Rebecca Budig JoinsThe Bold and the Beautifulas an Iconic Character: 'I Love Her Strength' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Rebecca Budig’s first episode of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ airs August 6.Photo:VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

“I love therapy — I’ve gone to years of therapy — which is a little different from psychiatry, obviously,” she tells PEOPLE, adding, “I’ve been around enough mental health care professionals … just to get a sense of what they’re like.”

Rebecca Budig as Dr. Taylor Hayes on ‘The Bold and the Beautiful.'.Sonja Flemming/CBS

Sonja Flemming/CBS

“It was very slow, and you did the scene a hundred times, so you’re like, ‘Oh, this isgreat,’” she mused. “I like to know my lines very well so that I just don’t have to think about them very much. It’s just getting that muscle back up and working again. … I don’t even want to watch the first couple shows, let’s put it that way. … I’m my worst critic.”

Rebecca Budig, Thorsten Kaye and Katherine Kelly Lang on ‘The Bold and the Beautiful.'.Sonja Flemming/CBS

Budig has spent much of her time shooting her initial scenes withKatherine Kelly Lang, who plays her character’s longtime rival Brooke, andThorsten Kaye, who portrays Taylor’s off-again, on-again romantic interest Ridge.

Filming with both actors was an easygoing experience, partly because Budig and Kaye had previously worked together onAll My Children.

“I’ve always loved Thorsten,” she explains. “He’s always been very kind to me … I’ve been to his house for Thanksgiving once, so I love Thorsten and his family. … He does something different every time. He doesn’t say the same thing every time, so he keeps you on your toes — and that’s all you can ask for, really.”

Budig is excited to see how loyal, longtime viewersofThe Bold and the Beautifulrespond to her portrayal of Taylor.

“I just hope they’re open to that idea and interpretation of it and that they just believe the relationships between Taylor and Ridge and Taylor and Brooke,” she says, adding, “I always thought thatAll My Childrenmight’ve been the best job I ever had in terms of the people all really getting along, but I truly get the vibe here that it’s that one in a million group of people that is just collaborative, kind, supportive and just very welcoming. So I’m excited.Reallyexcited.”

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The Bold and the Beautifulairs weekdays at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS and is available for streaming on Paramount+.

source: people.com