ESPRIT LIBRE // Press Archive

The Accidental Heartthrob (TVGO Canada 1/18/07)
By Nelson Branco

Halifax’s Forbes March is bringing sexy back to daytime television with his infectious portrayal of a bad boy with a heart of gold on One Life To Live.

Every few years or so, an unexpected thing happens on daytime TV: a beautiful stranger arrives in the soap world, reminding the world that true men do really exist — even if we can’t ignore the fact that these sexy delicacies are indeed becoming an endangered species.

When Halifax native — and former Toronto resident — Forbes March landed in Llanview in July 2005, the romantically-starved soap opera gave daytime a healthy dose of McDreamy-itis.

Although Nash Brennan is no doctor, the irresistible former con man makes our heart skip a beat with his attentive bedside manner and belief that in the end love does conquer all — even if your true love has another dominant personality that must be integrated and thus lost forever!

And March is just as romantic in his real life as he is in his reel world: he married his Italian sweetheart Vanessa, whom he met when he lived in Milan as a successful model (the couple has two children together).

Although March is no stranger to daytime — he played the forgettable Scott Chandler in 1999 for one year, before gaining recognition such series like Mutant X, and CSI — TV Guide wanted to reacquaint ourselves with the actor, who in his latest and hopefully final reincarnation, is making women swoon.

TV Guide: Wow — you certainly have come a long way from your days in Pine Valley! Have you noticed your evolution as an actor since those early days on All My Children, or was it just the wrong role?
Forbes March: AMC was my first job, and acting is a craft that people need to learn regardless of if they are born with talent. Also, being a leading man type is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives you the opportunity to be a leading man on a daytime soap very quickly. On the downside, you don’t have time to hone your craft by taking on smaller parts that allow you to explore different characters. I was really lucky that I got to be thrown into it right away but it took time to learn my craft.

TVG: Battlestar Gallatica became a critical darling and ratings hit right when you left the sci-fi world — any regrets?
FM: Mutant X was a big shot in the arm for me and really allowed me to grow, but I so screwed up on Battlestar. The day Mutant was cancelled, I was offered a role on Battlestar and I passed on it. I had no idea how big it was going to be.

TVG: Were you shocked that Nash and Tess became such a big hit?
FM: I honestly didn’t think Nash and Tess would last longer than a few months. They basically saw it as a summer storyline until the audience loved us together. Unfortunately, Nash was left in the lurch after Tess was integrated, but now they are addressing that. It seems like Jessica and Nash have the same chemistry that Nash and Tess did so hopefully they’ll keep it exciting. The story of Tess and Nash was so wonderful because they both saved each other. The way I imagined Nash was he didn’t trust anyone, but Nash trusted Tess, and that’s very romantic.

TVG: Both you and Bree Williamson (Jessica/Tess) are both from Canada — does that help with your chemistry?
FM: Bree and I get along amazingly. We squabble a lot like two squirrels over a walnut — we’re like brother and sister off camera. We’ve worked together before on Mutant so we already knew each other.

TVG: How often do you visit Canada?
FM: I don’t visit as often as I would like. I went back to Halifax for the first time in eight years this past holiday season, and it was pretty fantastic. I’m walking around with a Nova Scotia pin on my jacket right now — I had forgotten how Canadian I really am. It’s a small town, and when you’re 18 you’re dying to get out of there, but when you’re older all you do is think about getting back there.

TVG: What is the length of your OLTL contract?
FM: I guaranteed them another two years.

TVG: Is it safe to say that Nash is your favourite character so far?
FM: Yes, Nash really is the one that really resonates with me. I can really relate to him. Nashville, baby!

TVG: Any plans to cut your trademark long locks?
FM: I was thinking about cutting it but the show wants it long. And I agree that’s best for Nash, but I personally like shorter hair for maintenance. There should always be an element to Nash that reminds me that he doesn’t belong. He’s like the Great Gatsby — always an outsider.