"That was a condition," Fiona Hutchison, who plays one-half of this dynamic duo, Jenna Bradshaw, proudly proclaims.  "I wasn't going to stay unless we could do that."  Originally signed to GUIDING LIGHT for a three-month stint, Hutchison has since re-upped, so to speak, and has extended her stay (although exactly how long her contract is for remains a closely guarded secret).

Both the show and the actress seem to agree that Jenna's involvement in the Harley and Mallet love story was only meant to be a short-term affair.  "That's why it was built the way that it was built," explains Hutchison.  "I think that for many, many reasons, it was not destined to be a long-term story.  But who knows, there could be some residual effects from it.  But as far as getting deeply entwined, I think that they're going towards Roger." GL's executive producer Jill Farren Phelps echoes those sentiments: "Jenna did have feelings for Mallet," she hedges, "but the relationship never progressed very far, so she will come to terms with losing him quite easily."

And just as easily, she has become intrigued with Springfield's resident nasty boy Roger Thorpe (played by Michael Zaslow).  "I've known Michael Zaslow for years as a friend," Fiona offers.  "He has an incredibly fun - if you will, giggly - side.  I don't think that he'll like the fact that I used that word, but you know what I mean; a spirited side, like everybody does.  But when you play in heavy, blackmailing storylines, you don't get a lot of opportunity to show that, because that's just not the way that they do those things.  I mean, he brings a lot of humor to his role no matter what he does, but I think that when you start to get into the person  up a whole other playful side.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.  I know that's what he'd like to do, and we've talked about it, and we'd like to continue the humor if we can."

Phelps agrees that this story has more going for it than just two bad people hooking up to wreak havoc on Springfield's poor, unsuspecting citizens.  "Jenna is a complex character with a very intriguing past, which we will be revealing as time goes on," says Phelps.  "She is certainly not a cardboard villain by any stretch of the imagination.  She is kind and gentle, yet clever and ruthless.  We look forward to thickening the plot where Jenna is concerned."

And as for Roger's part in it all, will he be interested in more than just Miss Bradshaw's dubious abilities?  Phelps deadpans her response: "He knows a gorgeous woman when he sees one."

According to Hutchison, however, it may take more than the lure of romance to pull Jenna out of her life of crime.  "I think that it depends on how deliciously exciting Roger can be," she practically sings.  "Or for that matter, any man, because it's going to take a lot to pull her away.  Although I think that there is a side of her that's quite honest.  She wanted to make enough money to be able to retire in the Canary Islands - she just wants to get away, and plant her flowers and live in her little cottage.  So I don't think that it's crime that she thrives on necessarily - it's what the crime will afford her to have; that's how I see it.  She's striving so hard to make her little nest in the world, and this is the way that she's had to do it for whatever reasons, which we'll find as we go along the way."

Unraveling the mystery of Jenna's past is something that the show is looking to do.  It began on the night that the lights went out in Springfield, when Jenna was trapped in an elevator with young Michelle Bauer.  On that night, we saw a sensitive side to Jenna, while she revealed the pain of a lost love, whom she referred to simply as her "Prince." Phelps' eyes light up when she is questioned on whether we can look forward to Jenna's Prince Charming showing up in town anytime in the near future.  But characteristically (she is the show's executive producer, after all), all she will say is a suspicious "You never know!"

And in the meantime, we have Jenna's ambitions - both about her work and her men - to keep us enthralled.  But exactly how far the devious jewel thief will go is anybody's guess.  "I think that it has already driven her to do just about anything in the past," explains Hutchison rather delightedly.  "This is part of the licking of the wounds that is going on now.  Unlike Gabrielle (the character that she portrayed on ONE LIFE TO LIVE), who started out as an innocent little flower and then matured as the four years went by - Jenna has a past already.  And it is a process of unraveling that past layer by layer and finding out who this person really is - that's the difference I see.  Whether or not she will let her ambition drive her to do just about anything again, I think that remains to be seen.  I think that she's wised up a lot since the days of doing just about anything.  If the stakes are high Enough, if her 'win' is going to set her up for what she wants, hen I think, 'Yeah, she'll do just about anything."' Add that to what we already know about Roger Thorpe and his ,sense of determination, and you've got an unbeatable twosome.  "Wait and see what intrigue and mischief these two characters will weave," tantalizes Phelps.  "The pairing of Roger and Jenna is the most fun kind of coupling because the sky's the limit.  They are treacherous, smart, cunning, sexy and capable of anything.  Sparks will fly!"

And that will make Fiona Hutchison a very happy woman: "I'm very pleased with the path that it's going down, I must admit. As long as we can keep a bit of tongue in cheek, a bit of humor along the way, even though there'll be some heavier stuff to come, then I will be very pleased as a performer.  Because I just don't really want to get into the dredge of it.  I think that soaps can be heavy enough.  I've been flipping through all the channels, so I've really been getting an overall view of all the soaps, and I think that because of the recession, people have had a hell of a hard two years.  And if you can make someone laugh in the middle of the afternoon, then you've accomplished quite a lot.

"I don't mean for it to turn into a sitcom," explains Fiona.  "But make it farcical.  Every soap has its dark story because you need that, but I hope that Jenna will keep the flipside to things going.  It makes her a little different.  And that's what every character wants - to be in their own category.  And I think that on GUIDING LIGHT, they've done that very well; I think that all of the women have their own category."

And as for Roger?  "I don't think that they'll ever trust one another," predicts Fiona.  Well then, they're in good company!
 

Additional reporting by Teresa Gerbino