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2018 – Julia Badinger

Julia Badinger played a young Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless this year as part of flashbacks during Eileen Davidson’s exit storyline. She has been seen in the short film Neil, on The First, and more!

1. How did you get started acting?
The first time I got the chance to act was in a “Peter Pan” play. I was 9 and I played Slightly Soiled. I loved the rehearsing, really getting into character and working with the whole production. The director kept giving me more and more lines and he also allowed me to improv some lines. It was great and I did a few plays after, but one summer my family was going to be out of town and I wasn’t able to do the play. Since I was upset, my parents allowed me to start acting classes. That is where my love for acting just grew! I just felt like I belonged.

2. Do you remember your first audition? What was it like to experience for the first time?
I do remember my first audition. I was nervous but my acting coaches taught me that auditions are opportunities to grow and you won’t get every role you audition for, but one day you will get the role that is meant for you. And I didn’t get that role or a lot of other roles, but I didn’t get discouraged. I love auditions because I get to work on my acting.

3. What was your time on set like filming Neil?
Filming Neil was a lot of fun. Since the entire cast was kids, we had so much fun. I also really liked that it was set in the late 60’s/early 70’s. The clothes and the cars were so fun.

4. How did you like working with your brother?
It was interesting. It’s the first thing my brother’s ever done and he is just starting to get into acting. I felt like I was watching his every move and so did he! We are really close and I liked being with him on set. I think he did a great job. In the end, we loved seeing each other together on film.

5. What is the hardest part of traveling back and forth to LA for work? The best part?
The hardest part is making sure I pack everything I need and I have all of my school work with me. Making up my work is also hard some times, but it’s definitely worth it. The best part is going to LA means I’m doing what I love.

6. What was your time on set like filming The Young and the Restless?
My time on set with Y & R, was unbelievably great. Things on a soap opera move very fast. There isn’t a lot of takes so you need to know your lines, and make the best character choices on set. I loved the pace, because I think it helped my acting. I also enjoyed it because everyone on set was so kind to me. Everyone had a smile and seemed to really enjoy what they were doing. I loved being at CBS. It was exciting and like a dream come true.

7. How did you enjoy working with Cathy Marks and Jonathan Stoddard?
Both Cathy and Jonathan were very kind to me. We were able joke around and get to know them on set. I wasn’t able to spend time with them when we weren’t on set because I was in school doing my school work.

8. What was it like to meet the adult actors who play the Abbotts?
The actors who play the Abbotts were so welcoming and nice to all of us. We did a photo shoot with them. We talked to them about how the younger Abbotts looked like the older Abbotts. It was such a cool experience to meet them.

9. How did you feel seeing your episodes airing on television?
It’s hard to describe how I felt. I kind of felt like the hard work I’ve put into my acting is paying off. It also made me want to go practice more scenes for more auditions. The first time I looked at the episodes I could envision all of the cameras around it. I could see the set. It also really made me miss LA a lot!

10. Which character has been the most fun to play?
Ashley Abbott was a fun character to play. The character showed so many different emotions. I even got to cry on set. Y & R is also my grandmother’s favorite show in the world. So I was so happy for her to see me in it.

11. Is there anything else you would like to add?
The most important thing I have learned so far about acting is you have to be committed and you can’t give up when you feel like things aren’t going your way. Getting an audition is a win by itself!

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