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Thomas Ian Griffith, every brawny six-foot, four-inch bit of him, opens the pair of glass doors, which lead into his ornate, antique filled sitting-room. Immediately, the scene seems a little bizzare. This is certainly not a room, in which one could imagine "Another World's" reckless Catlin Ewing feeling at home- he'd probably worry about breaking some delicate rarity at every turn. And Thomas, too, appears a bit out of place, his well worn oversized grey shirt, beaten-in tan slacks and sneakers scarcely an outfit for a "company-room". Might this be the Manhattan refuge of a maiden aunt? Griffith soon solves the mystery by explaining that he shares the place- which was originally opera singer Enrica Caruso's apartment- with an actress and a choreographer. And for three young people on their way up, an immaculately mannered reception room makes sense.

But not as a place to relax, that's for sure. Revealing his sportsman-like build at every turn, Griffith literally fills the oddly shaped space, just as on "Another World", Catlin Ewing paced the length of his jail cell in a few frantic movements. "He is physical", Thomas agrees of his AW-role. "I think that's good for Catlin, because he is very different, he doesn't wear a suit. At times, it's a problem, because that jail was tiny, half of this room," he emphazises with a wave of a large hand "So what could the poor director think of? That was hard".

left side: Catlin gave riding lessons to Sally's son, Kevin (Trevor Richard), which brought him into open conflict with the boy's father, David Thatcher (click to enlarge).

Since he arrived in Bay City last spring, Catlin, the long lost troublesome half-brother of Larry and Blaine Ewing, has been a character of extremes. Rarely staying in one place for more than a few months, Catlin has busied himself by working in Donna Love's stables- not to mention rolling in the hay with snooty Donna, working hard to spruce up Smiley's Dinner- and while there, being invited into waitress Maisie's bed, and of course, developing a friendship with Sally Frame, which blossomed into love, while giving riding lessons to her son, Kevin Thatcher. Whoever decided that Catlin's wild energy was just what the usually insular AW town needed must have taken the phrase, "ladies love outlaws" to heart. They sure do love this one, and Griffith, only now in his mid-20's, admits with a raucous laugh that he and his soap counterpart do have some thing in common.

"He is a romantic, so I think that side of him I brought out," says Thomas, verging perilously close to a full-fledged blush. "When you don't have anything to go on- there is no beginning or end like a play- you bring yourself to it. And vice versa. Catlin does affect myself a lot. He is similar in some ways. "It must be safe, then, to assume Catlin has some different qualities from the young actor, but that question draws an embarrassed giggle from Thomas, then a total pause. Finally, he offers, "being a bit of a roughneck, his background is different. I come from a very different background. My family was very situated, very strict. It was the thing to go to school in my family. My dead teaches business law, my mom is a dancer, my sisters (one older, one younger) have doctorates." Griffith trails off again, realizing that, in his own way, he is a devil-may-care among his family as Catlin is to his policeman-brother Larry, and his happily married TV-reporter sister, Blaine.

Performance was no stranger to the Griffith household, however. From childhood, Thomas appeared with his family in stepdancing competitions (his mother teaches the traditional Irish dance form, which is similar to tap dancing), often travelling to England and Ireland as well as throughout the US and Canada. He is also accomplished on the piano and accordion, and in fact won contests on the latter instrument (through the idea of lusty young Griffith in a Lawrence Welk-like setting is, to say the least, hard to imagine).

Thomas began to act while still in school and made a remarkably swift transition from High School and College theatrics to a Broadway and regional theater carreer. Those years included a primary role (acting and dancing). In "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", whose cast also featured NBC soap veteran Tina Johnson. While a agreeing that the brakes have come to him, Griffith is a person who is solidly in the "you make your own luck" category. "I work very hard at this because I want so much out of it," the actor declares. "If you know your faults and what you are good at, you can always get work. But it's rare that you get one of those really good jobs you want. I have been fortunate in that way, "he acknowledges, "but it's just all part of having an awareness of where you are in your career and what your next move is."

