BEVERLY HILLS —Hollywood stardom is sometimes fleeting, but those with real talent and true determination excel in a business that can be fickle but also very exciting. Joshua Morrow went from young kid actor, to rock star to soap star and now has become an incredible thespian on TV. Morrow always believed in his work, always worked professionally and is grateful to Bill and Lee Phillip Bell for giving him an opportunity of a lifetime. Thankfully the Bells knew when they cast Joshua that he was a strong contender for becoming one of the world’s most exciting and talented stars. He has achieved that goal and is grateful for his job on CBS’s “The Young and the Restless” and even more grateful for his beautiful wife and three children, whom he spoke warmly of this week.

Joshua has been portraying Nicholas Newman for as long as most fans can remember. However, the handsome star has consistently been one of the nicest people on the planet. He never takes his fans or his family for granted. Morrow tells Canyon News, “I never forget that this is a job, I love what I do and I hope our show will be on forever. It offers me a great opportunity for a career in this business that no one takes for granted and it allows me the opportunity at the end of the day to be with Tobe and the boys,” said the star.

Morrow spoke about Nick’s dilemma with not being able to choose between Sharon or Phyllis. “I think Nick is a good guy who just can’t decide which woman he’s most in love with. He is in love with them both. I’m lucky that I found my soul mate and I can’t imagine loving anyone but her. But Nick can’t be so lucky and thank goodness he’s not. Our show has been revived to it’s heyday with Maria [Arena Bell] at the helm. She’s spectacular and talented and very approachable. Everyone is happy with the storylines and I’m happy to be working for her,” said Morrow.

The talented star is quick to defend his TV character Nick Newman when I remind him how Nick is so indecisive and how it has wrecked so many people’s lives, including his own from time to time. Morrow laughed and then replied, “Tommy, you have to let up a little on Nick. Firstly, it’s a storyline that is ripe with potential and I’d rather be playing an imperfect good guy than a boring one. There is a lot of me in Nick, there is not that big of stretch for me on a daily basis,” Joshua tells Canyon News. I beg to differ. Morrow runs the gambit from one emotion to the other in his character’s storylines. The solid man in real life may not find it hard to play Nick but anyone who knows about acting realizes it’s his innate talent and discipline that keeps fans on the edge of their chairs on a daily basis. When told about the great e-mails we often receive when he’s featured in our paper, Morrow laughed and said graciously, “Thanks Tommy! I appreciate every fan of the show’s [Y&R] and I know we got lost for a while in our stories but since Maria Arena Bell has taken over, we’re headed in the right direction now. I appreciate everyone who watches the show,” Joshua said.

Morrow shared his family vacation photos with Canyon News last summer when he and Tobe took the two older boys Cooper and Crew to Casa Dorada in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. “We may go back next year, it’s hard to tell. It all depends on how the planning goes and when you have three kids, you have to be flexible.” Cash plans on following behind his parents next year and Morrow laughs, “Yeah, we have to take all the boys where ever we go, it is never boring and you learn to live by the seat of your pants,” the star added.

When asked if the Morrow family traditions at Christmas-time are as exciting and dramatic as the Newmans, Morrow said, “Probably not. Tobe is a great cook and every year we either enjoy Christmas with her folks or mine. This year we are staying in southern California and enjoying dinner with my mom. There won’t be any crayons in the turkey like my character’s daughter did on ‘Y&R,’ but to be honest Tommy, with three young boys all under the age of 12, during the holidays trying to get them to chill just 10 minutes and the uncontested wrestling one has to endure I would say Christmas at my house can be a lot of fun and tiring. Getting the three boys to sit still at a dinner table for just fifteen minutes or so can be like herding cats,” Joshua exclaimed, while laughing.

“For the kids Christmas is a big deal. And my wife has to do so much of the heavy lifting and planning of everything since I am working every day or often at the studio. Seeing how meaningful this holiday is for the boys reminds my wife [Tobe] and me about the importance of our family and we are excited about giving the boys a good Christmas this year,” said Joshua. “I’m going to share something with you and your Canyon News readers Tommy. But you can’t print this until after Christmas because I’m trying to keep a secret from my wife and boys. Tobe and the boys have been begging for two months or more for a dog. I’ve been playing the Grinch and telling them no way, we don’t have time or the room for a dog. We don’t have time to house train the dog and things like that. Tobe thinks I’m being really being hard-headed and yes, a grinch. But I am surprising my wife and the boys with our first puppy. I’ve gotten a French Brittany Spaniel for the family and I’m looking forward to their faces when they see him for the first time,” Morrow said.

An interview with the handsome and talented mega-star Joshua Morrow is always fun and never boring. However, not every day in the world of media and entertainment can a scoop be kept secret from everyone for over a week without someone leaking it. So I have to tell Joshua, I told no one his secret. He wasn’t the Grinch Who Stole Christmas at all. He’s truly Saint Nick. Congratulations to the Morrow family on their new dog and here’s hoping Joshua will tell me after the holidays what his boys named their new dog. Here’s hoping that his stunningly beautiful wife who could easily be a soap star herself manages to forgive her husband for putting on an Emmy-worthy performance as the Grinch.

Joshua Morrow portrays Nick Newman on CBS’s “The Young and the Restless.” “Y&R” airs weekdays.

Photos Courtesy:  Joshua Morrow by Lesley Bohm, Thanks to the Morrow Family for the family photos.