ESPRIT LIBRE // Press Archive

A New Face For Jessica (SOD 2/11/03)

If there's one thing One Life to Live's Bree Williamson (Jessica) has already heard a hundred times since joining the soap, it's this: She's a dead ringer for the woman whose shoes she's filling -- Erin Torpey (ex-Jessica).

"I've been told," grins the Canadian actress, who was finishing up a degree in psychology and women's studies in Toronto when she landed the part. "It's such a nice thing to hear. The first couple of days, everybody was doing double takes." (Including Williamson, who ran into Torpey at the set one day: "That was strangely odd.")

Torpey may have played the role of Viki's daughter for more than 12 years, but Williamson is ready to take on the role, despite having a short resume (commercials and Canadian TV shows). She's still working on how to make the part her own: "I'm just going to be myself. I'm trying not to be too influenced by the way she played it."

As for that degree -- Williamson curtailed the double major, but now has a sheepskin. So, no matter what the future brings, she has a long career ahead of her. But don't ask her for any predictions. "Life changes so quickly, I'm not sure what's going to happen," she muses. "I'm just taking it one day at a time. I'm going to hang out and have fun, and whatever will come, will come."