ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230004
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TUNE IN TOMORROW
SOURCE: NANCY M. REICHARDT
``The only way anybody ever grows is if they challenge themselves,'' says Leigh Taylor-Young, citing that as ``part of the reason'' she decided to delve into the role of Elaine Stevens in the new Aaron Spelling daytime soap, ``Sunset Beach,'' airing on NBC.
Having prospered in theater (''The Beckett Plays''), nighttime television (''Peyton Place,'' ``Dallas'' and ``Picket Fences''), daytime was the one avenue Taylor-Young hadn't taken in her illustrious career.
``Also, I've never presented myself forward consistently,'' says the actress. ``'Dallas' was about a year. 'Picket Fences' was a little over a year. Short of the times I've spent in theater, I've never really done anything long term,'' explains Taylor-Young, noting that she was intrigued by the prospect of ``developing a character over time.''
Particularly, someone like Elaine Stevens. Stevens has been described as the town mom, local waffle shop owner and keeper of the legend of Sunset Beach. Taylor- Young notes that the character quickly ``engaged me. I liked her. I liked her strength,'' she says with a smile. ``She's a person who is earthy and available. She's made her way without a lot of help and found peace, basically, with this. She's a very loving person, who loves this town and the young people in it very much. If I'm going to live with a character over a long period of time, I'd rather live with that than something else.''
Since starting the show, which premiered Jan. 6, Taylor-Young hasn't been disappointed with her alter ego or the medium. In fact, in certain respects she finds daytime to be familiar ground.
``It has some resonance with theater,'' she notes. ``The only resonance that it doesn't have is that you don't rehearse. Well, you kind of rehearse - by the seat of your pants. That's a new experience for me. In terms of my way of working I really feel like I'm in the great unknown right now. After 30 years in this business, I'm learning this as I go.''
But for Taylor-Young, a woman who thrives on new feats, it's all been a fascinating challenge.
``I'm one of these people where work is my pleasure,'' she says. ``Be it at the studio or at home, I'm always at my desk. It's just the direction of my creative energy.''
However, Taylor-Young is not solely career driven.
``I have a lot of other interests in my life,'' notes the actress, who is a supporter of world peace as a special advisor in arts and media for the United Nations Environment Program and the Institute for Individual and World Peace and an array of charity organizations. ``I like to shift my perspective back and forth between the real, artistic aspect of my life - the expression - and ways that I can apply that in more social service kind of ways. It's made, for me, a very whole kind of life.''
Send your questions about soap operas to Nancy M. Reichardt, ``Tune in Tomorrow,'' in care of the Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, VA 24010-2491. Questions cannot be answered personally, but those of general interest will be answered in future columns. United Feature Syndicate
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB