Fur is flying over on “The Young and the Restless,” but it’s more than just of the coat variety during the sudser’s big fashion show this week: The recent rivalry between Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson) and Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) comes to a dramatic and rather violent head beginning today, and the fallout may change the canvas forever!
Tensions rise between the former BFFs, and fans are definitely in for quite a soap staple treat. “We’re starting to clash a lot, and let me just say: They go from being best friends to not at all best friends!” Egan says with a laugh of the exciting catfight scenes airing this week. “Liz and I are both from New York, so we’re both a little scrappy, and we really committed 100 percent to the scenes. It’s really fun soap opera stuff.”
Though unfortunately, it’s also some of the last scenes she’ll be shooting with Hendrickson, who departs the show later this spring. “I’ve loved working with Liz, and I’ve loved Chloe and Chelsea’s friendship: The good, the bad and the ugly!” the actress says. “It’s still very early, but I hope that they come back together before Chloe leaves, because it was an important friendship, and I thought it was a true friendship at its heart, so I hope it’ll come back to that.”
Either way, Chelsea has a lot on her plate on the moment — including the search for her hubby, Adam (who’s presumed dead, but may still be kicking). “Chelsea really believes in her heart of hearts that he’s alive,” Egan states of the character, previously portrayed by Michael Muhney. “But I really don’t know what’s going to happen or whether they’ll recast. It’s such an important character, so it’ll be interesting to see what they do. Chelsea thinks he’s alive, but who knows: Maybe she’ll move on with her life and start dating someone else. But if not, Judy Blye [Wilson] is an amazing casting director, so [if they do choose to recast the role], I think she’ll do an amazing job.”
In the meantime, Chelsea has been left to deal with Adam’s father, Victor (Eric Braeden), on her own. And as everyone knows, it’s a slippery slope when it comes to the Newman patriarch! “Everyone should always keep one eye open with Victor, because he’s a smart man and he can always pull a fast one on just about anybody,” Egan opines. “But I think, at this point, [she and Victor] have a true alliance. She’s built up a real trust with him, and really, he’s her best hope. If he wants to help her, she’s got to take the help. She’s better off accepting his help and hoping for the best than not trusting him at all!”