Although GUIDING LIGHT's Jordi Vilasuso (Tony) has attended an acting class or two in his life, the two-time Daytime Emmy nominee says that the most valuable lessons he's learned about honing his craft have come from setside, rather than classroom, sessions. "I know that the amount I've learned about working I couldn't have gotten out of any acting class," he claims. "And working in this medium, television, really teaches you how to be comfortable in front of the camera. And that will be a help for other things that you might pursue later."
Now Appearing Live
Another side of the entertainment industry that Vilasuso wants to explore in his career is the theater. "I think I'll grow immensely in theater," he muses. "I see my actor friends — like Laura Bell Bundy (ex-Marah) who is doing Hairspray, or Wes Ramsey (ex-Sam) who was trained at Juilliard — who do theater and I envy them.
"Laura was so hurt when she was let go from the show," continues Vilasuso. "So was Saundra Santiago (ex-Carmen). Now she's doing Nine. They were disappointed and sad when they left, but now look at what they're doing! Broadway! I'm so happy for them."
Hearing his former colleagues describe the adrenaline rush of the immediate feedback received from a live audience has Vilasuso itching to feel it himself. "I want to experience the energy that you get from people who love the entertainment and the show and the performance."
Acting Up
While the college student enjoys his classes, like art history and psychology, Vilasuso has no plans to one day trade in his scripts for a briefcase and enter the corporate world. "This is it," he insists. "Acting is it, because it's challenging. If anything, I'd have to stay in the arts, but I'm going to stick with acting. Because I have grown as an actor, and it's something that I feel I can keep growing in." — Michelle Ann Moro
Jordi Vilasuso
