Julia Pace Mitchell – The Young and the Restless

By starrymag | May 6, 2019

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects you have been working on?

A) Actually, this was the shot in the arm for me to start my career over. I was on a self-imposed hiatus to raise my son for the last five years and like a lot of working moms sometimes you put yourself on the backburner. So, I hadn’t been pursuing acting so when I got the phone call it was kind of like a reminder of what I went to school for and what I dream about doing. Now, I just got a new agent, I’m back in Los Angeles and I’m starting anew! We’ll see what is going to happen next.

Q) So many people loved your work on “The Young and The Restless.” What meant to you have people still so connected to character?

A) It’s funny and fun. Sometimes I forget. [laughs] Sometimes people will be like, “Aren’t you my cousin,” or “I know you from somewhere.” Then, I’m like, “Oh yeah, this is what it is.” So, sometimes I forget, but I know for a lot of people in 2012 there weren’t that many full-figured, dark skinned African American women on soaps. So, some people finally got a reflection of themselves and I know that can be empowering. So, I was glad to kind of hold that spot down.

Q) What did it feel like to be a part of tribute? It must have been surreal.

A) It was. I actually cried because I had been in denial about Kristoff’s [St. John] passing because I had talked to him online and texted him every once in a while. So, to actually get the phone call that they wanted me to come back solidified the reality of it. I was excited, but at the same time sad it was under those circumstances. It was beautiful and they did such a good job honoring him that can’t nobody say nothing. [laughs] They were really were like, “We hear the people. Let’s honor him the way we need to honor him.” By bringing back so many people CBS really got this one right.

Q) And there was such a sweet tribute with the character Malcolm.

A) That was also a little bit of a shock for me because I had worked with Darius McCrary as my Malcolm. So, I had never met Shemar Moore before. When I saw that, I was like, “Wait a minute. Shemar Moore is coming back?! I get to see Shemar Moore!” I was pretty excited. My sister was like, “Oh my God! You get to hug Shemar Moore!” [laughs] Who doesn’t want to do that?

Q) This emotion also feels so bittersweet as well.

A) It was an odd light feeling. Especially Christel [Khalil] and Bryton [James], it was very hard to watch them because it was like a fine line between acting and reality that was blurred. That was basically their father figure so it was very honest to be able to watch, listen and cry your eyes out. It wasn’t acting so much as reality.

Q) What was it like for you to reunite with your former “Y&R” costars?

A) It was a bit of a reunion. It felt just like family – like a real funeral. When you lose touch with people and then you see them again it’s kind of a sad situation, but it’s also a bit celebratory because you’re all there because you loved a different person. I caught up with so many people and we all kind of mourned together.

Q) In preparation for your scenes did you look back on special moments you shared with Kristoff?

A) I did. Even before they called me, when I heard Kristoff had passed, I went back to an old iPhone I had and watched lots of video, pictures and things that we shared. I revisited the first couple of days. One of my first days was with Jeanne Cooper and Kristoff. When I looked at that I was like, “Wow! Both of these legends are gone.” It just really reminded me how lucky I was, or am, to have been able to work with both of them.

Q) At the end of filming were there maybe some words shared by cast or crew about Kristoff?

A) Well, actually, it was one of the most grueling days of work. Shemar Moore’s schedule was super busy so we had to film like three episodes in one very, very long day. From like 6am to 12am. So, everybody was extremely drained, tired and exhausted by the end of the day. But nobody was complaining. There was definitely a lot of, “We’re doing this for him.” He would have been like joking around. His spirit would have made a joke about it or if he was there he would have found some kind of joy in it. He always did.

Q) Wheat were some of your fondest memories from being able to work opposite him?

A) I do. There was one day it was myself, Kristoff and Debbi Morgan (when she came on the show). My hair was all jacked up. [laughs] I had changed my hair color and the producer didn’t like. Some kind of conflict happened and we brought it to the stage. I remember him just giving me a look like, “Use it. Use whatever you’re mad about,” and the scene played out awesome. I had to like hold my own with Debbie and him. He was just really supportive and I felt like at that place I was right there with him because of his help and support. I will never forget that day.

Q) What have you taken away from being Sofia Dupre Winters?

A) She had some really fancy shoes, that’s for sure. [laughs] That was pretty fun. You get to be dressed. She was always overdressed with big jewelry. It was a great job to come and get your hair and makeup done every day. You just sit there. [laughs] But I also feel like it kind of solidified to me that dreams can come true if you follow through with them. I never thought after I graduated from school that I’d be on a soap because of what I look like. Being able to embody her was kind of…I know what I’m doing. So, no matter what happens next, I know what I’m doing. [laughs] I hope that makes sense. I have worked with some greats and my talent will always push through. Now, as I decide to go back into the industry, I’ll always have that.

Q) What did you think when you watched the tribute?

A) I watched the week and then the special tribute. I have watched everyone on “The Talk” as well and I think they did a really great job at CBS and on “The Talk.”

Q) Watching that, what really stood out or evoked for you?

A) I think the honesty about that none of us wouldn’t have been there without Kristoff, Bill Bell and Victoria [Rowell]. That was the foundation for a great African American family on daytime television. And we wouldn’t have had a job. [laughs] I think just the honesty. It also made me think about how we need to take care of ourselves, especially today after John Singleton. We need to make sure that we’re telling our husbands, brothers and everybody to get help if they need it for whatever they are going through whether it is depression, high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes we need to take our health more seriously.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure we share with your fans?

A) I’m new to social media in some ways. I know that Instagram and Twitter and all that stuff…I wasn’t active for so long so I’m just getting into it. So, I’d tell the fans to follow me and I’m down to talk to anybody who wants to chat back and forth. It’s a new world for me that I’m getting into.