Young & Restless Exclusive: Amelia Heinle Is Ready for Victoria to ‘Unleash and Go a Little Bit Wild!’

“They’re totally going to fire me, and it’s going to be so embarrassing.”

Believe it or not, that’s what Amelia Heinle says she truly believed during her first few months as The Young and the Restless‘ Victoria. “I didn’t think I was going to get the part, then I did,” she recalls of stepping into the part previously played by Heather Tom (now Bold & Beautiful‘s Katie). “It was a little bit overwhelming, being a recast. I knew she was loved, so there was this added pressure of, ‘Wow, I better be good!'”

Of course, that proved not to be a problem, and fans quickly found themselves embracing her take on Victor and Nikki’s daughter. Although Heinle had done other shows before — including Loving and All My Children — she almost immediately sensed this experience would be different.

“On both of those shows, I stayed for my initial three-year contract,” she says. “Then I’d say, ‘Well, I had a great time, but it’s time to move on. But with Young & Restless, after my first three years I realized, ‘Wait, I really like it here and don’t ever want to leave.”

Which explains why she’s been a Genoa City resident for two decades, having marked her twentieth year in the role last month. “When I look at videos from when I first started, I’m like, ‘Why do I sound different?'” the actress laughs. “But that’s how long ago it was… I had a different voice! I guess it takes a while for a voice to change, but for me, the time has flown by.”

At the moment, Victoria seems to be in a bit of a holding pattern, storyline-wise. But Heinle is excited to see what comes next. “She’s changed over the years, just by the nature of what she’s gone through,” Victoria’s portrayer muses. “The happiness that she’s experienced, as well as the losses and disappointments, the falling down and getting back up. She’s matured and had a boatload of kids.”

After a throaty laugh, she adds, “So many kids, including now Claire!” Of this new addition, Heinle shares that her own TV-mom, Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki), pointed out one very positive attribute: The latest Newman offspring was kind enough to raise herself entirely off screen. “Melody said that boarding school was good enough for Victoria, and it’s good enough for her daughter!”

Now, she suggests, it’s time to shake things up a little. “I’ve never gotten to play anything a little naughty,” she says. “Maybe it’s time for Victoria to unleash and go a little bit wild!”