Ben Masters:
Hello everyone. Thank you for coming. I truly appreciate it. And a special welcome to my friends on the Secret Desires board. You're fabulous!

And Tracey does get on that board and leave messages. It is her.

---------------

Emmajo25
Hi Ben. I love the Julian/Eve storyline. My question to you is do you miss playing the part of the bad guy? Eve has turned you into a softie. Which do you like better, the old or new Julian?

Ben Masters:
I loved playing the raunchy, drunken, libertine Julian. However, that could only last so long. Some sort of transformation had to occur and the one that has occurred is very exciting to me. I think that the Julian and Eve storyline is very powerful and will only get moreso. There are a lot of surprises coming up.

---------------

Fan of Julian
Will Julian learn that his baby daughter, Endora, is a witch anytime soon?

Also, will the Boozebournes (or Tabitha's relatives) be making return appearances?

Ben, do like Julian's increased role or is it just a lot of work? Thanks for all the fun!

Ben Masters:
I don't know when Julian will learn that Endora is a half-witch. I wish I did know. The Boozebournes hopefully will return, though I don't know exactly when, but I have a lot of fun playing Boozie.

Sometimes it's good to have two or three lines on a show and sort of float around the background because they still have to pay me the same amount. But I usually enjoy having a heavy storyline.

---------------

sharrison1211
Julian is a man of great power, why doesnt he just someone to get rid of Rebecca so she cant blackmail him anymore.

Ben Masters:
Very, very good! Where is Crane's security? And why doesn't Julian sneak up behind TC Russell with a baseball bat and smash him in the head?

These are questions I ask myself on a daily basis. But I have to believe that my creator, Mr. Jim Reilly, will one day allow me to get even with Rebecca and TC and Alistair.

---------------

LilyBelle
Who is your favorite co-star on the show?

Ben Masters:
Tracey Ross ("Eve").

---------------

Mara
Hey Ben! Your such a sweetie and all of us here obviously adore you, but my question for you is, what is the best part about about playing Julian Crane?

Ben Masters:
In the past, it was the strange sort of wackiness to the character... the one-line put downs and just the uniqueness of a character like that on daytime. But now I find the transformation of Julian that was brought on by his time with Timmy and his love for Eve, I find playing this new Julian is very satisfying.

---------------

Courtaney
Ben, everyone at Secret Desires and Evian Dreams wants to give you a big hello, especially my pal Priscilla, who couldn't make it today. We were wondering how much preparation goes into those awesome kissing scenes of yours. Is it normally all done in one take? That last kiss of yours and Tracey's was simply incredible, by the way.

Ben Masters:
I don't want to give anything away here, friends, but Tracey and I find that you have to rehearse those kisses a few times to get them spot on. And if you could imagine from a man's point of view what it's like to kiss those lips on Tracey Ross... then you'll have no trouble understanding why I would walk on the wing of a plane going 465 miles an hour to save that woman.

And Courtaney, I can't thank you enough for your enthusiasm about Evian. You're great, my dear.

---------------

liz143
Hi, Ben! I just wanted to tell you how much I love watching you on Passions. You are so very talented! I was wondering what your dream storyline would be and what character would it include? Thanks and keep up the good work!

Ben Masters:
Thank you so much. I'm truly enjoying the storyline with Eve Russell at the moment. I don't know where it's going to end up or how long it's going to take, but you all know in your hearts what's going to happen.

---------------

stephie
do you have a crush on any of the actors

Ben Masters:
Yeah, sure. Who do you think I have a crush on? The woman I work with every day. The doctor... what's her name? Dr. Eve Russell... the doctor who put the X in X-rated.

---------------

julie
what's been your favorite julian storyline so dar?

Ben Masters:
I would have to say the Timmy/Julian trip to Oz, to redneck country, to wrestling Big Dog, the female wrestler... the Adventures of Timmy and Julian.

---------------

carla palmore
Ben, is the character, who plays Chad really yours, and Eve's love child? And if not will the child be revealed soon?

Ben Masters:
My dear, your guess is as good as mine. I still can't believe that Chad would have had sex with his own sister. But it is the new millennium, and I always say 'If it's love, is it wrong?'

---------------

kane2
are the other missing crane children due to return soon? julian seems tobe the only man on the show who can make babies!

Ben Masters:
You're too complimentary. That's very funny.

I wish I could tell you when the other Crane children will arrive in Harmony, but I honestly have no idea.

---------------

Jamie
Is there any characteristics you have that you would like to see Julian have.

Ben Masters:
Good question. Very difficult to answer however. I find that as a person I have so little self-respect and I certainly wouldn't want Julian to be saddled with that.

---------------

Mara
Who would you like to work with more often?

Ben Masters:
I truly love working with Juliet Mills. However, next time I'm going to demand that she also wear a loincloth and not just a body stocking.

