'Guiding Light' Prince Offers Wedding Invite

Actor Bradley Cole Talks About His Royal Role

NEW YORK -- Bradley Cole is at his home in New York on a short break from taping "The Guiding Light." But it's not a real vacation for the actor, who is currently starring in the theater production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in nearby Princeton, N.J.

A native Californian, Cole spent much of his adult life in Europe. He said that the experience has helped him with his current role as prince of a fictional European country on the popular daytime drama.

"I've spent a lot of time in Europe, principally in Paris and London. And, as a matter of fact, that's where I've spent most of my career. It helped me immensely with doing the accent," he told Internet Broadcasting Systems about his character Prince Richard's hard-to-pin-down accent and royal delivery.

"You know, when I originally started (the role), I had (the accent) really as this sort of upper-class snobbish sort of thing going. And I got together with (co-star) David (MacDonald), and we were trying to synchronize our accents, being that were playing brothers, and it sort of toned it down a little bit. It comes pretty easily actually for me; it's not too much of a stretch," Cole said.

THE INVITATION

His Royal Highness, Prince Richard of San Cristobel And Ms. Cassandra Layne Cordially invite you to the daytime wedding of the season. In honor of the big day, you have a chance to win an autographed "Guiding Light" script! We're giving away five autographed "The Guiding Light" scripts -- one each day of the week. Simply watch the show and answer the simple question of the day. To enter the contest, click here. Quiz: "Guiding Light" history Interview: The Bride, Actress Laura Wright

Even on the phone, it is hard to hear Cole's Southern California origins. In fact, a bit of the New Yorker slips in as we chat about the big wedding day with onscreen love interest Laura Wright.

"Richard is extremely excited, he is head over heels in love, and he feels that he's found the person he's meant to be with and share his life with," Cole said. "There's also the other side of the coin, that the ruler is to provide the heir. So he's excited what it means for the country. He feels like it's a very positive thing for the country."

Is Prince Richard getting cold feet?

"He's a bit nervous, as all grooms are," Cole admitted.

The "Guiding Light" wedding has Prince Richard marrying a former stripper. While farfetched, Cole says such a storyline is nothing new for a daytime drama.

"I remember in the '80s when Prince Andrew was dating Koo Stark. There's all kinds of history like this, and I think the writers have mixed it all together," Cole said, laughing.

Cole said he gets along with his onscreen bride just as well offscreen.

"She's just wonderful. It's just very natural with her," he said of their acting partnership.

Without giving away any secrets, Cole said the wedding, which starts airing Monday, is going to be amazing, with an added bonus for fans.

"You're going to see the wedding, and there's the honeymoon. And lots of good steamy honeymoon stuff," Cole said.

The response to his character and the wedding has been incredible, and Cole said that at times it is a bit overwhelming.

"I am amazed at how this struck a chord," he said. "I think that people enjoy a nice fairy tale, a nice fantasy once in a while."

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