Terri Conn Fansite - 2001 articles

Star Pick - The Best & Worst of 2001 (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 18, 2001) Terri Colombino: "[Being stranded on] the island was pretty cool. I mean, obviously, I love working with Trent [Dawson] (Henry). And Don [Chastain], who played Cooley, was so fun, too. That was a highlight, for me. It was great. I loved it."

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"Which costar do you miss most, and why?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 4, 2001) Terri Colombino: "Jaime Dudney (ex-Georgia). I just talked to her about a couple of weeks ago. She's in L.A. I miss having her to goof off with."

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Up Close and Personal - TOGETHERNESS (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 4, 2001) Everyone has their theories, but Terri Colombino (Katie) thinks she knows exactly why ATWT became the Emmy-award winning juggernaut that it did this year. "I think the show's gotten a lot better since we moved to Brooklyn," she theorizes, "and I think it's because we're all kind of stuck here." After moving to their new studio, the cast of the long-running soap found themselves far from the hustle and bustle of thriving Manhattan, but the forced togetherness has created a new camaraderie amongst the actors. "It seems to me that everyone's gotten closer here," Colombino declares with a proud smile. "And I think that makes the work better."

Caption: Of their previous studio in Manhattan, Colombino recalls, "Nobody really hung out together."

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Roundup "What's the nicest/meanest thing a fan ever said to you?" (Soap Opera Digest - October 30, 2001) Terri Colombino: "The nicest thing a fan has done was just recently, when I was deciding whether to stay [on the show] or not. This woman FedExed me a letter. She was like, 'I heard you were leaving, and I had to get this to you as soon as possible to beg you to stay. I don't think you guys realize how much you touch people every day. It wouldn't be the same without you.' It really meant a lot to me. I actually got a lot of letters around that time, all in one day. I had just decided the day before, so I was in my dressing room, crying and going, 'I'm so glad I stayed!'"

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Crazy For You (CBS Soaps In Depth - October 23, 2001) Terri Conn and Paul Leyden explore the lighter side of love as harried marrieds Katie and Simon

As The World Turns fans were stunned at Katie and Simon's drunken backseat tryst last Halloween, and positively flabbergasted when he agreed to marry her to stay in the country. And now that the unlikely couple seem to have fallen in love for real, we decided to go to the source to learn the secrets behind this duo's success. But Paul Leyden (Simon) and Terri Conn (Katie) are just as outrageous as their characters, so getting a straight answer proved tricky. See for yourself!

Soaps In Depth: What was your first reaction when you learned that your characters were going to hook up?
Conn: Aw, shoot! (She laughs.) No, I'm just kidding.
Leyden: It's one of those things you kind of saw was going to happen. So I actually wasn't that surprised. We work really well together, and I think you can see how much fun Simon and Katie have together.

In Depth: Was the marriage of convenience originally planned to be briefer?
Conn: I'm not quite so sure that they did want us to end up together.
Leyden: No.
Conn: Not way back then.
Leyden: I think they just took it as it happened, and it just so happened that when they put me and Terri together, stuff happened very quickly. There's a chemistry there because we're such good friends in real life.

In Depth: So when did you two notice that you had on-screen chemistry?
Leyden: I think for me it was the first time we worked together.
Conn: Yeah. Especially the first time we had a scene, just us, together. Halloween?
Leyden: Yeah. And again, we didn't work together until Halloween last year, and yet, as friends, we'd been hanging out a lot.
Conn: Yeah. That probably helped.
Leyden: Being comfortable with someone, I think...
Conn: ... it makes all the difference.

In Depth: What were your first impressions of each other when you first met?
Leyden: I feel like I've known Terri forever.
Conn: I know. It's weird.
Leyden: I feel like we've known each other for years and years instead of just a year and a half. I think we just sort of clicked as friends right away.

In Depth: What do you each admire most about the other?
Conn: (Turns to Paul) I admire your acting. I do. That's another thing I remember from when we first met. We talked about acting and how we approach it. He's really well-trained and went to an amazing school and has worked with some amazing people, so I always like hearing stories about that. He always just goes for everything, and I love that.
Leyden: That's one of the things I admire about Terri as well. I love actors who take risks. She's great, and she'll take risks as an actor and not just go with the safe choice. And apart from that, I admire her sense of loyalty as a friend, her love for [husband] Artie [Colombino] - whom I love as well, he's one of my closest friends in the city - and her love for her friends and family. She's an incredible friend.
Conn: I love all that about you, too.

