Twenty years. Two Daytime Emmy nominations. And a career that has taken him from one legendary daytime drama to another. My friend Lawrence Saint-Victor joins me for the very first time on The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio, and we had A LOT to discuss. While Lawrence and I have crossed paths at red-carpet events over the years, this was our first opportunity to sit down for a full-length conversation.
Twenty Years Since Guiding Light
We started by going back to where it all began: Guiding Light. This year marks 20 years since Lawrence made his daytime television debut as Remy Boudreau. When I reminded him of that milestone, even he seemed surprised by how much time had passed!
Lawrence reflected on entering the fast-paced world of daytime television after studying acting in a conservatory. Working alongside performers such as Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Ron Raines, and Tom Pelphrey helped establish the foundation for his career.
That led us into one of my favorite parts of our conversation: remembering the incredible actors who helped make Guiding Light such a beloved series. I even shared my experience of being absolutely terrified when I first interviewed Ron Raines, who portrayed the legendary Alan Spaulding!
We also discussed the show’s 70th-anniversary episode, which paid tribute to its beginnings in radio. Lawrence recalled how that experience helped him appreciate the origins of the genre and the precision required to produce those early broadcasts.
Is Carter Walton Really a Villain?
Carter Walton has undergone a significant transformation on The Bold and the Beautiful, and I wanted to understand how Lawrence approached a character whose decisions have generated such strong reactions from viewers.
One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation was Lawrence’s explanation of Carter’s motivations. While some viewers may consider Carter a villain, Lawrence sees a man driven by desperation, loneliness, and a fear of losing everything he has worked to build.
We also explored Carter’s relationship with Steffy Forrester and why their complicated circumstances reveal sides of both characters that audiences haven’t necessarily seen before.
Lawrence offered a particularly interesting interpretation of Steffy’s emotional struggles and how Carter’s behavior, despite being deeply problematic, may be providing something she has long wanted from her own marriage.
From Actor to Writer
In addition to portraying Carter, Lawrence has become part of The Bold and the Beautiful writing team.
He shared how his creative relationship with executive producer and head writer Bradley Bell developed organically, beginning with conversations about storytelling and projects he created with Karla Mosley.
Eventually, those conversations opened the door for Lawrence to contribute scripts to the series.
We discussed the challenges of writing for daytime television, where production moves quickly and writers must balance established character histories with new dramatic possibilities.
The Importance of Black Representation
Another important part of our conversation focused on the evolution of Black representation in television.
I’ve had similar discussions with several guests recently, and I wanted to explore Lawrence’s perspective as someone working both in front of and behind the camera.
We talked about the importance of allowing Black characters to be complicated, flawed, vulnerable, and multidimensional rather than limiting them to familiar stereotypes.
Lawrence also shared his appreciation for what Beyond the Gates has brought to daytime television, particularly its ability to portray a wide range of Black experiences.
For me, seeing these conversations become more prominent throughout the entertainment industry is encouraging. Representation isn’t simply about appearing on screen. It’s about having opportunities to tell stories with depth and complexity.
Two Daytime Emmy Nominations
Of course, we celebrated Lawrence’s two Daytime Emmy nominations, recognizing his contributions as both an actor and a member of the writing team. Lawrence spoke about what those nominations represented after years of dedication to his craft. More than simply receiving recognition, he viewed the opportunities that led to those nominations as evidence of the trust placed in him.
Celebrating the Legacy of Daytime Television
We wrapped up our conversation by reflecting on the history and resilience of daytime television.
From the cancellations of Guiding Light and As the World Turns to the arrival of Beyond the Gates, we’ve witnessed a genre that many people once believed was dying continue to evolve.
And because Lawrence and I are both longtime soap fans, we couldn’t resist discussing some of our favorite classic storylines and the crossover possibilities we always wished had happened! We even imagined what it would have been like to see characters from Guiding Light and As the World Turns cross paths.
Listen to my full conversation with Lawrence Saint-Victor on The Buzz – BuzzWorthy Radio, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts!
