Who is the new black girl on the young and restless?

Watch is all about television's hottest shows. Tell us about your character Elena Dawson on The Young and the Restless.

The great thing about soap characters is that because they're continuous and because we shoot daily, they're more reflective of who we actually are. So Elena's super reflective of who I am, right now. She's a fierce woman and she's passionate. She's caring, she's strong, and she's in love. She's incredibly protective of everyone in her life.

She also is a doctor. She started a new health clinic. I can't even imagine what poor Elena's going through during all of this. She'd be in the trenches during this pandemic. I wonder if they'll write it in ...

Y&R has always been in forefront of tackling social issues. How would you feel if your character Elena Dawson examined Black Lives Matters and racial injustice?

Bryton James as Devon Hamilton and Brytni Sarpy as Elena Dawson in The Young and the Restless.

Photo Credit: Howard Wise/JPI Studios.

I would be honored beyond measure to tackle a story as poignant and important as dissecting and understanding the Black Lives Matters movement, and reflecting on and working to resolve the racial injustices my Brothers and Sisters have suffered through in our country. A storyline like this could help reach viewers who do not relate or understand the plight of the Black Man and Black Woman in America.

Tackling this issue on a show as loved as Y&R would allow those viewers a chance to open themselves up enough to gain perspective and empathy from a show and a character they have learned to trust and love. It can also help heal a lot of pain from those who have suffered and are suffering, to see situations they are overcoming, being both discussed and highlighted. This is what art is meant to do, give us a chance to process our emotions, heal us, it is our therapy.

Fans immediately fell for Elena and started shipping her with Devon. Why do you think your character and this couple resonate with fans?

Brytni Sarpy and Bryton James at a Y&R press event.

Photo Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI Studios.

It was really nice to be embraced and to play a character that's so aspirational. People resonate with things they can relate to, and they can see themselves in Elena. She wears her heart on her sleeve and she's a kind person.

Elena met Devon when he was going through so much tragedy. Everyone was rooting for him to finally have something positive. Elena's character represented that. Still, I didn't think people would fall that hard for them, because I saw what a strong fanship there was for Devon and [his late wife] Hilary.

In a way, Elena could have been just another distraction before Devon ended up with [Hilary's doppelganger] Amanda. But there's an honesty and a true connection there. There was so much drama surrounding Devon and Hilary, which was great. But it was a lot! With Elena, it feels like a seamless love story.

What was the first day on the Y&R set like?

It was cool. It was familiar, in that I knew a good handful of people there, already. When I got there, I saw Camryn Grimes—who I've done some charity work with over the past two years. I saw Jason Thompson, who I worked with on General Hospital. And Melissa Ordway, who I did the project with like 9 years ago!

After my first day on set, the entire cast and crew clapped for me. I thought that was the sweetest, nicest thing ever. I thought that would be indicative of my time there, and it has been.

Tell us about your TV family and co-stars Bryton James, Mishael Morgan, and Sean Dominic.

Bryton James, Brytni Sarpy, Jess Walton, Beth Maitland, Melissa Ordway, and Sasha Calle on the set of Y&R.

Photo Credit: Howard Wise/JPI Studios.

Obviously, Bryton and I never got along. No! We hit it off, literally from day one. I showed up for my screen test and didn't know where to park. That was just the beginning of me getting lost at CBS! And he happened to be the person that I asked for help. I didn't know he was the one I was going to screen test with until we went upstairs. We laughed and just had great chemistry and became fast friends.

And I started working with Mishael Morgan before she came back as Amanda, because we still had her coming in for Hilary's ghost scenes. She is just such a force and such a beautiful person with a beautiful smile. I like her a lot. Sean Dominic came a little after me—so it was kind of nice to not be the newest kid on the block! And he's amazing. They all are.

Who fell first: Elena for Devon or you for Bryton?

Bryton James as Devon Hamilton and Brytni Sarpy as Elena Dawson in The Young and the Restless.

Photo Credit: Howard Wise/JPI Studios.

It was around the same time. Their "I love you" scene is really poignant because it was right around the time we also said "I love you." So it was so very very real and so vulnerable. Bryton's awesome.

Who is your inspiration?

The human connection is my inspiration. My inspiration is the scientific study of who we are as humans and why we do the things we do. I love being able to step into roles where I can say something that doesn't make sense to everyone.

Smiling Brytni Sarpy

Photo Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS.

If I get to play someone who killed someone, there's something cool about getting into the mindset of that person and looking 5 steps back: How did they get to the point where they wanted to do something so tragic? What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to experience these ranges of emotion that bring you to these places? I just love exploring and understanding what it means to be human.

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