In Depth: So then, what is each other's worst habit?
Conn: Probably, not learning my lines.
Leyden: (He laughs) I was going to say that, but I was waiting for you to say it.
Conn: Well, he always gets me laughing, and I can't stop, and then I get in trouble.

In Depth: Is it difficult, then, to rehearse if you're always cracking each other up?
Leyden: Well, it gets to the crunch time where we have to.
Conn: We're like, "Shut up! Ten minutes!"
Leyden: All of a sudden, we're on set in like, three minutes. And that's when we run our lines. (He laughs.) Seriously.
Conn: Yep. Keeps it fresh. Seriously.
Leyden: I don't want to know my lines too well, because you've got to add elements of spontaneity in there.
Conn: Maybe that's why we're so good together - it's because we never learn our lines!
Leyden: Because we're improvising the entire scene!
Conn: Pretty much!

Caption: "Every time I watch Terri," leading man Leyden laughs, "I just crack up!"

FYI: Terri Conn
Birthday: January 28.
Anniversary: Conn married real-life love Arthur Colombino on September 7, 2001.
Soap Start: Early in her career, the young actress had roles on the daytime sudser THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and the primetime serial MALIBU SHORES.
How Terri sees Simon: "He went from cool guy... you know, sultry, kind of mysterious man, to cool guy not-so-mysterious... " she declares, quickly adding, "but still sultry!"

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Conn enjoys "Amazing, Magical" Honeymoon! (CBS Soaps In Depth - October 23, 2001) After exchanging vows, AS THE WORLD TURNS star Terri Conn (Katie) enjoyed the trip of a lovetime! With family and friends in attendance, Conn and long-time beau Arthur Colombino tied the knot, then headed to Brooklyn's Grand Prospect Hall for the reception. "It's so beautiful," Conn raves of her choice of setting. "It's like you've stepped into another time." The wedding party included Conn's best friend, Carolyn Heft, and the groom's good pal, Don Jeffcoat (ex-Joey, OLTL). ATWT co-star Kristina Sisco (Abigail) penned a song for the newlyweds - an altered version of which she also sang on screen in the episode featuring Jake and Molly's wedding. Conn and Colombino then spent a two-week honeymoon in Italy. "It's the most amazing, magical place," she gushes, looking forward to a lifetime of happiness with her new husband.

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Roundup "What nickname has the cast given you?" (Soap Opera Digest - October 16, 2001) Terri Colombino: "A lot of people call me 'Terr-bear.'"

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Terri & Arthur (Soap Opera Weekly - October 9, 2001) The wedding of AS THE WORLD TURNS' Terri Conn (Katie) and Arthur Colombino was as beautiful at the bride and groom themselves! Held on a Friday evening, they got married at Gray's Church in downtown New York City. Conn's co-star Kristina Sisco (Abigail) was a bridesmaid and Don Jeffcoat (ex-Joey, OLTL) was an usher. After the ceremony, everyone moved on to the reception, which was held in Brooklyn, near the ATWT studios. Sisco performed an original song she wrote for the couple. Other ATWT actors who attended were Jon Hensley (Holden) and Kelley Menighan Hensley (Emily), Michael Park (Jack) and his wife Laurie, Kim Onasch (Jennifer), Trent Dawson (Henry) and Conn's on-screen husband Paul Leyden (Simon), who was on crutches. The ceremony continued into the wee hours of the morning, with everyone dancing and having a great time, celebrating the love between this happy couple. After the wedding, the bride and groom were headed to Italy for their honeymoon.

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Soap Dish (Soap Opera Digest - October 2, 2001) It isn't all gifts and glamour for the soap journalists, but there are certain benefits - like getting the chance to see behind the scenes and dig up backstage dirt. Of course, we've had a little assistance, courtesy of 10 panels of eagle-eyed experts. Now, it's your turn - take a peek at the next pages to find out whose dressing room should be declared a natural disaster area, who's the queen of the herbs and who likes to spend his free time mooning fellow castmates!

Our Panel of Experts: Terri Conn (Katie), Kim Onasch (Jennifer), Michael Park (Jack), Makeup Artist Kevin Bennett

Funniest: Don Hastings (Bob)
Terri Conn: "When he has to do those Thanksgiving monologues, he always makes fun. Then, it's so touching when he does it. You're laughing during rehearsal and bawling during tape."
Michael Park (Jack): "Don Hastings is like David Letterman. He could have his own show. He's got an anecdote for any topic you bring up. He's the master of observational humor."

