Jordi Vilasuso Dishes Details About His New Beyond the Gates Character

JORDI VILASUSO JOINS BTG AS GRAYSON PEREZ, A LAB TECH WITH A “GOOD HEART”

TL;DR: Soap vet Jordi Vilasuso makes his Beyond the Gates debut on January 13th as Grayson Perez. The Daytime Emmy winner dishes on his new character, his talented costar Jen Jacob, and why he’s grateful to be part of daytime’s newest soap.

Meet Grayson Perez

Beyond the Gates fans, get ready to meet Grayson Perez.

Daytime Emmy winner Jordi Vilasuso joins the CBS soap on Tuesday, January 13th, stepping into his fifth soap role after memorable stints on Guiding Light, All My Children, Days of Our Lives, and The Young and the Restless. This time around, he’s playing a lab tech with a complicated home life.

“He’s a lab tech, and he’s got a very good heart,” Vilasuso told TV Insider. “He’s been raised by a single parent for some time, and now the roles have changed because he has to take care of his mother. And he goes to great lengths; I’ll just leave it at that.”

Excited to see Jordi on BTG? Write in to the editor at amber@soapoperamagazine.com!

A Perfect Fit With Jen Jacob

Grayson’s storyline places him opposite Jen Jacob’s Ashley Morgan, and Vilasuso couldn’t be happier about the pairing. He knew from the chemistry read that they’d work well together.

“She’s super talented,” he raved. “When I did the chemistry read, I was like, ‘Wow, this would be so great. If I get to work with her, I’m going to be happy.’ And it worked out. She’s just such a pro, works very hard, and I’ll be honest, that hasn’t always been the case with costars, and that just makes the dynamic a lot of fun.”

Jacob has been equally enthusiastic about Vilasuso’s storyline. “She’s reading the scripts and saying, ‘Okay, your storyline is getting so good,'” he shared. “So, she’s excited, and that’s really what we should be.”

Grateful for Daytime’s Newest Soap

Vilasuso isn’t taking this opportunity for granted. With soap operas becoming increasingly rare, he’s acutely aware of how fortunate he is to land another daytime role.

“I’m grateful to work in a time where jobs are few and far between,” he said. “It’s a privilege nowadays to work on a TV show, and I’m so encouraged by there being a fifth soap on the air. When I started 25 years ago, there were 10 soap operas. It shows you the viability. The people want these stories. There’s still an audience for them, and it keeps us actors employed.”

The timing has also been perfect for his family. Beyond the Gates films in Atlanta, and the Vilasusos moved to Nashville last year. The three-and-a-half-hour drive to the studio means he can work and still make it home to see his kids.

A Welcoming Set

Walking onto a new set can be nerve-wracking, but Vilasuso says the BTG cast made him feel right at home. He’s been impressed by the family dynamic and positive energy on set.

“It’s just such a great group,” he said. “Everybody’s here helping something grow and wanting it to do really well. There’s a lot of loveliness in this place. Sometimes you don’t feel that family dynamic, and on this show in particular, I feel like everybody is just so friendly and welcoming.”

He’s also enjoying the perks of filming at a new studio in Georgia, including craft services, nice dressing rooms, and brand new sets. “It’s definitely a vibe,” he added.

Big Things Ahead

Vilasuso is feeling optimistic about where Grayson’s story could go. “I feel like there’s an opportunity here for Grayson to go in a lot of different directions,” he said.

And to the fans who’ve supported him throughout his 25-year career? He sees you. “I have fans that have become like friends,” he said. “I feel so blessed for the fans that I still have that watch me, that are always asking me, ‘When are we going to see you on TV again?’ And I’m so grateful that I have a really great answer for them now and a really great show.”

Are you excited to see Jordi Vilasuso on Beyond the Gates? Drop your thoughts in the comments!