Kate Linder on stepping into the horror genre in 'Dead Love' and giving back to where 'The Young and The Restless' has brought her today

Kate Linder, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 10, 2008, is best known for her portrayal of Esther Valentine on the hit CBS daytime drama series 'The Young and The Restless.' She has been playing Valentine for the past 36 years, since 1982. This also makes her one among the longest-running characters till date. She is not someone who has taken time off work and is a familiar face that one can’t get enough of despite all these years.
Apart from her role on one of the longest soap opera series, Linder is a flight attendant for the United Airlines and she's also one of two Daytime Governors at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, who present the Emmys.
She is a woman with a big heart and she’s actively involved with the ALS Association, with TV Cares, ATAS' AIDS Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and even the March of Dimes. She has also acted in 'Mothers Day' with Julia Roberts, 'Miss Meadows' with Katie Holmes and Charlie Matthau's 'The Book of Leah'. Her most recent work includes a mysterious horror movie called 'Dead Love'. She stars alongside Nicole Elizabeth Olson, Grayson Low, Bob Buckley, Elias Harger, and Deborah Curtis in the classy, haunting movie that is all set to be released on DVD.

In an interview with Meaww, she talks about her character in the movie, her experiences, and how she manages her hectic life.
Can you please shed light about your role in the movie, and what was the experience of stepping foot into a horror movie like?
I hold a mortuary in the film, I cannot tell you too much because it sort of gives it away. I have a sister and a husband. There is a young man who comes after his mother passes away. He comes to the mortuary to find out what the next step is to his mother's funeral. It is a horror film genre which I have not done a lot of, but I did do another one which is called 'The Charnel House'. That is also a wonderful film that was written by Emanuel Isler, Chad Israel. It was interesting to play a role in a horror film, especially after playing the role of Esther in the 'Young and The Restless' for around 36 years. Which is totally different from this kind of role so yeah it was interesting for me to do.
It was a great experience shooting for the film because of the location. We were in Colorado. I have been to Colorado but not that particular location where the movie was shot. We filmed a lot in the Hamill House Museum. I enjoyed the shooting of my scenes. The horror part of it, I didn't witness that much of it in my role, but when filming, I did get to see that. As far as the challenges, I didn't face many because I enjoyed every minute of it. The people I worked with, everybody was so talented, so it was fascinating for me and enjoyable.
You have worked with Julia Roberts and Katie Holmes, can you tell us more about how the on set experience with them was?
Well, Katie Holmes is someone I did shoot with, we were in a scene together in 'Miss Meadows'. I love that film and enjoyed it very much and she was great as well. But sadly, Julia Roberts and I were not in the same scene. I did see her on set but I didn't get to work with her as close as I got to work with Holmes. I did want to work with Roberts but sadly our scene wasn't shot at the same time.

It has been a decade since you received a Hollywood Walk of Fame, so how does it feel?
When I got to know that I received a star I was blown away, I would go there often to visit it because it is such an incredible honor to have it. First I would like to thank 'The Young and The Restless' because if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have gotten this star. I wouldn't be where I am today. They have even allowed me to give back with all the charity events and the Vancouver tea. I just feel so fortunate to give back as I am doing what I love.
Every morning I do not have to press the snooze alarm because I love going to work and love what I do. How amazing and incredible is it that I get to do this. It is an honor to be able to give back. I remember always looking at those stars and before I could get one, I remember once we were at a theatre and coming out and looking at the stars, I would talk about how I can't even imagine what it would be like if I ever get one. And now that I have one, I am very grateful and honored for that.

Can you shed some light as to what you plan to conquer next?
I love working, I love doing what I do. I even have another film that I am working on and hopefully will be out soon. I would like to continue doing more of that. I know this sounds kind of crazy but I love 'Dancing With The Stars' and would love to be part of that. That would be amazing.
You have been a flight attendant for many years, a renowned daytime actress, a governor, and Emmy's presenter, how do you manage your schedule?
It gets very hectic. It is hectic now more than ever, and so I just take a deep breath and take it one day at a time. I try to do things in the best way I can, and sometimes you just have to prioritize things and make sure which comes first. Maybe there is something more important which has to be done first.
I don't get frustrated because I know I am only one person and I know that I need to do it myself. Unfortunately, I lost my husband and he was an amazing help to me and very supportive. He would come with me on my tours, he would come along with me to most of my events but now, unfortunately, I am doing it alone. I still think of him and what he would want me to do. So that keeps me working as hard as I can.

Can you give some advice to aspiring actors, and what they should do to make it in the long run.
The word business in show business is there for a reason and you need to treat it like that. You go forward and do the best you can, you should not believe your own press, for me it is not the way to approach it. You should never take anything for granted. A lot of people read their own press articles and think they are terrific. But that is not what this is about. It is about working hard and giving back and being the best you can be. That is what I always say and follow throughout my life every day.