Biggest Flirts: Kim Onasch (Jennifer), Tom Eplin (Jake)
Kim Onasch (Jennifer): "Probably me. I don't want to toot my own horn [laughs], but I think it would be me. Healthy flirting."
Kevin Bennett: "Tom Eplin, definitely. He can take a horrible day and just come in and give you compliments and lift your spirits and build your ego up when you're feeling crappy."

Most Talkative: Michael Park (Jack)
Kim Onasch (Jennifer): "He's always got something to say. In a good way, of course."
Kevin Bennett: "I don't know half the time what he's saying - I just know he's saying something. All the time."
Michael Park (Jack): "You're looking at him. I talk the most. About nothing, really...."

Messiest: Trent Dawson (Henry)
Bennett: "We used to laugh because Trent would come in to shave or wash off his makeup in the sink, and there would be water halfway down to the second makeup station, which is a good three, four yards down. We used to call it 'The River Trent.'

Super Conversationalist: Hunt Block (Craig)
Kevin Bennett: "Hunt knows a little bit of everything. He will find something to talk about with knowledge to anyone of any age in this cast. We call him 'Big Daddy,' but he's like a cool dad."

Gourmet: Kelley Menighan Hensley (Emily)
Michael Park (Jack): "Kelley, every once in a while, will make her famous lemon bars. Also, chocolate chip cookies."

Most Nurturing: Martha Byrne (Lily/Rose)
Terri Conn (Katie): "She takes care of people. She's always the first person to make people feel comfortable."

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Terri Conn Weds (Soap Opera Weekly - October 2, 2001) The bride didn't wear hot pink like her ATWT character, Katie, did during her hasty wedding to Simon, but ATWT's Terri Conn was certain a vision when she wed actor Arthur "Artie" Colombino Sept. 7 at Grace Church in New York. "I thought Terri and Artie were both adorable," relates cast mate Michael Park (Jack). "They both couldn't get through their vows because they were laughing/crying. It had everybody in tears. It was very special to be part of their lives - when they started dating, meeting Artie, being there the night after they got engaged at one of the events, and being at their wedding." Park joined co-stars Kristina Sisco (a bridesmaid), Trent Dawson, Paul Leyden, Kim Onasch, Peter Parros and Kelley Menighan Hensley and Jon Hensley (Abigail, Henry, Simon, Jennifer, Ben, Emily and Holden) in the celebration. Don Jeffcoat (ex-Joey Buchanan, One Life to Live) was a groomsman. Sisco knocked everyone's socks off by performing a song she wrote specifically for the bride and groom during their reception at the Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn. And the music didn't stop there. "The band was slammin', and you add a couple Colombinos (Artie, his father and sister all performed) to the mix and it was kickin." Park marvels. "The room was hopping." The couple honeymooned in Italy.

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Fun in the Sun (Soap Opera Weekly - September 25, 2001) As you read this, Terri Conn and Arthur Colombino are scheduled to be on their honeymoon in Italy. I spoke with Artie a few days before the wedding, and he told me was doing fine. But just a week before he had to go to the doctor, because he suffered an anxiety attack. "I couldn't catch my breath and I thought there was a problem with my lungs," he said.

The problem was just pressure of finishing up his indie film, Long Story Short, which he co-produced with Don Jeffcoat (ex-Joey, One Life to Live) and three others, as well as wrote and acted in one of the five segments. Don wrote and acted in another segment, and Terri acted in a third. Plus, poor Artie had to deal with last-minute wedding snafus, such as bridesmaid gowns delivered in the wrong fabric and sizes. "The company really screwed up. They looked horrible. Terri's mom was calling, but they were acting like bastards, and I finally called them and said, 'Listen, you need to get it done today!'"

Kristina Sisco (Abigail) was one of the bridesmaids awaiting a remade gown. Until then, her only pre-wedding hitch was getting to Terri's bachelorette party in Santa Barbara. She and another bridesmaid were flying out to the West Coast on passes secured by Kristina's mom, a flight attendant. "We had to go stand-by, and we were the only stand-bys who didn't get on the flight. So at 10 o'clock at night I called Lesli Kay (Molly), who lives near JFK, and asked if we could spend the night. We woke up at 5 to go back to the airport and finally got on a 7 a.m. flight." As they arrived in L.A. a day late, Kristina missed seeing Terri surprised by a former high-school classmate posing as a male stripper. "She didn't recognize him at first. I heard he took off layers and layers of jackets and sweaters and hats but never actually stripped down."

