Phillip was last seen late last year leaving for Australia. That exit came just six months after Thom Bierdz made a dramatic return to the show after a 20 year absence. Not only was Phillip not dead – as had been presumed – but he was also gay. The actor himself, also closeted during his previous run on the show, had since come out very publicly in an outstanding memoir Forgiving Troy.
So what is in store for Phillip this time around?
Thom tells GayLifeMagazine: “We get to see more areas of Phillip that we haven’t seen before. We see more humor in him, more emotion as well and more vulnerability this time. When I went back last year after being away 20 years and I was a gay character and a gay man, I didn’t want to make Phillip vulnerable like he was 20 years ago, because we wanted the audience to realize gay men could be strong. Some of the fans thought I was a bit cold so I added more vulnerability this time. It just totally makes sense. Phillip is still a strong gay man, but he’s wounded and there are times he has to show that. There is some various serious stuff that comes up in the next month.”
As the openly gay actor in daytime these days (Scott Evans’ character of Fish was written off of One Life to Live), Thom was asked what he personally brings to the character of Phillip: “I try to bring in my whole self. I really don’t consider myself much of an actor/pretender. I’m more of an activist and I’m more of an artist, so I’m really trying to bring everything I am into the character. Sure, once in awhile there are words I wouldn’t say, but I gotta do it. I’m getting paid to say it. The other day there was this scene where I had something to say in a group and I’m really an introvert. I wanted to make Phillip awkward in that group speaking moment as well because I think it very much fit his character that he felt like an outsider. That’s just another thing I try to bring. I look at myself and think I have no qualms about exposing myself.
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