun glamming up for the ceremony. That's the excitement that I'm feeling.
Soap Central: So, you'd say it's less pressure when you're nominated with a lot of people from your show? Or is there a bit of nervousness or anxiety when you're competing against people you work with every day?
Grimes: Well, I don't think I'm going to win, anyway! [Laughs] And not in a bad way, but now I'm just excited. The Emmys are probably the only time during the year that all of the soaps can get together and just kind of celebrate. And we all get to be together. And who doesn't love to play dress-up for a night? So that's more what I'm looking forward to, just being there with my friends and my castmates. So, no, I don't really feel any pressure. I was more anxious to see if I would be nominated or not because I thought this was probably the one year where I maybe had material that would be worthy. But now that that has passed, it's just looking forward to a really fun night, for me at least.
Soap Central: Which scenes did you end up submitting and how did you go about narrowing them down?
Grimes: I submitted scenes with me and Sharon Case [Sharon], where Cassie is kind of revealing that she has feelings for Tessa [Cait Fairbanks], and then I submitted the scenes right after that -- wait, I just said Cassie! I meant Mariah! [Laughs] So then the scenes right after that when Mariah goes to Tessa, and they actually have a face-to-face about everything that's been happening. [EDITOR'S NOTE: You can watch Grimes' Emmy reel -- and those of the other nominees -- here.]
Soap Central: Did you know immediately that those were the scenes you wanted to submit?
Grimes: Yes, because I had a lot of people tell me that I would be an idiot if I didn't submit those scenes! [Laughs] And also, I felt strongest about those scenes. It was work that I was decently proud of, so it wasn't hard.
Soap Central: Just a second ago, you accidentally said Cassie, so I'm wondering, do you still have fans who approach you and talk to you as if you're that character?
Grimes: Oh, yeah, totally! I mean, now Mariah has been around for a while, so at the very least, I get fans that reference her and go, "Oh, my gosh, watching Cassie's death was the saddest thing I ever watched in my life." And I'm always honored, because it's a part of my Y&R legacy, and I totally appreciate that people still love that character and still think of her in such high regard.
Soap Central: You said one of the things you're looking forward to the most is getting dressed up for the Emmy ceremony, so have you already started thinking about what you might wear?
Grimes: I started thinking about it, and I've reached out to a couple of brands, so we'll see. I'll be trying some stuff on and seeing what pops up.
Soap Central: Are you more the type to keep it simple and glamorous, or do you like to take fashion risks on the red carpet?
Grimes: I like to keep it simple, for the most part. Even when I go shopping, I get an idea stuck in my head, and it's hard to un-marry myself from that idea. I've had this kind of idea in my head, a certain look, and that's what I'm after. But for the most part, it's very simple. Something classy with a little va-va-voom.
Soap Central: It's funny that you say when you go shopping that you marry yourself to an idea. I do the exact same thing, and then I'm always so disappointed because I never find what I'm looking for!
Grimes: Yes! I had that problem yesterday! I was looking for something specific, and I didn't find it, and so I didn't buy anything. I'm very much like that. I swear to God, I've been in the market for a leather jacket for like five years, but I just haven't found the right one. Because I know if I buy a leather jacket, then I'm going to keep it forever. I go back to All Saints every couple of months, just waiting for that perfect leather jacket. But none have been quite right just yet.
Soap Central: I feel like finding the perfect leather jacket is harder than finding the perfect boyfriend.
Grimes: Oh, God, yeah! They're either too flashy or too bikery, or it doesn't have enough and it's too simple.
Soap Central: Speaking of flashy, what do you think about Sheryl Underwood and Mario Lopez being the hosts of the awards this year?
Grimes: Oh, my gosh, it's going to be so much fun. First of all, what a great combination! They both have hosting experience, and I think it sets it up for a really good time. I'm excited to see the show, and I'm excited to see what they do with it.
Soap Central: Have you met Sheryl Underwood yet? She's a serious soap fan, and she loves Y&R.
Grimes: Oh, that's fantastic! But I have not met her, no. I haven't been on The Talk yet.
Soap Central: Well, girl, if you win, maybe you will be! They always have the winners on the next day.
Grimes: They do have the winners the next day! That would be great.
Soap Central: A lot of major award shows recently have had a political slant. What do you think about the soap opera community using the Daytime Emmy Awards as a political platform or a social issues platform?
Grimes: I've been pretty proactive on social media with some of my personal stances, and sometimes the backlash I'll get is, "You're just an actor; why don't you just stay acting?" But I say, "Well, I don't go into your job and say, 'Hey, why don't you just stick to accounting! You're not allowed to have an opinion.'" I think that's just such an unfair position. Acting is a job for us, and we're human beings with voices. So, if any person can march or take a platform, there's no reason why people in the community, especially the daytime community, can't do that as well. We're a part of society. So, I think there's rarely a scenario where it can't be advocated for or shown. So, I support what anybody wants to do with their speeches and everything.
Soap Central: I know you said earlier you don't think you'll win, but there is a chance, of course. So have you started to plan your acceptance speech?
Grimes: Actually, no. I haven't. I must stress that I really don't think I'll win. And when I say that I'm not going to win, like when my friends say, "Oh, don't say that!" I tell them that I'm not saying it so they can pat me on the back and tell me that I'm going to win. I'm not waiting for a compliment. I'm just really, truly don't think I'll win. And like I said, winning was not the thing that meant anything to me. It was getting nominated. I think, at the very least, I'll memorize the names, or at least keep them in my head so I don't forget. Because God forbid you get up there and blank on all of the producers' and writers' and directors' names!
What do you think about Grimes's Daytime Emmy nomination? Do you think she has the best chance of taking home the Outstanding Supporting Actress award? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