The weekend in Santa Barbara, Kristina says, was a blast. "We stayed at a hotel on the beach and visited a vineyard, and we gave Terri presents; I gave her a day at the spa where Lesli once sent me for my birthday. Each of us also gave her a charm for her charm bracelet that had a particular meaning because it reminded of us something about her. When we talked about them, we cried. Mine was a sun. Artie has a tattoo of a sun on his arm; there was a black center to it, so it looked like a solar eclipse, which is a once-in-a-lifetime fateful event - and that's what she and Artie are." We all wish Terri and Artie a lifetime of sunny days.

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TERRI CONN TELLS WHY OAKDALE IS STILL HOME (Soap Opera Update - September 25, 2001) Terri Conn, a recent Emmy nominee for her work as AS THE WORLD TURNS' good-hearted schemer Katie, has no reservations when it comes to praising her on-screen persona. Fans should embrace the love that the actress feels for this imaginary firecracker, as it is one of the main reasons behind Conn's decision to re-sign with the show for another three years. "I have the coolest character in daytime, and I'm not afraid to say it," she laughs. "I would miss Katie a lot, too. I heard Calista Flockhart (ALLY McBEAL) once say in an interview that she was a healthy schizophrenic, and I might actually have to agree." Her recent nuptials to Arthur Colombino also played a role. "I had things that I had to consider that I wouldn't have had to last year," she offers. "I have different priorities now. The truth is, once you live in New York for three years, you don't want to leave." But what could possibly be left for Katie to conquer? "I totally trust Chris Goutman and Hogan Sheffer (ATWT's executive producer and headwriter)," she says, adding, "I'm excited to see what they have planned, Katie could do anything and it would make sense."

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Which movie star would you cast in your soap role? (CBS Soaps in Depth - September 11, 2001) Terri: "Maybe Kirsten Dunst. She's funny, she could do it. Plus, I always get turned down for the movies that she's doing, so I know we're the same type."

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SOMEBODY'S GETTING MARRIED (Soap Opera Update - September 11, 2001) ATWT's Terri Conn (Katie) and Arthur Colombino do a practice wedding march... and the fairy tale ends with the fair-haired maiden living happily ever after with her dark and charming prince. ATWT's Terri Conn (Katie) must have read a similar closing throughout her childhood, but never did she believe that she was reading into her own future. Conn and actor/musician Arthur Colombino met through mutual friends at a party, where Conn describes "an immediate warmth" between the two of them during a conversation that consisted of "nothing major." But the casual exchange would soon turn extraordinary. The duo celebrated at an engagement party at N.Y.C.'s Letizia Amore Ristorante.

Caption: "Artie is just one of those people you're drawn to," Conn says of her fiancé. Colombino is close to his Italian-American familia. Recalls Conn of their first meeting: "Artie talked about them a lot immediately and I liked that."

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Exclusive Engagement: Terri Conn shares the highlights of a very special evening (CBS Soaps in Depth - August 28, 2001) Family and friends gathered at the Letizia Amore Ristorante in New York City on June 28 to help As the World Turns' Terri Conn and fiancé Arthur Colombino celebrate their engagement. Originally, the party was planned as a surprise; then, the actress caught sight of the invitations at the studio the day before! "But the best surprise was a lot of Artie's family showed up," Conn smiles. "They had the greatest time. It was an awesome evening, with great food and flowing drinks."

Caption: Don Jeffcoat (ex-Joey, One Life to Live) posed with the happy couple and Colombino's parents, Ralph and Victoria. "Donny is one of Artie's good friends," Conn explains, "and he's in the wedding party." Conn was flanked by the two men in her life, Colombino and Paul Leyden (Simon) "My on-screen husband and my husband-to-be in real life," the actress laughs. "Pretty lucky girl, I'd have to say!" The actress welcomed castmates from ATWT, including Michael Park (Jack, his wife, Laurie, and Martha Byrne (Rose/Lily). "Artie's dad loved Martha," Conn reveals. "They had a good time meeting everybody." Park and his wife weren't the only ones happy to see castmate Annie Parisse (Julia). "It was so good to see her," Conn says, "because we don't see her around [the set] as much anymore. And I miss her." "Paul brought his brother all the way from Australia," Conn jokes of Michael Leyden's appearance at the party. "He's a sweetie." "Trent Dawson (Henry) showed up a little late," the woman of the hour admits, "but I was glad that he got to show up." The bride-to-be was especially happy to have the support of her married co-stars such as Peter Parros (Ben). "Peter and his wife came, which really meant a lot," Conn says. "They're a really amazing couple who we look up to."

