Victoria on Rachel in 1990
Over the years, outspoken Rachel has gotten Wyndham into quite a bit of trouble by telling the writers where to go. *If she doesn't think something is right, she doesn't do it. I don't have much to do with it. They often think I do but YOU try fighting with her. I've given up. She wears me down. It's easier to say, 'yeah, okay, we'll do it your way'*. But Wyndham is the one who must cope with the repercussions: *you watch yourself being considered difficult at work. You watch people get upset with you and you want to say, *don't you understand what's happening? This is Rachel who's asking for this and if I don't get this out, she's going to make me difficult and then we're both going to have problems.*
So, show does Wyndham keep her character in check? *You get her out of the room if she's getting uncontrollable. You do whatever you can.... She'll carry on a dialog and get me in trouble before I can stop her just because she's up and full of beans, but I haven't quite caught up yet. Then you pull back and make reparation afterward with whoever's nose is out of joint because she mouthed off. Or, you stop in the middle of a harangue and say 'This is Rachel. Sorry folks, let's get back to the point.' But then you get people looking cross-eyed at you because they think you've been doing the part for too long.*
Over the years, Wyndham has been characteristically vocal about her unhappiness with the direction of Another World's storylines. One of her biggest sore spots is the lack of communication between actors and writers. *There's a real wall between players and writers. I'm not exactly sure who puts that wall up, I wish it wasn't there. I think it's harmful to the show... It can be extremely interesting to have an open dialog. The best writers watch what you do, and that gives them ideas. The no-so-good ones usually don't last. Look at the turnover of writers on our show. There it is. I don't have to point fingers.
Wyndham is quick to mention, however, that her past criticism of AW storylines has never been directed at the writing team. *What I've usually said is I'm unhappy with the way the stories are going, and that seldom has to do with the writers. There are many chefs in this kitchen, and the writer is so often out-voted. I think that's a crime.* Although many industry insiders and AW fans think it was a mistake to send Ken Jordan packing, Wyndham views the development differently. *I think it was a defeat, not a mistake. I think it was a towel thrown up in the air in despair at a storyline that got too much interference. I'm not sure who threw in the towel. I've been told a number of different scenarios. , and what was clear to me was there was a great frustration element in telling the story.... a number of permutations.... a great deal of unhappiness about the way the story was going. I think everyone just gave up on it. And if you can get that in the magazine just the way I said it, it will be wonderful because it will keep me from getting a lot of flack.* .........
*It was a miracle to get somebody as wonderful as Lewis to work with. He had been on the show before so he knew Doug and he knew how close we were. He understood what I had gone through. He scoped that I was a mere shell of myself. If it would have been any other person coming at me from any other way, it would have been extraordinarily difficult if not impossible. *Mac and Rachel were real to us. That was an incredible situation. I don't think we've ever see that kind of situation in real life - that kind of on-going love affair. Consequently, when you don't see it in real life the fantasy becomes very compelling.*
As if Watson's death hadn't caused enough turmoil for Wyndham, she was forced to relive the tragedy on screen, *I'd do those scenes and go cry. Then I'd come back, do the scene again and they'd say 'Be more cheerful, Vicky.' Oh God, it was awful. Now that Jordan is out of the picture the actress prefers to see Rachel remain a free agent. *I was really lucky to get two such great acting partners. Now let's just leave well enough alone. Wyndham's face lights up, however, at the mention of pairing her with a younger man. *Oh, Rachel's delighted with that. She's going 'Oh, yes.' But I don't think that's genuine, Is it honey?*. Wyndham is posing this question to her alter ego and patiently waits for a response. *no, she's just amused... but she keeps saying, Who....* and that last remark is delivered with a hearty laugh. *I guess she wants a chance to pick. 'you don't GET to pick'* she informs the invisible character. *But Rachel says, 'We'll see about that.' ..... *Oh now Rachel's going crazy. She's going through the cast list. She doesn't want me to say this but if it was a younger man, it would have to be a younger man with a great deal of maturity because she's gone through a lot....... Yes I get bored with it, yes I have days when nothing seems to go right and I feel unappreciated or unrecognized. .... but I chose to do what I've done and I don't regret it.*
Article from Carolyn Williams