Lawrence Saint-Victor of The Bold and the Beautiful discusses his role in the BET+ movie The Accused, offering a look at his character, the challenges of the role, and what drew him to the project.
I want to congratulate you on your new film, The Accused. What drew you to this project? And how does it differ from your work on “The Bold and the Beautiful”?
That’s a good question. What drew me to the project was, first, the people. I had a small role in a film on BET+ called One Night Stay, starring Stephen Bishop and LaToya Luckett. Just being there for a few days, I got to meet the producers, and one of them is a friend of mine—I’ve known him for years. So, when “The Accused” came around, they thought I’d be a good fit for it. I also got to work with and see all the people I met on One Night Stay again. So, I’d say the people came first, then I just loved the script and the character.
Can you tell us about your character in the film?
Yeah, his name is Detective Lance Branson. He’s a detective in a fictional suburb in New York—we shot it in Newburgh. He’s a really good guy in a corrupt police precinct, but he’s unaware of the corruption. To answer the second part of your first question, the difference between this and “The Bold and the Beautiful” is that “Bold” is a romance in the afternoon, while “The Accused” is a straight-up action thriller. The genres make them completely different.
What challenges did you face stepping into this role?
I wouldn’t say they were challenges, just the homework I had to do. I did a lot of research on detectives—not so much the job, but how they see the world, how their minds work. So much of what I found was about empathy. We think of detectives as tough-as-nails, but when I watched interrogations, they were warm and empathetic because the friendlier they are, the easier it is to get information. I studied homicide detectives and learned they’re driven by wanting families to have peace. So, it wasn’t challenging, just really fun homework and research.
The film follows a woman wrongfully accused of murder. Without giving too much away, how does your character factor into her journey, and what can audiences expect from the tension and twists?
As you said, Dani West, a plant geneticist, is accused of murder. From the trailer, you can tell she’s wrongfully accused. My character is hunting her down, but like him, she’s unaware of the corrupt world she’s in. You have these two good people at a crossroads—maybe they’ll work together, maybe they won’t. You’ll have to wait and see.
You’ve earned critical acclaim for acting on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” but you’ve also written for the show. How has writing influenced your approach to acting?
That’s an amazing question. Writing helped me understand the show even more. As an actor, you think about the story from your character’s point of view, but as a writer, you see it through everyone’s perspective—the themes, the beats. Now, when I’m acting as Carter, I naturally understand the whole story and where I fit into it.
You’ve been nominated for a Daytime Emmy for writing and a NAACP Image Award for acting. How do you balance these roles, and do you see yourself taking on more behind-the-scenes work?
I’m still trying to find the balance. There are weeks when I’m shooting eight to nine episodes of “Bold” and have a script due, and I haven’t figured out how to do all that and sleep. I’ll let you know when I get it down. But I’m having a great time.
What was the most intense scene to film for The Accused?
Without giving too much away, there’s a scene where the bad guys kidnap my wife. As Lance, I have to confront that. What’s crazy is my real-life wife plays my wife in the movie. Seeing your pregnant wife held at gunpoint adds a layer of realism—it’s a very interesting world to navigate.
As a lead in daytime TV and now branching into thrillers, what roles are you most passionate about pursuing next?
It’s not so much the roles—it’s the story as a whole. I want to tell stories that entertain, captivate, and have a message. The Accused is an action thriller, but it also tackles corruption in police and pharmaceutical companies and how it affects the Black community. It’s not just a popcorn flick—it has a message. I’d love to be part of stories in any genre that entertain and say something.
Are there any types of characters you’re eager to explore?
I wouldn’t mind playing a bad guy if the story’s right. I naturally play good guys, but bad guys have more fun—they don’t have a conscience.
How does it feel to be part of a suspense film like The Accused, debuting on BET, a platform known for showcasing Black-led stories?
It’s amazing. BET has supported this film so much—we have a billboard in Times Square, and they’re doing an amazing rollout. As a Black artist, it’s nice to be fully supported. I’ve done spots on BET before, but this is my first real opportunity to be part of it. I’m very grateful and excited.
What does representation in this genre mean to you?
Everything. This genre isn’t new, but we don’t always see people of color in it. We don’t always see a woman as the hero kicking butt. It’s important to have these versions of the story where we see ourselves. As a kid, I pretended to be Superman—I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like to see a Black Superman. Representation in any genre is vital.
How do you think long-time fans of Carter Walton will react to seeing you in such a different role?
I think they’ll get a kick out of it. Funny enough, this week on “Bold,” Carter got into his first fistfight—same week The Accused comes out. Fans will see me fighting everywhere suddenly.
The Accused has received rave reviews since it dropped yesterday. What’s next for you?
More “Bold and the Beautiful”—we’re still kicking. During our summer hiatus, I’ll look for other projects. I’d love to work with BET again.
Be’n Original