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What's the last video you rented? (CBS Soaps in Depth - August 28, 2001) Terri: "We rented The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps, just because we wanted something light and funny. We watched about the first 10 minutes and it was really bad. I can't recommend that one!"

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Look Out, World, Here's the Newest "Funny Girl" (Soap Opera Update - August 14, 2001) Terri Conn locates a hidden talent and turns our world hysterically upside down.

John Belushi stung as a dancing bee and gross-out fraternity boy. Gilda Radner expelled prophetic dementia for Emily Litella. Mike Myers? "Wayne" was worthy of no one. And now, Terri Conn's "Katie Frasier" burns scatterbrained sunshine onto a cynical New York audience. Hey, it could be amended into the history books. After all, Lorne Michaels, the wizard behind NBC's iconic Saturday Night Live, has yet to fill the void left by Cheri Oteri. And anyone turning on As the World Turns knows that it has assembled a platform where Conn can mine her comedic solos with such aplomb that Katie's hijinks darken our cheeks with a heavier shade of blush than Passions' Timmy.

Excuse You?

For Conn, a member of Oakdale since September 1998, a gig with SNL would be her "dream job," allowing her to remain in New York doing "quality work." The actress' fantastical fusion with Michaels would already exist, if not for one befuddled drive. "I got cast to do one of the fake commercials (on SNL) and it was hilarious. I was more excited about it than anything I've done for so long," begins Conn. "It was with Jimmy Fallon (an SNL regular). We were supposed to be sitting at the table, and this thing that you, well, that you put up your butt made you say something intelligent when you break wind. So, my eventual reaction would be that this guy was saying something really wonderful." Arriving two hours late, Conn lost her shot at being wooed by the one suitor no girl would want - flatulence - unless, of course, she was to be rewarded with a spot on a legendary variety show.

East Versus West

Ironically, Conn is not intimidated by the behemoth art form, most often regaled by industry ins iders as the more difficult technique to master. "From the beginning, I thought comedy was easier," answers the petite blonde, her legs crossed and her mind enthusiastically engaged in our ensuing conversation. "I danced when I was little, and comedy has a lot to do with rhythm. I mean, they talk about comedy being all about timing, and it's just like hearing a beat. I've also watched sitcoms my entire life (F.Y.I.: Her favorite is Three's Company). You know, for some people like Lesli (Kay, Molly) or Martha (Byrne, Lily/Rose), those real emotional scenes are nothing. That's how I am with comedy." But is Conn as amusing in everyday life? "My parents think so," meekly replies the only child, suddenly anchoring her remark with a strident laugh. "We all have the same sense of humor (very dry and quirky), so when I'm comfortable around people, I think I am (funny). I'm not the one out of the group to usually be the comedienne. I was never class clown." Her life will suddenly entertain an interesting dichotomy come August as Conn counts down to her September 7 wedding to actor/musician Arthur Colombino and decides on her ATWT future (the bell tolls on August 1 . "Artie and I are deciding whether we need to be in New York or Los Angeles," admits the New Mexico native. "I've lived in Los Angeles, and I thought I'd stay above it all and not become worried about my weight." ("He's sweet, open and down-to-earth," says Conn of fiancé Colombino.) "You begin to feel like being a stick is the norm," she continues candidly. "There was a time when I wished that I could be anorexic. How sick is that? I was like, if I could just not eat as much as I do, but I can't! I love food! I feel good about myself here (in N.Y). I could get over it. It's just that I'm getting married... and I want a normal life. I told Artie that I wanted us to be like Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker." At press time, Conn was still be laboring the pros and cons. While the prospect of doing a sitcom "excites" her, remaining on ATWT evokes similar pleasure. "Originally, I thought I would come for three years, learn a lot, make money, then take off! I decided that I wouldn't stay or else I'd be here forever," she recalls. "I used to think that was bad. Now, I know it's a great job, with great people, and a cool character, so why is it such a bad thing?"

Why Am I Here?