---------------

Alicia F.
Ben, You are my hero! I've said that before but how long did it take you to get your first major role on a show?....Yours, alicia duke fewelhuntres

Ben Masters:
I started getting leading roles on television in my early thirties, which is long ago and far away. These were mini-series that might run for six or eight hours on prime-time television. I've never played a part, however, that lasted five years, like Julian Crane.

---------------

kane
julian may be nice now, but don't you think he ultimately needs to pay for all the bad stuff he's done?

Ben Masters:
Prove it!

I don't think he will ever be able to atone for what he has done to his sister Sheridan, therefore, perhaps he is beyond redemption.

---------------

Andrea
Is being a sex symbol all it's cracked up to be? You're beautiful!

Ben Masters:
I have no idea what you're talking about.

Thank you very much. And it is such a burden.

---------------

Courtaney
Can you tell us about your pets? I heard once that you had some cats. Do they rule the roost like my Calico?

Ben Masters:
Actually, I love cats, but I don't have any cats. I have a very old, ancient, yellow Labrador Retriever, whom I love with all my heart.

---------------

EternallyEvian
Have you or Tracey read Evian fan fiction, and does it make you blush sometimes if you do?

Ben Masters:
Oh, yes indeed!!

Some of the fan fiction is sizzling and truly well-written and I sometimes wish that I could act out those scenes that you wonderful people have written for Julian and Eve.

By the way, EternallyEvian, thank you for all of your enthusiasm. I truly, truly appreciate it.

---------------

Mara
Can you give us any hints on what you are working on now?

Ben Masters:
I'm sworn to secrecy.

---------------

Jamie A.
Do you think that you and Fox will ever make amends and become like what a real father and son should be like.

Ben Masters:
I think that sounds like a wonderful idea, but whether or not it will happen will be a surprise to me. Just as it will to you.

---------------

Nichole
Do you think the Fox and Whitney story parallels the Eve and Julian one? It seems the kids are destined to replay their parent's story. Oh and how far in advance do you tape the show? Thanks

Ben Masters:
We tape the show about one month in advance.

And yes, I believe Fox and Whitney are destined to make the same mistakes that their parents made.

---------------

kathyg0213
I think you are such a gifted actor, clearly one of the best on daytine TV. Is PASSIONS your only acting venue or can I see you in other TV shows or on stage anywhere

Ben Masters:
You could catch me in reruns of old movies and TV shows I did. Some of them don't even have sound.

And I'm too infirmed to take to the stage again.

---------------

Rebecca
You and Julian seem to have the same sense of humor. What about yourself do you bring to the character, and what about the character if anything do you bring to yourself? Also, do you ever adlib your dialogue?

Ben Masters:
Last question first: Never ad lib dialogue. That would be assuming I knew more than the writer, which I don't.

As to the humor that Julian has, can you point it out to me? Because I haven't been able to find any humor in him lately. As an actor you obviously bring your voice and body to the character, but you also bring other parts of yourself... the speed of your speaking, inflections you might use in your daily life, and the list can go on and on.

Does that make sense?

---------------

Rebecca
Passions is unlike any other soap in many aspects. Do you see it paving the way for a new way to look at soap operas?

Ben Masters:
I am merely an actor on this show who is given a script, usually on a daily basis, to try to make the character come alive. That's a big enough job for me. I don't consider myself a philosopher on the subject of soap opera form. Please forgive me.

---------------

Skye
Hi Ben ! Love your character , will we ever find out why your father wants to kill Sheridan ?

Ben Masters:
Yes. Sooner than you think.

---------------

BenMasterFan, Kristen
Thank you so much for reading our crazy posts at the Secret Desires board! But i'm a little embarassed to know that you read the things that I write about you. Keep up the fabulous work and we'll keep talkin!

Ben Masters:
You have no reason to be embarassed. I love going on that board and reading what you fabulously, beautiful, sexy women have written.

Hopefully you're not fully clothed when you sit in front of your computer and type those little stories.

---------------

Jamie A.
what is the craziest thing a fan has ever done to get your attention.

Ben Masters:
Fans of the show are a very composed, sophisticated lot, so they never do anything strange to me... except wave and giggle... and write themselves into fan fiction.

---------------

BenMasterFan, Kristen
The Norah Jones song "I have to see you again" that was used for one of the many Evain moments was perfect for the couple. Have you ever thought of a song that would be perfect for a passionate Evian moment?

Ben Masters:
I loved the montage of Evian with the Norah Jones song. I can't think of anything better than that.

---------------

Ben Masters:
Again, I really want to thank you for watching the show, for being fans of Julian Crane. It means so much to me. And I've had a great time today.

And I want all Evian fans to know that we'll be at Universal City Walk ( Universal City , CA ) March 20th and 21st for the NBC Daytime Fan Festival. Tracey and I will be there in all of our lust.

Good-bye my friends!