That Chandler Massey would win the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series seems likes a no-brainer to those of us who have closely followed his work this past year.
He of course plays the newly out Will Horton on NBC’s Days Of Our Lives, and the talented Massey walked off with his first Emmy in hand last night… the first time an actor has won a Daytime Emmy for playing a gay character.
Talking to AfterElton from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills shortly after the win, Massey told us that he had been free of nerves until his category actually came up. “I wasn’t nervous at all this morning or anything,” he said, “but when they started announcing the names in the category I got really nervous.”
In fact, the 21-year-old actor was so nervous that it kept him from actually hearing his own name announced. “I didn’t hear the name that they called, but all I heard was my Dad go ‘Yeah!’ because my Dad was sitting right next to me, so that’s how I knew. Then I went up and flubbed the speech!” Massey added, “It was crazy! I definitely did not think it was going to happen this year. Not at all.”
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Massey was seated with his co-stars at the table, one of whom was a huge part of Will’s coming out story this past year. “Deidre [Hall, who plays Will’s Grandmother, Marlena] was at my table, right there, and gave me a hug.”
Ever the modest winner, Massey wasn’t about to take all the credit for winning over his fellow nominees – Eddie Alderson (One Life To Live), Chad Duell and Nathan Parsons (both from General Hospital). “I think a lot of the credit has to go to the producers and the writers who greenlit the storyline. But It feels great. It’s always great to know that the work you put into something is acknowledged. That’s part of the reason you do it, so you move people.”
Massey’s win wasn’t the only one for the show, however. “Everyone was happy that the show won for writing, too,” he exclaimed. “We won the Outstanding Writing Emmy!”
And where might Massey keep his first Emmy?
“I’m going to put it right on my pillow next to mine where I sleep so I can wake up in the morning and see it,” he said. Reminded that the pointy wings on the statue might not be something he’ll want to roll over on while sleeping, the actor replied, “Maybe I’ll drill a hole in it and wear it around on my neck like a chain.”
Days Of Our Lives airs weekdays on NBC and watch for AfterElton’s live-blogging of Will Horton’s journey.
