B&B Exclusive: Lisa Yamada Says Luna’s Paternity Shocker ‘Shifts Her Entire Reality’

Howard Wise/jpistudios.com

It’s a game-changing week for Bold and Beautiful‘s Luna Nozawa, as she finally learns the identity of her biological father: Finn. Not only did she grow up thinking he was merely her cousin, but last year, Luna held his wife, Steffy, hostage. “Luna really chose the worst possible person to lock in a cage!” chuckles Lisa Yamada, Luna’s portrayer, who opened up to Soap Opera Digest about the implications of the paternity reveal for her character, how she reacted to the twist and why she’s honored that the show chose to make Luna the granddaughter of OG villainess Sheila Carter.

Soap Opera Digest: How did you (meaning you, Lisa, not Luna!) find out and react to the twist that Finn is Luna’s father?

Lisa Yamada: Much like Luna, I also felt deep down in my gut that Tom Starr wasn’t really her father. For a while, I was convinced that maybe Jack could be Luna’s biological father. But honestly, I remember seeing a few fan theories in the past that suggested Finn could be Luna’s dad, so that possibility was always in the back of my mind. With that being said, though, it wasn’t until I saw the scripts where Finn was administering the paternity tests that it finally hit me — “Oh! We’re going there.”

Digest: What do you like and find interesting about the twist?

Yamada: I’m so excited to dive into this family tree! I’m sure everyone, myself included, has been questioning Luna’s paternity since I first joined the show, so it’s satisfying to finally have some concrete answers! Finn being Luna’s father really spins such a tangled web, creating obstacles in so many characters’ relationships. I love how Luna never fails to stir up chaos — whether she means to or not. The Finnegan/Nozawa bloodline is messy and I’m here for all of it!

Digest: Did you and Tanner Novlan (Finn) have a chance to talk about this development behind the scenes?

Yamada: Brad [Bell, B&B’s executive producer/head writer] and the rest of the writers at B&B are amazing at keeping us on our toes, so Tanner and I found out about this storyline with the rest of the cast when the scripts came out. It was a total surprise! We definitely made sure to take the time to break down the scenes and make sense of everything. Not only was this a huge bombshell for Luna and Finn, but it was a big shock for us, too! The best part of being on this show is getting to play such dramatic storylines and bringing them to life in a way that feels true to our characters. Tanner and I spent time discussing how both Finn and Luna would feel in each moment, and I think it translated well on screen.

Digest: Are you looking forward to working more with Tanner as the storyline unfolds? What do you enjoy about working with him?

Yamada: I’m very thrilled to be working more with Tanner! Our past scenes have mostly been conversational and casual, so this new storyline has been such an exciting shift in our dynamic. Tanner is genuinely such a great person to work with, and even though our scenes are much more intense and emotional now, he still manages to bring a sense of lightness into the process. We often find ourselves laughing and joking around, even in the midst of some pretty heavy moments, and it’s those little moments that make the work feel like play. It’s been a really fun experience collaborating with him, and I’m looking forward to seeing where this new journey takes us!

Digest: Can you describe what a paradigm shift finding out that Finn is her dad is for Luna?

Yamada: Thinking someone’s your cousin your whole life, only to find out he’s actually your father? That’s insane news for Luna to wrap her head around! It’s like every single memory she has with Finn from her childhood is a complete lie. This shifts her entire reality. I don’t think Luna would even have the words to describe it as just a “paradigm shift” — it’s way bigger than that. It’s like her whole world has been turned upside down, and she now has to try and make sense of everything she thought she knew.

Digest: What do you imagine is going through her mind as she reels from the news?

Yamada:  I think this is such a conflicting, bittersweet moment for Luna. On one hand, she’s having to realize that her mother has been lying to her her whole life, and that’s obviously a huge blow. But on the other hand, she’s finally getting the answer she’s been wanting for her entire life. It’s like a mix of relief and pain all at once. And then there’s the weight of Tom and Hollis’s murders— those are definitely still heavy on her mind. She’s questioning everything. Were those murders all for nothing? Did she really ruin her life — and so many others’ lives — just to come to this truth? Her brain is just a huge emotional mess.

Digest: What do you remember about filming the scenes where Luna hears this incredible news from Finn? What did you want to communicate to the audience about how Luna reacts?