In the days of Georgia and Eddie, Katie's depth fell into shallow water. "I was totally confused and very depressed," remembers the actress, now an Emmy nominee, seen on air no less than three days a week and always paired with a hunk (Simon, Holden, Henry). "I wanted the opportunity to have cool storyline. I wanted to act so bad. But it wasn't on the grand scheme of things at the time, and they had to just fit Katie in there somehow." (Katie's turnaround can be attributed to Henry and their sparring) Currently, Katie dreams of Simon and exacts "Miracle On 34th Street's" famed 'I believe, I believe' mantra in an effort to convert their marriage of convenience into a more traditional blend. Still, Conn believes that theirs is healthier than the one she shared with Holden. ("Simon sees the good in Katie, even though she does ridiculous things.") As for Conn's own wedding, the vows remain her only concern. "I'm worried I won't be able to get through because I'll be crying so hard," she explains, strengthening her case with and admission that, after viewing a McDonald's commercial about a boy who learned sign language to communicate with a friend, a teary storm flooded Conn's cheeks. Yes, even funny girls get the blues.

Soaps Go Commercial: Conn's smile was made famous by Arm & Hammer toothpaste. "I only saw it a few times, but friends told me it was on every other day."

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In Depth Report: Is It Good to Infuse Soaps with Youth in the Summer Months? (CBS Soaps in Depth - August 14, 2001) When she was a young schoolgirl, Terri Colombino "l loved watching the soaps during the summer. I'd get hooked!" she recalls. But not solely by the lure of lithe bodies like hers. "Even though I was young, it didn't mean that I didn't want to watch [characters like Y&R matriarch] Katherine Chancellor." Nonetheless, she now observes, "I think it's good to bring teens to the forefront during the summer as long as they don't neglect other storylines."

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Mimi ... with Terri Conn (Soap Net Online Star Interview - August 24, 2001)

Mimi Torchin: I really didn't know Terri Conn when I interviewed her. I had met the lovely young woman only once, a few days before the interview, at a charity event for an animal shelter. She had just been nominated for an Emmy for her role as the mischief-making Katie Frasier on As the World Turns. She was bubbling over with excitement and was almost as happy for her friends and cast mates Kristina Sisco and Annie Parisse (all three had been nominated in the Outstanding Younger Actress category) as she was for herself. I liked her right off the bat, because she wanted to take all the dogs up for adoption home with her. Anyone who loves animals is okay with me, so I suspected she was a nice kid. But I wasn't at all prepared for her genuine sweetness, thoughtful intelligence and the openness and depth of feeling she would bring to the interview. By her own admission, Terri Conn has led a "charmed life," and nobody knows better than she does how truly lucky she is.

Torchin: Never having been nominated for an Emmy myself, or anything, I'm just curious to know, what ran through your head when you found out you'd been nominated for outstanding younger actress in a daytime drama?
Terri Conn: I know, I don't know. Nothing ran through my head, I was like, 'what! I was at work, getting my hair done, and Alan, our publicist called and he said go get Terri, and I was like I'm getting my hair done I'll call him back, and they said, no, I think you really want to talk to him, and I said we have five more minutes let me just call him back and they said, no, get on the phone now! I was like, ok, whatever. They don't air the younger actress category on television, and we had been waiting, and it was still 15 minutes before it started airing so I wasn't even thinking about it. So I ran into the other room, got onto the phone, and he said congratulations, you got nominated, and I was like, oh! I was the first one for everyone to hear about, Everyone just freaked out and Kristina was sitting right next to me, and then he said is Kristina there, and I said, yes, and then I handed her the phone and she started screaming, and so we all started screaming again, and then he said, ok is Annie there, and I said, ok, this is my competition, my two favorite girls, so I was just thrilled and it's so nice to have someone to share it with.

Torchin: Is Annie in the same category with you?
Conn: Yeah

Torchin: She seems a little older, don't tell her I told you that! Now I know that you and Kristina are very good friends. Is this causing any friction between the two of you?
Conn: No, definitely not. In fact, I would rather have it that way, because it's fun to experience it with someone. And I didn't realize it until that day when I handed her the phone and I was so happy for her. It was like yeah, let's do it together! We'll go look for dresses, we'll go to all the parties. We went to them together last year, and everybody looked at us like who are you? Oh, ATWT, is that still on the air? We weren't treated very well, so this year we're going to live it up!

Torchin: It's very exciting, In fact, last year was really a very low time for the show, no nominations, everybody was really depressed, what do you think caused the difference between last year and this year? I mean, 25 nominations, that's unbelievable.
Conn: I know. Last year, we were going through a move, and we were just kind of starting out with Chris, Goutman, and our new writer, Hogan Sheffer, so things were just starting, and I think they were just focusing on making the show better, and not worry about nominations. This year, after being shunned all across the board last year, after the Emmys we all got together and said, we're getting good, and we deserve what we deserve. A lot of people on the show had deserved it for a long time, so I feel like this is representative of all these past years of coming on and not getting recognized, and this sheds a positive light on the show for the past and for years to come.

