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 Ian Buchanan: "I Don't Make Friends Easily... But
this Woman Won Me Over!"
by Alice Koenigsberg, Daytime TV
Jan 1987
"No doubt about it, Ian Buchanan could
have any woman he wants. When he smiles, he's a little bit like Robert Wagner; when he
glowers, Montgomery Clift comes to mind. By his own admission, he left one broken heart in
New York and a few more in his native Glasgow, Scotland- but right now his life as a
Hollywood playboy is temporarily on hold. With his dawn-to-dark work schedule on GH, poor
Ian doesn't have time to plan intimate, romantic interludes. 'I just come home and cuddle
up with my script at night,' he laughs.
How would you describe him?
Ian: 'Half good, half bad. Good heart and
soul, but corrupted by society. He wouldn't be one of my friends. He's too unpredictable.
I'm sometimes appalled at what he's capable of. I have a conscience and get really upset.
Other times I'll wonder why I can't run my life the way Duke does. Why can't I get on the
phone and tell people to go to hell. Falling in love has changed him. It changes
everybody. He used to manipulate Anna Devane, but he fell in love with her strength and
her resistance. She's the first woman who ever resisted him. She can play the game as well
as he.'
How did you get from Glasgow to Hollywood?
Ian: 'I left home at 19 and went to Spain
where I began modeling. After a year I moved to London for more modeling. Then I went to
New York, where I signed with Elite modeling agency. I took some acting classes there and
did a play at the Actor's Studio a year ago. From there I got an agent and manager and did
an episode of the Equalizer.'
What made you leave modeling?
Ian: 'I've always been intrigued by acting.
For a while I liked modeling. When I started, most of the men were in their late thirties.
I was probably one of the first young models. But modeling got to be exhausting, and
something was missing. I realized I wasn't using my voice.'
Do you miss the glamor of modeling?
Ian: 'It was good spending the summers in
Europe, the winters in Japan, and the falls in New York. For the longest time I didn't
have a settled home. Now I can see myself buying a place in Los Angeles. When I was
traveling so much I wish I hadn't done it with my eyes closed. You do that when you're
young, I suppose. I'd be in Paris saying, "I wish it was tomorrow, because I'll be in
Italy." I'd never do that now. It was foolish, but at least my impressions are there
forever.'
When you were growing up in Scotland did you
ever think about becoming an actor?
Ian: 'I thought I'd be a veterinarian. Then
one of my mother's best friends moved to America when I was about six. She sent me and my
brother baseball jackets and one Christmas she sent us $5 bills. He went to the bank to
exchange his, but I saved mine to spend in this country. I knew then I'd always wind up
here. Actually, my childhood was very difficult. My family split up when I was very young,
but since I was 18, I've done absolutely everything I've wanted.'
Who's been especially helpful to you at GH?
Ian: 'Finola Hughes (Anna). She's my newest
friend. I don't make friends easily, but Finola is so supportive and wonderful. I've
fumbled all over the place, but she's allowed me to be daring from the very beginning.
She's made it an absolute joy by being so trusting. Our senses of humor are very similar.
Our simpatico isn't just because we come from the same part of the world. (Finola is
English.) If Finola came from the moon, it would be the same.'
Do you enjoy the bedroom scenes?
Ian: 'With Finola, yes. I love to be with
her. Everyday is so much fun, it doesn't feel like acting.'
How has Gloria Monty (GH executive producer)
guided you in creating Duke Lavery, such an intriguing man of myster?
Ian: 'Gloria has been incredibly considerate.
If she'd told me everything at once, I'd have had a nervoud breakdown and run all the way
back to New York. Instead, everyday there's one little thing about Duke's histor, which
makes perfect sense. She's so intuitive. She allows me to find things on my own. I love
working with her and everybody there. It's been amazing. I thought I'd get to Hollywood
and get my fingers burned. But I've never been burned anywhere, so I guess I'm just
lucky.'
Do you have time for romance?
Ian: 'There was someone in New York, but it
was time to leave. She's a model and we were together for a long time. Now she's becoming
a musician. She's very talented, and doesn't want to be here in L.A. When I came here I
knew it was the end.'
Are you dating anyone now?
Ian: 'No, but I'm having a great time. The
only people I really see are my castmates. I eat lunch with them and often dinner. I try
to make plans (with the opposite sex) but I have to cancel, because it's nine at night and
I'm still at work.'
What kind of women attract you?
Ian: 'Intelligent women. I love to learn from
people. I don't resent it if a woman knows more than I. It's exciting. I adore a good
sense of humor. I love to laugh. I'm either laughing or crying, no in-between. But I do
see humor in everything.'
Tell us more aobut yourself.
Ian: 'I have a fiendish temper... (laughs)...
Scottish people have a black cloud that descends over them. When it does, it's fierce. But
I never impose my moods on anyone. I'll sit home alone. I rarely loose sleep over
something, but when I do, it's about something silly like not being able to do my laundry.
That can keep me awake all night. That's very Scottish.'"
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