Y&R’s Brytni Sarpy and Bryton James Open up About Their On and Off-Screen Relationships (EXCLUSIVE)

"I didn't really understand the weight of being hired, not only with CBS but with that particular stage [of Y&R]," admitted Sarpy. "I didn't realize how historic it was until I really got to walk around."

"I love that this picture was taken at Society, because I think Devon and Elena's relationship really started building there," said Sarpy. "This is where they had their first date!"

Fans may be talking about Amanda coming between Elena and Devon, but could Nate actually be the one to keep an eye on in that regard? “Maybe I am naïve in this, but I think Nate and Elena can be great friends," suggested Sarpy. “Some of the best pairings in soaps are the guy/girl friendships!”

Chancellor Park was created to honor Katherine and her portrayer, the late Jeanne Cooper. However, James said no one needs to see this sign to remember the legendary star. “Every day, we think of Jeanne. The sign is still on her dressing-room door that says, ‘This door is always open.’ And it really was. You could find one cast member in there every day just hanging out with her.”

Sarpy said she knew she’d found a great friend in James when she first screen-tested with him. “He was so chill and laid-back. There’s great chemistry between us!”

James and Sarpy may be casually tossing a football between scenes, but they showed real athletic prowess in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon, where they helped raise over $1 million for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ pediatric cancer department. “One person does the swimming, another does the cycling, and then the last leg is running. We were in the last leg," explained Sarpy. “We didn’t compete against each other — my division was women celebrities, and Bryton was in men’s.”

James said he really is trying to teach his co-star how to play poker. "My problem," Sarpy admitted, "is that I've become such an actor. I memorize scenes and throw them away. I can learn everything, but in a week, I don't know anything again! That makes it hard to remember the rules!"

“I couldn’t feel any luckier to have Brytni as my castmate," smiled James. The admiration is mutual. “Bryton is one of the best men that I’ve met in my life, next to my dad!” Sarpy declared.

Sarpy was a little anxious to be cast as Devon's love interest after Hilary. "My experience with couples is usually negative because on GENERAL HOSPITAL [as Valerie], I broke up my cousin's relationship!" she laughed. "So the popularity of Elena and Devon was really surprising to me."

Despite Devon and Hilary’s supercouple status, “I was pretty confident that it would be hard for fans not to like what we brought to the table” after Sarpy was cast, said James. Now that Mishael Morgan is back as Hilary’s lookalike, Amanda, could Elvon be in jeopardy? “I’m not too worried about it. It’s good drama!”

Relaxing between takes is easy for Sarpy and James because they’re so in sync. “Our cultural and pop references are the same," she shared. They even “love the same food," James added. “Anytime we get lunch, it’s not even a question of what we want, because we love the same things!”

Sarpy was stunned to learn that James has tattoos! "I thought he was more of a nerd!" she laughed. "He seemed so quiet and put-together when I met him. Then we did our love scene and he's got an entire body of tats!" For his part, James was surprised to discover "the depth of her sense of humor — and how comfortable she could be being goofy!"