Days of our Lives has nailed the pulse of current culture this summer with its front-burner teen storyline featuring Salem newcomer Raven Bowens, whose character, Chanel Dupree, is exploring sexual fluidity via her giant crush on Allie (Lindsay Arnold).
In a new interview with Soap Opera Digest, Bowens enthuses that she has really enjoyed bringing the complexities of Chanel's emotions to life via the storyline that also features Allie's other flame, Tripp Dalton (Lucas Adams).
"When [DAYS] originally sent the offer over, they let us know that [Chanel's sexuality] was something that had changed from when I originally tested. They asked a bunch of times if I would be comfortable with it," she shares. "I was like, 'Yeah.' I didn't understand what the big deal was. To me, it's acting and it's real people's stories and that's what I'm in the business to do."
The actress admits that she's never played a character that was sexually fluid before, but she loves that the story is being told, especially in daytime.
"It can be a little bit taboo to certain people in that regard, but I love it," she enthuses. "At the end of the day, Chanel has many things about her that are unique and that's a part of what drives her but it's not the whole her."
Bowens adds that, over time, she believes she'll be able to delve even deeper into what makes Chanel tick and what makes her such a special character.
"I've been digging in and doing all this work with my acting coach," she shares. "In the beginning, it was, 'Let's go in there, let's make sure we're making bold choices, that I'm having that life-of-the-party kind of attitude that Chanel has, that I am willing to show the vulnerability that Chanel also has.' I think the longer I've been on, the more colors I've been able to show. The writing is phenomenal and it gives me a lot to work with and does allow me to show all the different sides of her. The longer I'm doing it, the deeper I'm able to make her."
For SOD's full interview with Bowens, click here.
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