No, he’s not the guy from Guardians of the Galaxy, he’s Scott Clifton – one of the sexiest men in daytime soaps! I found out what makes him Bold and Beautiful!
For those unfamiliar with The Bold and the Beautiful, can you explain a bit about your character?
Liam is supposed to be a very liberal vegan, yoga, tree-hugging granola-eating guy, while his father is a ‘take no prisoners’ corporate raider, free market capitalist, son of a bitch! In the beginning, our writer Brad Bell, told me my character was shrouded in mystery until it was discovered that I’m the long-lost son of Bill Spencer Jr, played by Don Diamont. Brad said you’re going to butt heads a lot. And then there’s been this long love triangle between Liam, Hope and Steffy for almost fifteen years.
Where is Liam heading?
He’s currently in between stories, and it’s exciting because I have no idea what Brad is cooking up next. For the first time, Liam, who has been so emotionally needy that he cannot be without some woman at any given time, now has no one. He’s lost both women in the love triangle to other men, and he’s been forced to self-reflect on his choices, behaviour and how he treats people – and I love it! For years I’ve been begging for the character to lose. I didn’t want him to triumph and to be the knight in shining armour. I want him to hit rock bottom and learn a lesson, and we’re currently circling that.
Scott Clifton plays Liam in The Bold and the Beautiful
The love triangle sounds very Archie, Betty and Veronica!
(Laughing) Yeah, except with weirder love scenes! I always say that even though there are years of love triangles back and forth on this show, the real love story I’ve enjoyed playing is the one between Bill and his son Liam. Some of my favourite moments have been in developing that relationship. But of course, love triangles are Brad Bell’s bread and butter – wow try saying that ten times fast! Brad Bell’s bread and butter!
In 2017 you came to Australia to film some episodes. What was that experience like?
Yes, when Liam got married in Sydney! That was very cool – actually ‘cool’ is a misnomer! It was very hot! I wasn’t used to the fact that your winter is our summer and vice versa, but my god the people! Everyone was so kind and especially kind about my deranged attempt at doing an Australian accent. I love accents and dialects and doing voices, but my Australian was terrible. It just wasn’t clicking, and everybody told me I was doing great. I know that they were lying, but they were nice (laughing).
Scott Clifton as Liam in The Bold and the Beautiful Photo credit: Howard Wise/jpistudios
Are you familiar with the iconic Australian soap opera Neighbours?
Oh my god yes! That’s where Ashleigh Brewer came from. She plays Ivy Forrester on our show and was once a love interest for Liam. She’s wonderful and one of my favourite people in the universe. But I knew about Neighbours way before I met Ashleigh.
“I think we could use some more gay storylines on the show.”
Including its original star, Kylie Minogue?
Kylie Minogue is huge here in the States. When I was around fifteen, everything was Kylie Minogue. I’m forty now and she’s still getting even hotter.
When it comes to music, do you have a diva?
I enjoy Adele and love her writing. I like her songs that are not the usual huge hits. Oh My God and Can I Get It from the album 30 are brilliant!
Are you aware that The Bold and the Beautiful has a lot of gay fans in Australia?
That’s pretty cool! I think we could use some more gay storylines on the show. We’ve gone in and out of that, but it would be great to have a few more gay characters at least. The storyline doesn’t have to necessarily be about them being gay, but it would be nice to have characters that happened to be gay. There could be more in daytime soap operas.
Scott Clifton as Liam in The Bold and the Beautiful Photo credit: Howard Wise/jpistudios
Have you ever played a gay role?
I’ve played plenty in acting classes over the past thirty years, but that’s not the same as playing a gay character on camera. But I would be so into that. As an actor, one of the hardest things is to put yourself into something opposite of how you’d normally slice it. I’d love to play somebody who’s racist because that would be a challenge, as I don’t feel racist. But I’m also quite heterosexual, so it would be great to play a character that’s not just gay, but in love, including the courtship, intimacy and vulnerability. I’ve never done it but just kill off my character and write in the identical twin. Make him gay. Problem solved!
“It would be great to play a character that’s not just gay, but in love, including the courtship, intimacy and vulnerability.”
Speaking of identical twins. Let’s discuss your identical twin brother Chris Pratt!
Oh yeah, I get that a lot. Outside the studio, there’s a farmer’s market where we go for lunch and the guys at the Argentinian grill stand call me Chris Pratt all the time. They don’t believe that I’m not him. I’ve even taken my phone out and googled an image to show us side-by-side, but hey it’s a compliment.
A compliment to him too.
Thank you! You are too kind!
Scott Clifton plays Liam in The Bold and the Beautiful
Have you been out clubbing with your gay mates?
When I was on General Hospital, I hit it off with one of the writers, Michael. He was a wonderful writer and became my best friend. He lived in West Hollywood which has a big gay community, and we would go out to dinner, and even though I wasn’t really into clubbing and dancing, he was, so I’d go along. I knew all his friends and I enjoyed that time and relationship.
What song gets you onto the dancefloor?
I’m not a dancer, but if you play Can’t Stop by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, I’m there! It has a funky guitar beat. But the one that will always make me want to shake my ass is Superstition by Stevie Wonder!
Scott Clifton as Liam in The Bold and the Beautiful Photo credit: Howard Wise/jpistudios
Who would be your celebrity bromance?
Martin Freeman (Love Actually/Black Panther). He’s a fantastic actor and there’s something so evasive and dangerous about him that I find attractive. He’s not a super chiselled handsome guy, but it’s more his talent and behaviour. If I were gay that’s what I’d go for. But also, my girlfriend has a new orthopaedist and after I met him, I told her, “That dude was the best-looking doctor I’ve ever seen! He was snazzy, well-dressed, smelled good, had nice hair and he was so nice to you. I’m attracted to him!
Who has been your biggest influence in the industry?
When I first started on soap operas it was Anthony Geary and Jane Elliot who played Luke and Laura on General Hospital. But now it would be Don Diamont who not only plays my father but acts like my father. He’s caring like my father and looks out for me. I’ve cultivated a relationship with him that has influenced me not just on camera but in life, especially since I became a father myself.
What has been your biggest on-set wardrobe malfunction?
It’s not disastrous, but a common thing that plagues me, is how production sometimes gets in designer pants or jeans, and the pocket on the inside creates a distraction, so they remove it and sew it up. But I’m a guy who sticks my hands in my pockets all the time. You’ll see me on camera trying to do this and it looks like I’m wiping food on my lap! It kills me when they give me pants without pockets!
When it comes to underwear are you into boxers, briefs or commando?
I don’t wear tighty-whities but rather boxers or boxer briefs. It’s determined by if I’m working, in which case it’s boxer briefs. I don’t want them bunching up and on show underneath the costume. But at night I sleep in boxers and wear them casually around the house in my sweats.
The Bold & The Beautiful: Monday – Thursday 4.30pm on 10 and 10 Play
Follow Scott on Instagram @cliftoncam
Scott Clifton plays Liam in The Bold and the Beautiful
