Daphnée Duplaix Reveals Why Her Young and the Restless Crossover Was Her Hardest Week Yet Exclusive
Daphnée Duplaix is reflecting on the ambitious crossover between Beyond the Gates and The Young and the Restless, describing the event as both exciting and exhausting. In an exclusive interview with Parade, the actress said she was thrilled when she first learned that the new CBS daytime drama would welcome cast members from the long-running soap for a dramatic political rally storyline that was interrupted by a tornado. Duplaix called the idea “absolutely amazing” and praised the network for bringing together two shows with very different places in the daytime landscape.
She noted that The Young and the Restless, which is in its 53rd year on the air and remains the top-rated soap opera, has an especially devoted fan base. For that reason, she felt the crossover was a smart and exciting move, especially for a newer series like Beyond the Gates. Duplaix said she was genuinely impressed that such a major show would “grace” the new series with its presence, adding that she saw the concept as “brilliant” on CBS’s part.
The actress also spoke about what it was like to film the crossover, saying the experience felt surreal for someone who has watched these characters for years. She admitted she was “fangirling” during production and said the event brought a lot of energy to the set. At the same time, Duplaix revealed that the crossover week was the toughest the cast and crew had faced so far. She described the production as intense, with a complex script, major set work, and many moving pieces that had to come together on a tight schedule.
Despite the demanding workload, Duplaix said the project was rewarding because everyone involved enjoyed working together. She explained that the Beyond the Gates cast and crew responded well to the presence of The Young and the Restless actors, who matched their energy and helped make the event memorable. According to Duplaix, executive producer Sheila Ducksworth later texted the core cast to thank them for maintaining their enthusiasm from early morning until the end of the day.
Duplaix said the schedule was especially grueling, with the team arriving at the studio around 6 a.m., beginning filming at 9 a.m., and often working 12 to 14 hours each day after accounting for hair, makeup, and the demands of the production. She said keeping that energy level up throughout the week was difficult but ultimately exciting and fun. By the end of the shoot, however, she joked that she definitely needed a massage.
Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams weeknights on Paramount+. Viewers can also catch up on episodes from the beginning of the series on Paramount+ or watch it free on Pluto TV’s dedicated 24/7 FAST channel.
