Interview: Catching Up With Leven Rambin

“All My Children” fans will remember Leven Rambin, who juggled the roles of half sisters Lily Montgomery and Ava Benton on the show. Now Leven plays the scatterbrained aspiring actress/model daughter of David James Elliott and Virginia Madsen on the new ABC show “Scoundrels” (airing Sunday nights at 9/8c). I caught up with her recently to discuss “AMC,” “Scoundrels” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Daytime Dial: Your big break was as Lily/Ava on “All My Children.” What was that experience like for you?

Leven Rambin: They taught me everything I know. I’ll always be so grateful for that opportunity and that experience. It’s a lot different than prime time or any other show that I’ve done, but I’ve definitely learned everything I know from there — from working those hours and working with those people and learning all of those lines and being those two different characters. Everything else seems kind of different and easier — the hours are also pretty grueling and demanding here on “Scoundrels” and on “Grey,” but it’s just different. I think that soaps are a really good place to start, and I’m really grateful to have been there.

DD: “AMC” is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. That is quite an accomplishment — you must be proud to have come from that.

LR: I was so honored that they wanted me to be a part of the 40th anniversary of the soap. Some people have been watching it from the very beginning, so for people to have liked me enough to want me to be a part of a big episode like that was really cool, and I’ll always remember that.

DD: You played Eric Dane’s daughter, Sloan, on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Tell me about that experience.

LR: It was crazy being on “Grey’s Anatomy” and working with those people who are movie stars. That show is just so successful. It was definitely the most high-profile thing I’ve ever done, and it really taught me a lot. I’m just so grateful to have been there and to have learned from all of those people, and to have worked with Shonda (Rhimes) and Eric (Dane) and Ellen Pompeo. That was just the experience of a lifetime.

DD: Tell me about your new show, “Scoundrels.” Is that a fun show to work on? How is your new cast to work with?

LR: Yeah, totally. The cast is amazing, and Virginia, obviously, is a legend. She is so inspiring and so creative and so nurturing, and she really took care of all of us while we were there in Albuquerque shooting. I had a great time just talking and getting to know everyone and being a part of something like that. The material was awesome and the producers were great. It was the best time that I’ve had on a show. I’m really grateful to have been a part of it.


The show has a really awesome blend of comedy and drama and intrigue and kind of a different family dynamic than what you’re used to seeing on TV. I just thought it was kind of edgy for ABC, and I thought that the characters were so distinct and so different. I was really drawn to the writing, too. When I saw everyone together, it was perfect.

DD: Jason Priestley joined the cast, and he becomes smitten with your character, Heather. Were you excited to learn that Jason was joining the show, and what is he like to work with?

LR: He was so fun. He just came in and really embraced it, and really got the joke of the character. The character is an ’80s washed-up TV star who is now doing a reality-hosting-type show. He came in and was such a pro, and I got along with him really well.