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ROCKIN' ROBIN (Soap Opera Digest 9/20/05)
Why Kimberly McCullough is making a return trip to GH
By Stephanie Sloane
Soap Opera Digest: How did your return come about?
Kimberly McCullough: Jill [Farren Phelps, executive producer] actually
gave me a call and asked if I would come in for a meeting. So I went in and
it was Jill, myself and [Head Writers] Bob Guza and Chuck Pratt. They were
just asking me a bunch of questions, like would I be interested in coming
back and for how long. Shortly after that, I got an offer from [ABC Daytime
President] Brian Frons.
Digest: Had you thought about coming back prior to Jill calling you?
McCullough: It's always sort of been in the back of my mind, but I
didn't seek it out, I didn't call them. They just kind of came at the right
time. I had recently moved to the beach, so I was really busy over the last
six months. I was sitting on the beach, [thinking about how] I haven't really
worked hard since I've been on GH, and I remember sitting there and saying,
"I need to work hard. What am I going to do with myself?" Then I got the
call like two days later. It was perfect timing. I think I needed to go out
and kind of see that I could play other characters. I just needed to grow
up and not be so much in the public eye and not be so recognizable and find
out who I was. I grew up on General Hospital and never really had time to
myself, so I've kind of done that now.
Digest: Are you aware of how much fan support there has been over
the years for your return?
McCullough: I don't really involve myself in that because I've never
been one to really like the attention. It's very flattering and I acknowledge
it and I appreciate it, though. I was on since I was a little kid. I think
a lot of people kind of adopted me as their daughter.
Digest: Did you keep in touch with your co-stars?
McCullough: I talked to Tyler [Christopher, Nikolas] yesterday and
Steve [Burton, Jason] and Maurice [Benard, Sonny] -- those are really the
people I've kept in touch with. I'm excited to work with them.
Digest: Are you looking forward to working with Kelly Monaco [Sam]?
McCullough: Yes, she's really, really good. The only thing I worry
about is that everyone says how much we look alike. I'm worried about people
getting us confused. My hair is almost exactly the same as hers.
Digest: Have you kept up with the show?
McCullough: Oh, yes. I TiVo it every day. That and OPRAH.
Digest: What will your first day back be like?
McCullough: Probably pretty surreal. I keep having this image of standing
on the dock and having somebody hand me my purse -- because that's the last
thing they give you before you start a scene -- and just tripping out, like
I can't believe I'm here right now. I don't think it's going to be totally
strange because over the years, I've always gone in and said hello and it's
pretty much the same people as far as the crew.
Digest: Are you worried about all the memorization?
McCullough: A little. I have no memory, anyway, because growing up
I would learn my lines and then have to throw them away, so I have the worst
short-term memory. I haven't had to memorize lines like that in eight
years.
Digest: What are you looking foward to about returning?
McCullough: Working hard.