Yamada: Honestly, I remember feeling so cathartic while filming these scenes. The average person usually doesn’t get the chance to tap into emotions like this, so it was a really powerful experience. Those couple of weeks were pretty heavy, and I fully leaned into it, putting myself in Luna’s shoes. I think it’s been tricky for the audience to figure out if Luna is truly sincere and “reformed,” and that’s something I’ve enjoyed playing around with. But for these scenes, I played them very honestly because, yes, Luna has committed some horrific crimes, but at the end of the day, she’s just a girl who’s been desperately wanting to know who her father is. Hearing the words “I’m your father” from Finn was the absolute last thing Luna expected. There’s a massive sense of shock but an overwhelming feeling of relief in finally knowing.

Digest: On the subject of how long Luna has longed to find out her father’s identity, do you think this might be a case of “be careful what you wish for” or do you think having a definitive answer could be a good thing for her?

Yamada: I definitely think having a definitive answer is a good thing for Luna. I mean, just look at all the terrible things she did because she didn’t know! Now that the truth is out, I’m really curious to see what her next move will be. I’m pretty positive that Steffy won’t allow Luna to be a part of the family, but we all know Luna isn’t one to just give up. I can’t help but feel for Steffy, though — between Sheila and now Luna, she just can’t catch a break!

Digest: How, if at all, do you think it will affect Luna’s view of her mother, Poppy, to find out that she had intimate relations with Finn?

Yamada: It will definitely affect Luna’s view of her mother. Her perception of Poppy is already tainted, but knowing her mom slept with her nephew is the cherry on top. Not only did Poppy give Luna an unstable childhood, but she also slept with her nephew, hid it for twenty-something years, and tried to get Finn to keep Luna’s paternity a secret. Luna’s crimes do not align with my personal morals, and if this were reality, I’d be the first to lock her up. But at the same time, I have to advocate for her and make sense of her complicated mind in any way that I can in order to portray her. The biggest way I’ve found to do this is by blaming Poppy and the childhood she created. If her mom had just owned up to having an affair with Finn, Luna’s life would’ve been so different, and none of these crimes would have been committed. I have to say, how Luna feels about Poppy is the complete opposite of how I feel about Romy [Park, her portrayer]. Romy is such a sweet angel, and I love her to pieces!

Digest: One of the ramifications of Finn being Luna’s dad is that it means that Steffy is her stepmother. What are your thoughts on the Steffy angle of this reveal, given the messy history between Luna and Steffy?

Yamada: I mean, out of all the characters on our show, Luna really chose the worst possible person to lock in a cage! Your stepmother is one of the last people you should be putting behind bars! That being said, the scenes I shared with Jacqui [MacInnes Wood, Steffy] last year were so much fun to film, and I’m very happy to be a part of Steffy’s orbit — even if it’s not for the best reasons. Steffy is such a badass and definitely not someone to be messed with, but I think Luna will be able to keep up. I just hope the “Sinn” fans aren’t too upset with me for stirring up trouble in their marriage!

Digest: Another ramification is that Sheila is her biological grandmother. Do you hope to have the chance to work more with Kimberlin Brown (Sheila)?

Yamada: Kimberlin is the OG baddie of our show, and I’m beyond excited to be a part of her lineage. Some of Luna’s behaviors make so much more sense now — she’s got Sheila’s blood running through her veins! Sheila and Luna haven’t had the chance to share scenes yet, but behind the scenes, Kimberlin and I get along so well, and we’ve both been dying to work together. I’m sure we’ll have some killer scenes together — no pun intended!

Digest: By making Luna the granddaughter of Sheila, Brad Bell has given your character yet more important lineage within the B&B canvas. What does that mean to you?

Yamada: I’m so grateful to Brad for so many reasons. Starting out as a sweet Forrester intern falling in love “for the first time,” and then doing a complete 180 last year to become a murderous villainess — this show has fulfilled me so much creatively and helped me grow as an actor. Not every actor gets the chance to play two completely different characters, and I’m truly appreciative of Brad for giving me that opportunity. It also means so much to me that Luna’s family tree is expanding. With Luna being tied to so many iconic characters, it feels like she’s really starting to solidify her place in the roster, and I couldn’t be happier.

CBS

From Here To Paternity: Luna is thrown for quite the loop when Finn (Tanner Novlan) broke the news that he is her biological dad.