Despite his diverse skills and well received performing background, Thomas knew absolutely nothing about "Another World" or any other soap, when he auditioned for the part. What he wanted, Griffith remembers, was a job that yould let him spend some time at home in New York. Obviously, the charisma, which worked on the big stage also projected itself through the little screen, because Thomas tried out for three soaps, two on NBC and one on ABC, and was offered two of the parts.

Being on of the newest guys in Soap Town, Griffith is learning a lot on the AW-set. He's rarely had the opportunity to watch himself do scenes, but Thomas' newly-bought video cassette recorder captures Catlin in all his caged fury. When asked to name his most satisfying scenes to date, Griffith swiftly replies:"The court stuff and the jail stuff. It's funny- sometimes I feel great about a scene and I come home and watch it and I'll be let down, and other times I'll say, 'Uggh!' and watch and it looks ok. It's weird, because of how it's shot, and it's new to me. So I'm not really sure what's what." For that reason as well as for their phenomenal talent, Griffith especially treasures the interaction he has with Constance Ford (Ada) and Charles Keating (Carl). "Just watching these older actors and taking bits and peaces from the way they work, that's my job now," says Thomas, with undisguised admiration.

left side: When Catlin first arrived in Bay City, Maisie (Patricia Hodges) opened her heart to the troubled stranger (click to enlarge)

Interestingly, with the onscreen romance between Sally and Catlin one of soap's most appealing young pairings, Griffith reveals that he and actress Mary Page Keller needed time to build up their rapport. "When we started, it was very distant," he points out. "I felt like an outsider. But once we started working together, things really clicked." Thomas enjoys exploring the challenging aspect of Catlin and Sally's turbulent relationship; the scene in jail where Catlin tried to deny his feelings for Sally stands out as one of the actor's favorites. Yet, when asked what he likes about working with Mary, Thomas starts to redden, and his respons is filled with endearing stammers.

"She's pretty!" he blurts, releasing another bellow of laughter. Also, he adds more calmly, "I think that while we have been working together a lot, we were aware that you develop a personal relationship, an openess, which makes it possible to deal with a situation by making it as believable for that amount of time as you can. That's why I like working with her," he sums up. "It's respect." As it happens, Mary is one of several "Another World" cast members, who lives very closed to Griffith's West Side Home, as do Anna Stuart (Donna) and Rick Porter (Larry), leading to a good measure of offstage camaraderie. Thomas and Rick have become particularly good friends, as they both are involved in music, Porter with his band, Prototype, and Griffith, with composing light rock tunes. "It's great that we can share things together besides the soap world," he says.

Other ways in which Thomas spends his time include sports, like boxing and softball, working on theatrical recitations with an actress friend, and sometimes, heading for the gym to take out Catlin's frustrations on a punching bag. Catlin, we know, has quiet a temper, and Thomas sheepishly admits that it's another trait they share. "I beat the stuffing out of it, " he grins. "I think that you need release from the emotional stuff (you do in your part), and that's a release for me. It's therapy in a way. Then you are ready to do it again." Griffith also agrees that his busy work days and many friends are a necessary source of stability right now, since his year long relationship with a model recently came to an end. They are still friends, Thomas says happily.

Watching Catlin Ewing crouch, pace, stalk and fret, it strikes a viewer that "AW's" newest heart-throb might do well to learn some self-control and relaxation. Grinning again, Thomas admits that his path crosses Catlin's in this area, too. "My mother is always telling me that these years are my prime and that I should relax and enjoy them," he muses, not very confident of ever achieving that desired state. Griffith does have a black belt in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do. Does that automatically lead to an inner state of calm strenght? I inquire, having heard of such results. "It's a myth!" Griffith erupts, his boisterous laugh careening around the room. As if to proof his point, Thomas proudly mentions how he brought his training to the soap, when Catlin kicked his guards to briefly escape his jail cell. But that's typical of this young man, who's all boy, who ran away from school, not to join the circus, but to have some good times in a friend's Florida condominium... Huckleberry Finns are still very much with us- just ask Thomas Ian Griffith.

 

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