Torchin: Oh I think so. I think that 25 nominations, and I know some of you are going to take some home with you.
Conn: Oh definitely. Well the thing is every single person has so much to back it up. I was running through the studio yesterday trying to get some tapes and a lot of the nominees were there trying to put together their tapes, and it's like everybody has a list, pages long, of scenes to choose from, because so many things have happened this year, we've had great storylines, and it's not like oh no, I got nominated, and I have nothing to show for it. It's trying to figure out what out of all the great things to show.

Torchin: Have you decided what clips you're going to show to the blue ribbon panel?
Conn: No, that's what I'm doing today, after we're done here. We have to decide by tomorrow.

Torchin: Do you have any ideas of which scenes you might use?
Conn: I can't decide. I actually voted last year, so I kind of got an idea of what works and what doesn't, and you need either something very dramatic, but not too screamy, just something very moving, I watched Heather Tom last year and she was amazing. It was very simple and very real, and it made me cry, if you can do that out of context, it's a good tape.

Torchin: Yeah, you're being very smart, because a lot of years, when Susan didn't win, many people thought, myself included, that she didn't pick very good clips.
Conn: It's all strategic, very strategic, you have to pick something that showcases you, and not worry about what other people are doing, because we all have different characters. My character is kind of a bitch, and doesn't have those emotional scenes, she causes people to have emotional scenes. I'm trying to focus on the strengths of Katie, which have come to be kind of comedic this year too, so I'm going to try and look for maybe one dramatic episode, maybe from the stalker stuff, and then one comedic, kind of goofy one.

Torchin: Well, I think that, she's a conniver, I think you'll have fun picking, you'll probably be surprised when you're looking at things. How good your work was.
Conn: I've been looking through tapes that I completely forgot about, it's really fun to see how you've grown. There are things you've done, things I've forgotten about because I've gone thru so many transitions this year.

Torchin: So whenever anybody gets up there, they make their speeches, and they always say I didn't do this alone. We know you didn't do this alone, you're not acting in a vacuum, who do you think of all your costars, has really helped you, with their work, to get you this nomination?
Conn: That's a tough question, there are so many. The first person that comes to mind is Trent Dawson, who plays Henry, because Katie took a major turn, for the best, when he came on the show. He's my comedic cohort, and I think he just added such an element of manipulation, fun manipulation, that you don't see a lot on soaps. The relationship that Katie and Henry has is very unique and very fun, and people love it, and I love working with him.

Torchin: He's darling.
Conn: He's so good, he's so talented, and I think I've learned a lot from him without even knowing it! Because I look back and think that's really where I started to feel comfortable, as an actress, and Katie really started to grow. And then of course, Jon Hensley, it's like seamless working with him, you don't even know you're acting. Martha Byrne, we haven't worked together a lot, but she's always there to give me tons of advice and encouragement, and I admire her.

Torchin: She's been on the show since she was a little girl so she really knows, knows it from the ground up.
Conn: Right, right, and then Paul Leyden, we're friends in life, so I think that really translates, and they love Simon and Katie as friends because I think that that chemistry we have in our own friendship translates, so I get a little bit from everyone.

Torchin: You've had some help, but you stand pretty well alone, too.
Conn: Thank you.

Torchin: But you're not alone, that's the good news. In real life you have a darling fiancé, Artie Colombino, how did you all meet?
Conn: We actually met, this is a funny story, May 18th, last year, at a pre-Emmy party, so it was the same day as the Emmys this year. This is our one-year anniversary.

Torchin: That's portentous, isn't it?
Conn: Yep, it's interesting.

Torchin: You have your Emmy nomination, you have your one-year anniversary, it probably bodes well for both the marriage to come, and the Emmy, right?
Conn: Right. It's been a very good year.

