‘The Young And The Restless’ Interview: Kate Linder Discusses Playing Esther Valentine On ‘Y&R’, Working With Jeanne Cooper

“The Young and the Restless” (Y&R) Ester Valentine (Kate Linder) worked for Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) for 30 years – but Katherine and Ester were more friends than employer and employee. In the recent issue of Soaps In Depth Kate opened up working with Jeanne Cooper as well as a few of her other co-stars.

Kate Linder remembers the first day on the set of “The Young and the Restless” and how excited she was to meet Jeanne Cooper for the first time. Kate told Soaps In Depth that she remembers thinking, “I’m getting to meet Jeanne Cooper, and I realized how great that was.” Kate introduced herself to Cooper and said, “I’m playing your maid!” In true Jeanne Cooper – or Katherine Chancellor- style the entertainment icon replied, “Well, it’s about time I got one!”

The Chancellor mansion has always been Linder’s favorite set on which to film – it’s changed over the years but it still feels like home. What’s the same? Kate says the black and white squares on the floor and the furniture – they’re exactly the same as the day Kate Linder walked on-set in 1982.

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Of course, Ester now shares the Chancellor mansion with Jill Fenmore Atkinson (Jess Walton) – that’s when Jill is around. Believe it or not, Kate’s best days on set are the ones when she works with Jess. She also enjoyed working with Tristian Rogers (Colin Atkinson).

After 30 years on the set of “Y&R” Kate still finds Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) a bit mysterious – probably because she hasn’t worked much with him over the years. “Once in a while, I’ll have some interaction with him in group scenes.” Lindner also finds Justin Hartley (Adam Newman) a bit of a mystery as well. They also have not worked together much…like father, like son?

“Y&R” fans might be surprised to know that the actors do their scenes in just one take and they don’t use cue cards. Taping moves at a record pace and the actors have pages and pages of dialogue to learn. Kate says you really have to be on your came and know your lines.

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Recently Ester stepped out of her comfort zone and began working at Crimson Lights, leaving life as a maid at the Chancellor mansion behind. Fans hope to see more and more of Kate Linder – maybe she’ll have more scenes with Eric Braeden and Justin Hartley.

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