She's Beautiful, She's Delightful... She's Fiona Hutchison. It wasn't long after this talented actress left her role as OLTL's Gabrielle that she won the recurring role of Guiding Light's jewel thief Jenna Bradshaw. Since joining the show, she's won a Daytime Emmy Award Nomination, a marriage license and a new legion of fans. Hutchison speaks candidly about her life and career. During the first hour that I recently spoke to Fiona Hutchison, GUIDING LIGHT'S Jenna Bradshaw, she matter-of-factly blurted out that her last day in Springfield would be somewhere around publication of of this particular issue. Five hours later, she revealed during the course of our photo shoot, the show had called her answering machine, posing interest in having the actress extend her contract. "How much longer do they want you to stay? A couple of weeks?" I inquired. "A year!", Fiona replied. "Are you going to?" I immediately asked, wondering if the focus of the article--Fiona's farewell interview--would have to be scrapped to instead concentrate on her recent marriage to John Viscardi (ex-Tony, OLTL), rumors that have circulated about her throughout the industry for years, and being nominated for Outstanding Actress at the most recent Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony. "Well it depends" she slowly responded with an air of mystery. However, as we went to press the actress nixed further negotiations, choosing to steer clear of Buzz and Roger for the time being--the door will remain open should she choose to return--to pursue greener pastures. On Why She's leaving Guiding Light... It's hard to work with the same people for a long period of time without becoming predictable and boring. It takes a great deal of fancy footwork with writing to keep all these characters extremely interesting and exciting. I wasn't sure I could sustain a character for a long period of time. I'm not sure I'm that kind of performer. Then again if Bill Bell (co-creator of Y&R and B&B) wanted me to come on and stay for ten years, I think I could handle that. (Executive Producer) Jill (Farren Phelps) and I are best friends; we have talked it through great length. The character is not being killed off or blown up or anything. It's an open door, I can always come back and do it again, but I'm feeling a little claustrophobic. Even if it means I go do some experimental theater and that's all I do, That's what I need to do. On the Rumor She's Joining the Young & The Restless... I have met with Bell Bell, I think he's the most charming man I've ever met in this industry, it's no wonder his show is number one. He is a true gentleman, he's sharp, he's creative (we all know that)...I can't really go into any further detail on it because it remains to be seen what the future holds. But I would love to work with the man! I think everybody in daytime would love to work with him. They'd be out-of-their-mind crazy if they didn't want to. There are icons ion this business for certain reasons. Bill Bell Sr, is like no one else. There's a different aura around them. They're winners. They've got a winning team. Therefore, they have nothing in them but kindness and a sense of giving. Because when you are absolutely in control of your talents and abilities, and you have been recognized for those talents and abilities, what is there to be down and negative and depressed about? I think Bill and I are now friends. If he offered me a role, I would probably be stupid not to take it. I would love to work with him, but it would all depend on what Bill wanted. It would be damn hard to turn him down, let me tell you. But it may be years before Ii work with Mr. Bell, but it may be days...or weeks. On the Rumor That She's Returning To One Life To Live... I can't speak for ABC; they haven't approached me. I would consider returning to OLTL; I always consider anything that comes through the door. Now to go back to Gabrielle...I would have to think about that. She was a great, fun character although she cried to much. I'll tell you one thing: I wouldn't cry. They'd have to do some therapy on her so she doesn't cry. Hopefully in prison she did some major rehab. On The Rumor Of An Affair with Ex-Co-Star James DePaiva (Max, OLTL)... DePaiva? Oh I like that rumor. can we keep that one going? That's a yummy one. I'm going to have to tell Jim about that, but he probably knows. When you next see Jim, you tell him that I love that rumor. I'm hanging on to that rumor. On The Rumor Of An Affair with Ex-Co-Star Dennis Parlato (Ex-Michael, OLTL)... Parlato? Well he knows I love him to death, I adore him. But I have a feeling that now the rumors are going to get more dastardly. 'She's married and she's screwing around!' Rumors don't bother me, but I don't always get the luxury of hearing them. That's the thing about rumors. Everybody gets to enjoy them except the person they're about. On Justin Deas (Buzz, GL)... I love and respect and adore Justin, I really do. I think he's a very special person. I miss him when I'm not working with him. But that doesn't take away anything from the people that I'm working with presently. It's just that when I have a scene with him again, I think, 'Oh yeah, I'm home. This is my buddy, and we can have some fun.' Now if my saying that is going to go through ten people and come out, 'Fiona is just head over heels in love with Justin,' that could become a rumor, couldn't it?' On Finally Marrying John Viscardi (Ex-Tony, OLTL)... It is different. It's a wonderful different. I don't know how to put it into words, but there's a look that we have between us now that's a knowing look. There's just a calmness, I guess it's security. I guess it's the sense that you're not alone in any of your decisions now. You have joint efforts by two people, which if done in the right way, can accomplish an awful lot more than just one person going to do certain things. Yes I was nervous about getting married.
I've been through it before and it was a disaster--although you don't know
that when you're going into it. But having done it this time around
for totally different reasons, the outcome feels very different from the
first time.
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