Y&R’s Hayley Erin and Michael Mealor Reveal What it’s Really Like Working Together (Exclusive)

Kyle has been on a mission to prove his love for Claire on Young and Restless, even going so far as to sign a contract with her disapproving grandfather, Victor, agreeing that he would pay millions and leave town if he breaks her heart. A romance between an Abbott and a Newman was never going to be a smooth ride, but for portrayers Michael Mealor and Hayley Erin, it’s been smooth sailing off-camera since they were first paired as love interests. In fact, when Soap Opera Digest chatted with the actors about their storyline, they agreed that their alter egos have what it takes to go the distance — with Mealor indicating he was looking forward to the pair tying the knot!

Soap Opera Digest: Wedding bells in the future? That’s optimistic!

Michael Mealor: Let’s be honest, I want it to happen because I don’t want to stop working with Hayley. She’s fun to work with.

Hayley Erin: Likewise. I feel very fortunate that from very early on in my time on the show, I’ve had Michael as a scene partner. He’s just so professional, always prepared and it’s so much fun. So I feel very fortunate.

Mealor: Yeah, I was not prepared yesterday. I got a story for you — I showed up to work, and about 30 minutes before it was time for me to shoot my scenes, I found out that I had memorized the wrong episode and had not even read the episode that I was shooting!

Erin: Oh my God. I’ve had that nightmare.

Mealor: It’s what nightmares are made of, yeah.

Erin: I’m so sorry that happened to you.

Digest: What were your first thoughts when you learned that your characters were going to be paired romantically on Y&R?

Erin: Michael told me. Michael had found out and he told me not long after I had started, and I was so grateful. I had been working really closely with Melody [Thomas Scott, Nikki], and I started working with more of the Newmans, but Claire hadn’t really spread her wings and met many people in Genoa City. So the fact that I had someone that felt really safe and was so kind and welcomed me onto the show, I was just so glad.

Mealor: I say this all the time — Hayley probably gets sick of me saying this — but the first night I ever met Hayley was the night she won her Emmy [for Outstanding Younger Actress in 2019 for playing Kiki Jerome on General Hospital]. So I was just excited because I knew how amazing she was as an actor. I was excited to get to work with her. One of my favorite things about working on the soap is that there’s always new people coming in, and I love getting to work with people who are joining the show because it’s just a new energy. So I was over the moon when I found out that we were going to be paired together because it’s a whole new element. It’s a whole new side to Kyle, selfishly, that I get to explore as an actor. And obviously, Hayley’s just the best.

Erin: Aw, I never get sick of talking about winning an Emmy [laughs]. Are you kidding?

Digest: What were your early impressions of each other when you began working so closely together in the storyline?

Mealor: My first impression was I think we have the same sense of humor.

Erin: Yeah, that’s a great answer.

Mealor: We have a very similar sense of humor, so with just a look, or an eyebrow raise, we know what the other is kinda thinking and how crazy everything is. It’s always fun.

Erin: Yeah, that’s so true. [To Mealor] I also was very impressed with your professionalism off the bat, because even though you messed up this week [chuckles], I’ve never seen that happen before. Michael is always prepared and he’s so professional on set, and I’ve learned so much from him. There’s a way about Michael where he’s very aware of everyone doing their job. So if he can help the camera out by turning his head a different way or if he can hit a different mark and maybe not have to relight something, he’s just always very conscientious of what everyone is doing. It’s so impressive, and it comes from such a place of kindness. So that always struck me, too.

Mealor: That’s sweet. Thank you.

Erin: I cannot tell a lie.

Digest: What was the most surprising thing that you each learned about the other?

Mealor: Oh, this is interesting.

Erin: Oh, I have one! Michael actually likes shoes more than I do, which I didn’t know if that was possible. But he is the most stylish person. He always looks awesome when he walks into work, and then I feel like a gremlin rolling out of bed [laughs]. He always looks like he walked out of a magazine.

Mealor: No, no, no. That’s funny. What surprised me, I think, was that you went through yoga teacher training. Excited about that. I spent years doing yoga and, I don’t know, I always feel like with yoga, there’s like a kindred spirit kind of thing that happens with other people who do yoga. It’s like, “Oh yeah, you’re part of the club” kind of thing. And I was excited to find that out.