The Young and the Restless' Tracey Bregman knows too well how to help

On The Young and the Restless, Tracey Bregman’s role of Lauren Fenmore has been relatively quiet, but behind the scenes, the actress has been quite busy.

Tracey Bregman of The Young and the Restless

The topic on everyone’s minds in Southern California this month has been the devastating wildfires that have ripped through communities in and around Los Angeles. The devastation has been severe, with thousands losing everything, including many from the daytime drama industry.

Actress Tracey Bregman could relate, unfortunately. She lost her home in Malibu in 2018 to wildfires. Bregman had to rebuild since the Woolsey fire and can empathize with those living that nightmare now. In an interview with Woman’s World, she said that she had just bought a place in Nashville, TN, about two months before the fires ravaged her neighborhood in California.

“Now, I love to be with all the horses in Nashville when I can, but my children and my grandchildren are all in L.A. and I work here, so I do spend a lot of time here,” she explained. Bregman added, “Sometimes I reach for something and go, ‘Oh, right, I don’t have that anymore.’”

Bregman knows firsthand how hard it is to start over, “literally, from scratch.” She thought that it may sound shallow to some, but it wasn’t just about material items. “It’s your home. It’s your history. It’s your family’s history. It’s the memories. There’s a lot of emotion attached to all of this,” she shared.

How Tracey Bregman helps with the L.A. wildfires

Bregman can now offer her empathy and support to others in the same position. She shared what others could do to help them. In her interview, Bregman advised that “sometimes, it’s just about checking in and offering your support.” Bregman added that giving some space to take their time to respond was a nice thing to offer. “After the fire, I was able to speak for a couple of days, but then I literally couldn’t handle it for a good couple of weeks after. I kind of went dark, because this is so overwhelming. The paperwork is overwhelming, and all the questions and thoughts… and it’s almost impossible to remember everything that’s in your house, as well.” Bregman credited her co-star Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summer) for being there for her after her home had burned down.

Watching the fires affect so many has brought back painful memories, but Bregman deals with them by giving back. On Monday of this week, she and some of her Y&R castmates were at Project Angel Food to help make 3000 meals for those affected by the fires.

Watch Tracey Bregman’s Lauren Fenmore on The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus.