Rebecca Budig (ABC)
Soaps.com: Congratulations on your return to All My Children! How did it come about, and are you on contract?
Rebecca: They called me and asked if I would be interested in returning, and I spoke to Julie about it, and it all worked out! I did sign a contract, and I can't give specifics, but I'm going to be there for a while.
Soaps.com: Had you been watching the show before you came back?
Rebecca: I tuned in from time-to-time because I wanted to see Alicia [Minshew, Kendall] pregnant. [laughs] She never grew! The girl just does not gain weight!
Soaps.com: Did you have an impression of the [quality] of AMC?
Rebecca: Not really, but I knew that a lot of people were…well, the characters were not so defined anymore. That's all I noticed.
Soaps.com: Of course the Head Writer [Pratt] was let go. At this point are you still working on his scripts?
Rebecca: I think they are still out. I think that's what we're still doing, but I'm starting into the new scripts a little bit.
Soaps.com: Is there a sense on the AMC set that things are turning around?
Rebecca: It's a little too soon to tell yet, but I think they definitely are, for sure.
Soaps.com: What is your opinion on the move from NY to LA - will it be good for the show?
Rebecca: I hope it is, because I think that it's showing that ABC has faith in the show, and I'm hopeful that it will revive the show.
Soaps.com: Did the move come into play as far as your decision to return?
Rebecca: Not really. I was more concerned about the character, to be honest. I didn't want to play the Greenlee the way she was before I left - I didn't feel like it was Greenlee anymore. I wanted to play the character that resonated with me, and I think that they wanted that as well, so it worked out in that everyone was in the same place.
Soaps.com: Were you surprised to learn that Ryan was paired up with Erica?
Rebecca: Yeah! [laughs] It was a little weird.
Soaps.com: What is your opinion on the older woman/younger man dynamic? What about Erica being Ryan's son's grandmother?
Rebecca: I don't really have an opinion about older women with younger men. I think it is a little odd that he was with her daughter and stuff like that, but, I guess things happen! [laughs]
Soaps.com: Erica was with Greenlee's dad [Jackson] too!
Rebecca: I know! Which makes it much more interesting for me because, obviously, I'll probably find out, and Erica is Greenlee's arch-nemesis, so…
Soaps.com: Can we anticipate some confrontational stuff with Greenlee and Erica?
Rebecca: I hope so! I haven't read anything yet, but I hope so.
Rebecca Budig (ABC)
Rebecca: When I came back, he [Walt Willey, Jackson] told me he wasn't going out West, so, I don't make decisions, so I feel bad about that. Hopefully, he'll be around. Hopefully they'll bring him out. I love him with Erica - that's always been my favorite pairing!
Soaps.com: Viewers really want to see Jackson weigh in on the Erica/Ryan pairing! Are you hoping for a Greenlee/Ryan reunion or do you feel you'd like to go in a different direction?
Rebecca: I love working with Cameron [Mathison, Ryan] - love it, love it! So it would be great if we were together, but I'm also open to working with other people. I'm working with Vincent [Irizarry, David] right now, and that's a lot of fun. So, I guess we'll see.
Soaps.com: Some of our readers have mentioned that you have great onscreen chemistry with Vincent. Some of them are hoping David and Greenlee might hook-up, even though he is Leo's brother.
Rebecca: Really? That's cool! That [being his brother] actually makes it more complicated, because they do have a history together, and he was Leo's brother, and that, I think, will probably be interesting - the conflict that she would have with doing that, and he would have with doing that…
Soaps.com: Can you give us any insight as to what Greenlee will be doing in PV other than recuperating? For instance will she return to Fusion?
Rebecca: I'm sure she'll try and get her company back! [laughs] I like Greenlee as a businesswoman - driven, ambitious, and successful - so hopefully they'll continue to explore that as well. It's good to see women in Daytime that are successful, hardworking, and strong.
Soaps.com: Alicia Minshew [Kendall] is on maternity leave, so any kind of showdown over Kendall sleeping with Ryan will have to wait, I guess.
Rebecca: I know! It's going to have to wait! But, I think it's totally wonderful what she's done - she's had a baby, and the baby's beautiful and perfect, and I'm really, really happy for her!
Soaps.com: Aiden Turner [Aidan] is also gone from the show - did this surprise you?
Rebecca: It did surprise me! It did. Like I said, I don't know why they make decisions [like this] - I guess they have their reasons. But Aiden's going to be fine - he's such a great guy - and he's in California now, so you never know.
Soaps.com: What's coming up for Greenlee?
Rebecca: I know I'm waking up from a coma and I'm trying to get my way back to Pine Valley.
Soaps.com: Will David be throwing up roadblocks?
Rebecca: A little bit, but then he also ends up helping me. [laughs] There's a tease!
Soaps.com: What did you keep busy with during your absence from AMC?
Rebecca: I did "How I Met Your Mother," I did a little part in a movie - just really auditioning and working out. [laughs] I walk and hike, and stuff like that, with our dogs - just living life!
Soaps.com can't wait to see what Rebecca's storyline as Greenlee will have in store for us! Watch this spot for some great kissing tips from Rebecca - just in time for Valentine's Day! Be sure to leave your comments for Soaps.com in the space below!
If you missed our recent interview with another Pine Valley resident, please visit All My Children's Jill Larson Chats with Soaps.com!
Candace Young
AMC Writer
Soaps.com
I can't wait for every incredible David/Greens moment to come! 