ESPRIT LIBRE // Press Archive

She's Ready to Fight Back! (Soaps in Depth 5/11/04)

Bree Williamson stands up for what she believes in -- including Jessica's smarts!

FYI
First Business Venture: At the young age of 14, Bree and her sister, Tarra, opened their own retail store because "we didn't want to work for anybody else."
English Rose: "By far, it was the best year of my life," says the actress of her year studying in England. Williamson later graduated from the University of Toronto.
Hit the Road, Jack: "I get frostbite," confesses the Canadian, who blames poor circulation for the unfortunate affliction.
Future Aspirations: "I've been toying with the idea of writing a book."

Fresh-faced and wide-eyed, Bree Williamson is, in a way, everyone's daughter as Jessica Buchanan on One Life to Live. But she's no little girl. Since she's taken over a character that fans watched grow up, it may be difficult for viewers to see Jessica in an adult light. However, with health circumstances putting the family's matriarch temporarily out of commission, Williamson is up to the challenge of becoming the rock for the Buchanan clan. And after a year in the hustle and bustle of New York, this Canadian transplant is ready to take on her detractors with a smile.

In Defense of Jessica
With Jessica's recent role in the Music Box killings casting some doubt on the college student's street smarts, Williamson has found herself having to defend her character's choices. "She's not stupid and she's not a victim," Williamson affirms. "I don't think that, honestly, for Jessica to trust [Stephen] was compeltely as crazy as fans are saying." So, the actress invites the ciritics to put themselves in Jessica's shoes. "I think if somebody thinks of their favorite teacher or their favorite mentor, and all of a sudden that person is accused of being a serial killer, in real life, you wouldn't really jump on the bandwagon and trade them in."

Understanding the audience's confusion as to how a bright girl like Jessica could take the murderer's side, Williamson clarifies how the professor deceived the trusting journalism student. "He knew how to play her. He knew how to play a lot of people, like Rae Cummings. He had a lot of people fooled. I just think that because it happened to me at the end, I was the straw that broke the camel's back. I got the brunt of, 'Oh my God, why isn't she seeing what's going on?' In reality, there were a lot of people who were fooled by him.

"That was a big deal for me," she continues, "That people understood Jessica as being smart, not being stupid, but just being trusting. I attribute it more to bad luck than stupidity."

Changes Ahead!
Now that she's got that off her chest, Williamson can look forward to a stronger, more assertive Jessica. "Are there going to be changes? Yes, there are," the blonde teases. And with mom Viki's health becoming more of a concenr, Jessica will be taking the leap into becoming the Buchanans' next leader. "You get to a certain age where you start to be a mother to your own mother," Williamson explains, but that does not mean that Jessica is entering this new phase without fear. "Out of anything that could happen with Mitch or whatever, this would be her worst nightmare come true, something bad happening to her mom."

And with the move from child to adult comes another move, from the loft with Antonio back to Llanfair with Viki, at least temporarily. "She wants her mom to get better, and her staying at Llanfair is based on her mom's ailment. And if she gets better, then Jessica can move."

Joining Forces With Mom!
Williamson has learned that the best part of having a strong personality is the effect she can have on the world. "Soap operas target a female audience most of the time, and it's cool that I can be part of something positive out there," the actress smiles. On April 25th, she will join numerous women's-rights organizations for a march in Washington, DC, in support of women's reproductive rights. "Tons of people are taking part. It's going to be a really positive, community-building event," she beams. "It's going to be really exciting!"

In addition to the march, Williamson is also getting her family into the act, as she and her mother, Maureen, are hosting a fundraising event for her pet project, PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics. "We're doing another event in Nordstrom's [in New York City] the day before Mother's Day. We are going to have a nice luncheon with me and my mom, and all the proceeds are going to women's advocacy charities." -- Robyn Poplasky