27-year-old actor Cornelius Smith Jr. joined ABC's long-running soap opera 'All My Children in December of 2007 as Frankie Hubbard.

Since then, Cornelius has become immensely popular with soap fans because of his character's unconventional storyline.

The Detroit-bred actor's work on the daytime drama also earned him a nomination for the 2009 NAACP Image Awards for Best Actor in a Daytime Drama Series.

I spoke to the Smith about being a newcomer in the acting world, the importance of showcasing diversity in daytime television and his current status as a soap stud.

Before I get into the soap talk, you're from Detroit and that city is dealing with so many obstacles following what happened with Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and now with the failing auto industry. What would you like to see happen in your hometown?

I think I would like to see a reinvestment into the city in terms of our building structure there in the downtown area. I certainly would like to see that the big three can somehow, someway get it together so that the majority of people in Detroit are working for these automotive industries. I know there are a lot of people there who are out of jobs and were laid off, some family members of mine as well. I think that's key for Detroit. I guess every city has their sort of thing in terms of what they do from an industrial standpoint. The automotive industry is pretty huge with Detroit.

So your big break into the business is on one of the longest running daytime soap operas. What does that feel like?

It's a huge blessing. I think I'm incredibly lucky. I just thank God honestly; it's a great opportunity and I've had fun. I have met some really wonderful people and it's just great to have a job right now, let's be real about that. What better job than being an actor on 'All My Children?'

Were you into this show or daytime dramas at all before you were cast on 'All My Children?'

I've watched it, but I don't know if I would call myself a fan. I was aware of the show and I knew some of the characters that I had watched in the past. My mom was a huge fan so I kind of watched it with her coming up. When I came to the show, I came with the small knowledge of a child of what 'All My Children' was. I probably haven't watched it since then.

Since your mom was a fan, what's it like for her to watch her son on her favorite soap?

It's been crazy in a good way. She's so proud and happy and blessed so she has been loving it to say the least. She's really proud.

On the show your parents are Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan, who play Angie and Jesse Hubbard. As soap veterans, how have they helped you get acclimated to the show?

They're very active. They're very great human beings and they're open, honest and giving. They have the kind of personality where they just give and it's really a joy to work with them. I'm constantly at work and whatever is on the table we discuss. They check up on me and it's been a really great friendship and love there.

You're one of daytime's newest studs and since soap fans are so radical, what's your experience with them been like so far?

It's been pretty cool. I guess occasionally you have your different levels of fans that you meet, but I haven't had anything that's been outrageous. It's all been kind of good. It's all come from a place of love and it's been pretty cool. Then again, I haven't been to any of the [Super Soap Weekend] events and I hear those are on another scale, but so far so good. As one of the few Black actors working in daytime dramas, are you concerned about the way your character's image is portrayed onscreen?

As one of the few Black actors working in daytime dramas, are you concerned about the way your character's image is portrayed onscreen?

It can be sticky, right? I take that into consideration and I don't take it lightly because I think it's important. Too many times we see African American men portrayed a certain way. I do feel that I have a sense of integrity and honesty and truthfulness that I try to bring to the work which is not associated with those stereotypes at all.

The Hubbard's are a respected family in daytime. They are like The Huxtable's of daytime television if you will. Any pressure to represent Black families positively?

I don't necessarily know that it's a pressure. I feel that it's a blessing and honor that I have the chance to represent in such a way. Being a part of this family is great and I have a lot of fun being there. That's real and it's only an extension that we as a people are who we are. I don't know if I view it as a pressure or a task. I just go in every day, have fun, I'm honest and I connect with the people that I work with. We have a really great friendship and chemistry with each other. We just go and it happens and it's beautiful so I feel quite honored.

Your wife on the show has a complicated past having once been a former prostitute. Has that storyline on the show changed the way you judge people in real life?

I think that's key. I'm a big fan of not passing judgment on people so I think for them to write a character like that, I thought it was great. I don't know if you can necessarily tame love in that way. I think I agree that you love who you love and people shouldn't be judged for circumstances in which led them to be living in more dire circumstances such as prostitution or whatever the case may be.

You are in the military on the show. How'd you prepare for that?

My father was in the military when I was growing up so I spent some of my childhood growing up on an Army base. I had some experiences that helped me connect to Frankie and how being in the military affects everyone in the family and the sacrifices that people make for the military. I was a part of that and I still am so it was kind of easy because I knew what that was.

And you work opposite real life war hero JR Martinez on the show.

Working with JR has been a joy as well. He's a really great guy and he's cool as well and down to earth so that was great. It was refreshing because I've always had a healthy respect and love for our veterans and it was just really a humbling experience to be one. I don't know if I know any other veterans the way that I know JR and have a chance to work with him so again, that's a blessing.

Any cast members that you would love to have a storyline with on the show?

I would love to work with Alicia [Minshew] who plays Kendall because we had some stuff together in the beginning, but since then we haven't been able to catch each other's path. I think Cameron [Mathison] is a great guy and I would love to do some stuff with him. I would actually love to work with everybody on the show because I like to work with different people because I think it's healthy.

Your work on 'All My Children' earned you a NAACP Image Award nomination. What was that experience like?

It was great and I was so humbled and honored. The awards show itself was incredible. I've never been to anything like it before. I don't know if the NAACP Image Awards are just off the chain all the time or if it was off the chain because it was the 100th anniversary celebration because there was a lot going on. Either way, it was beautiful and I enjoyed myself!

*****

***UPDATED***

On May 14, it was announced that Cornelius Smith Jr. was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Younger Actor' for his role on 'All My Children.'