The Young and the Restless: Camryn Grimes Teases Mariah and Matt Clark’s First Meeting — and What Roger Howarth Is Really Like

Mariah Copeland’s return to Genoa City is finally here, but she won’t have much time to settle back into life with Sharon, Tessa, and Aria before another intriguing encounter unfolds. This week on The Young and the Restless, Mariah meets Matt Clark, marking the first on-screen interaction between the two characters.

Exactly what brings them together remains under wraps, but Camryn Grimes recently gave The Soap Scene a glimpse of what it’s been like working with Roger Howarth behind the scenes. As fans prepare to watch Mariah and Matt cross paths, Grimes said her newest scene partner has made every day on set both challenging and enjoyable.

Mariah and Matt Clark Finally Cross Paths

Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) returned home on Monday, August 3rd, after months away from Genoa City,  giving her mom Sharon (Sharon Case) the reunion she’s been waiting for. By the end of the week, however, Mariah meets Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) for the first time.

It’s a meeting that comes at an interesting point in Matt’s story. While he’s insisted he’s trying to leave his troubled past behind, many viewers remain unconvinced that his redemption is genuine. With Mariah now back in town, another member of Sharon’s family is about to form a first impression of the man who caused her family so much trauma.

Whether the meeting is friendly, tense, or something in between remains to be seen, but Grimes said filming with Roger Howarth has been one of the highlights of her return.

Camryn Grimes Says Roger Howarth Keeps Everyone “Present”

During an exclusive interview with The Soap Scene, Grimes explained that working opposite Howarth means no two takes are ever quite the same. “I think it keeps you really present as an actor,” she said. 

“You almost can get distracted because of what the other person is doing. And that’s honestly a really lovely thing to have happen. It keeps you on your toes,” Grimes shared. Rather than making scenes more difficult, Grimes said the unpredictability of working with Howarth makes the work even more rewarding.

“It’s just fun!” Grimes enthused. She also praised the energy Howarth has brought to the set since joining The Young and the Restless. “He’s definitely brought something new and fresh and exciting to the characters’ lives, but also the actors themselves behind the scenes. Working with somebody like that is just really, really fun.” 

Grimes was equally complimentary of her co-star away from the cameras. “He’s so nice. It’s nice working with lovely people.”

Sometimes Playing Enemies Is Even More Enjoyable

Although viewers are still trying to determine whether Matt Clark can be trusted, Grimes said some of the most enjoyable scenes are often with actors playing the people Mariah is supposed to dislike. 

Grimes explained that it’s frequently the nicest people who end up portraying the biggest villains. “Honestly, that’s what it is 99.999% of the time,” she laughed.

Looking back at previous storylines, she said working opposite actors she genuinely enjoys only makes the performances stronger. “I remember working with Mishael Morgan [ex-Hilary Curtis] or working with Hunter [King, Summer Newman]. When you have somebody you enjoy so much as a human being, and you have to pretend that you hate them, it makes it more fun,” Grimes explained.

Grimes believes audiences can often feel that chemistry, even during confrontational scenes. “I feel like that comes through in the enjoyment and the kind of reveling in the scene. I think it ends up making it more enjoyable for the audience.”

For her, that’s been true whenever Mariah has found herself facing an adversary. “Anytime I’ve had to work with a villain or somebody who’s an enemy on the show or whom Mariah hates… I adore that person, and it kind of makes it more fun,” Grimes added.

Could Matt Clark Become Mariah’s Next Adversary?

Whether Matt Clark truly has changed remains one of Genoa City’s biggest unanswered questions. His growing relationships with several residents have left viewers wondering whether he’s genuinely building a new life or quietly positioning himself for something much bigger.

Now Mariah enters the picture. Grimes could only tease that the two do share scenes this week, leaving the circumstances of their first encounter a mystery. If Matt’s redemption is real, Mariah may simply be getting acquainted with one of Genoa City’s newest residents. If it isn’t, she could become another piece of a much larger story that’s only beginning to unfold.

One thing Grimes already knows is that sharing scenes with Roger Howarth has been “really, really fun.” Beginning this week, viewers will finally get to watch that dynamic play out on screen.