Sexy Scotsman Ian Buchanan is Learning to Live in the Fast Lane!!

"When Ian Buchanan first joined the cast of General Hospital as the suave but slithery Duke Lavery, many people were bound to make comparisons to Tristan Rogers, who in a sense, Ian was replacing. It must have gotten a little awkkward when Tristan came back for six weeks and was now working opposite Ian, with the lovely Finola Hughes in the middle. Well now that Tristan is gone again, Ian proved to be the victor, winning the fair Anna Devane... or did he? Says Ian about the relationship between Duke and Anna, 'I think we're headed for some more problems, but I suppose that's life on a soap,' he laughs. 'It's all so new to me, but I'm truly enjoying it.'

After being with the show for almost a year now, the Scottish-born and raised actor is just starting to relax and is getting quite comfortable in the role. Ian describes Duke as a 'combination good-guy/bad-guy' and someone who is complex. It makes it more interesting switching from one to another. There was one part that I really liked when he went from 'bad' and began to become 'good'. But if he's going to be too good, it'll be pretty boring.' Ian admits that there is some complexity to his own personality, but not as extreme as Duke's. 'I thought my life was hard until I started doing this show and realized, "Oh God. Poor Duke Lavery has a worse life than me,"' he laughs.

But how bad can Ian's life really be, especially with his new-found fame? 'The working days are just so frantic now,' he explains. 'But I'm learning to adjust.' Each and every day of work has it's own rewards and challenges, but the one thing that remains constant is his admiration for Finola (Anna) Hughes. 'Working with Finola is a very high point,' he says with fondness. 'She's been incredibly supportive from the very beginning. We bounce off each other really well because there's a great deal of trust, and that makes our relationship more interesting. We have lots of laughs and lots of fun and we still get the work done, which is important,' he notes.

When Ian began working on the show, the long and hectic hours sort of slowed down his private life. But now that his schedule has changed, his weekends are getting very busy. 'Now it's great!' he declares. 'I love my leisure time. I date a couple of people, but one in particular. You have to be very careful these days. Everyone has to.' He said in a recent interview. 'I've vowed never to drink too much over a lady again. I hope to be mature in my future relationships!' So what is Ian's idea of a perfect mate? 'I love a sense of humor,' he reveals. 'And, of course, a beautiful woman, but sometimes it's not fair to say. That's not the most important thing. There's so much to learn from other people, and I like to talk and just hang around comfortably.'

While nothing is at a serious stage at the moment, Ian did express a desire to have a family of his own one day. 'I do want to have a family,' he says postively. 'I know my kids would have a great time, my wife, the worst. I think I'd be a good father, but not a terribly good husband,' he laughs, but doesn't elaborate on his self-assement.

Even though there is half a continent and the Altantic Ocean between Ian and his family, he still remains very close to them. After all, 'I had to live with them for a long, long time,' he says with a grin. Sometimes though, he does feel a bit homesick, but if he really missed Scotland that much, 'I wouldn't be here,' Ian confesses. 'I do miss them, though. In fact, they may come to Los Angeles soon.' When they do, Ian promises to show them around and introduce his family to his new lifestyle. 'It might be totally wasted on them though, because Scottish people aren't very easily impressed. Their values tend to be very, very simple, as mine basically still are,' he admits.

After being in the United States for a while, his Scottish accent seems to fade more and more each day. 'It's mellowed out naturally,' he observes, but admits that when he gets tired or angry, 'I start to mumble, and my accent gets really thick and very gutteral, but I'm learning to tone it down now.'

At this point in his life Ian has no complaints because he's very happy with what he's doing. A definite contributing factor to that happiness is the recognition that he receives from people who watch the show. 'It's very flattering and I believe it's a great honor,' he says sincerely. 'It's nice to know that people are getting to see something I'm doing that is very special to me. When people appreciate that, it's incredibly rewarding,' he states enthusiastically.

And, just in case you've ever wondered what a Scotsman wears under his kilts, Ian very candidly let the cat out of the bag during our interview. 'I wore a kilt was I was 12,' he says with a smile, 'when we'd go visiting. My grandmother had a kilt made every year for my brother and me on our birthdays. We wore underwear,' he confides with a twinkle in his eye. 'My grandfather wore a kilt, however, and he would never wear underwear- until he got older and became modest. Until then, he wore a shirt that had long tails, took safety pins and pinned the shirttails closed between his legs!' We have finally solved one of the great mysteries of life.

by Jeffrey Pearlstein, Soap Opera's Greatest Stories and Stars, October 1987