Torchin: When you met Artie, besides the fact that he's quite good looking, what was it that struck you?
Conn: Well, he's definitely good looking, because I was not looking at the time. Steven Bergman who's a photographer for the Soap Press, actually introduced us, he's good friends with Artie, thru Donny Jeffcoat, who was on One Life to Live. I'm pretty good friends with Steven too and we were talking and he said oh have you met my friend Artie? And I was like oh no, oh no, because I really didn't want to be introduced to anyone at the time, and then he walked up and I was, oh, ok, bring him over! He's beautiful, and I can really say within the first two minutes of talking to him there was just something, we just connected, on a level that you can feel, you know how it is that you can feel with certain people than you know you're going to be friends with them. And that's what I actually thought when I first met him, I thought what a great guy, so down to earth, so talented, so sweet I could just tell he was a good person, and I wanted to be friends with him.

Torchin: And how long after that did it get romantic and you realized he was [the one]?
Conn: About two weeks! Really the first time we went out, we spent about probably only 20 - 30 minutes talking that night, which I totally enjoyed, and then as we were leaving, I turned around and said I hope you call me, because I really like you, and then I thought, why did I just say that! That was so, you know that's not like me to say something like that, but I really did have a strong feeling about him, and I thought you know even if it's just friendship, he's a cool person and I need someone like that in my life. Then the first time we went out at the end of the date, we waved goodbye and I got in the cab and I drove off thinking, that could be it. I mean people say, when you know you know, and I was pretty sure. I didn't know for sure, but then over the next couple of weeks I was just flying! And have been ever since.

Torchin: How soon after that date did he propose, and how did he do it?
Conn: He proposed on Nov 3, and he had been planning on taking me away that weekend, and didn't want me to know, didn't want me to have any idea. We kind of talked about this, where our relationship was going, and he had called my mom that morning, to ask ...

Torchin: Oh he's so sweet!
Conn: Yeah, he's amazing, he has the best heart, and morals, and an amazing family. That's what I'm excited about, everybody says you know you're marrying into a family, and I'm very happy to marry into this one.

Torchin: Is it a big family?
Conn: Yeah, huge, Italian, you know! He has an older brother and a younger sister, who are both actors too. He comes from an amazingly talented family, very supportive, which is important so, I'm excited to be a part of that family.

Torchin: So how did he propose?
Conn: So he asked my mom, and she was thrilled of course, and my dad wasn't around, so she said make sure you call Terri's dad. And so he had called and left a message, and my dad wasn't around, so he called back right when we were getting ready to go out to an event, for Cerebral Palsy, so we were all dressed up, he was in a tux and I was in a dress, and he called back, while I was there, so he was freaking out, I have to take this call downstairs, so he took his cell phone downstairs, and I was thinking, what is he doing, he never does that. So he comes back upstairs, kind of laughing and looking flushed and I said who was that? And he said I'll tell you in a minute, let me calm down, and I'm thinking what is that about, did he get a part, what was it? And then he said come out here and let me see how you look. So I walked outside and he said oh you look so beautiful, and I said thank you, and he said what jewelry do you think you're going to wear, and I said I don't know. And he said well I think you need another piece of jewelry. And he got down on his knee and I was like what are you doing? I knew what he was doing, I was just so shocked. He wanted to shock me and he definitely shocked me. We both got very emotional, it went by so fast, and yet at the time it went by so slow, it was like, I can't believe this is happening right now, you know just [he] said the most beautiful wonderful things. We celebrated and rejoiced and I called my parents, and my mom said wait he was going to take you away, and he just couldn't wait. He'd talked to my dad and he was so happy and he'd had the ring for a couple of weeks and he's like I just couldn't wait and we have romantic days everyday who needs to go away off to some island.

Torchin: Oh, you're a lucky girl. Let me see the ring. It's beautiful.
Conn: This is a testament to how much he knows me because it's exactly what I would have picked out had we gone out together, but I'm glad that we didn't, because you know, it's something from him, that he chose, that I wear. It's not about the ring. I could have a piece of paper around my finger and be happy. It's not about that, it's about the love. It's just a symbol.

Torchin: You know you're very young, you don't have any qualms about settling down with one person while you're kind of young, do you?
Conn: Well, you know the reason I didn't want to meet anyone before him was because I was worried about that, I thought oh look at the business that I'm in, people come and go, and have these affairs, and I was really scared, but that's why I love him so much. When I met him, he's in the same business, which I wasn't really too thrilled about at first either, but what I've realized is that we think the exact same way about the business, about life in general, and that your love relationship and friendships are more important than anything. I will always feel that way, and I will never let my career get in the way of us, he won't either, and I trust that. And I want him to trust that in me. You know, life is not about being on TV, or getting this role, or whatever, it's about your relationships with people, and I'm so thankful to have him, he's such a beautiful person and I'm not going to let anything get in the way of that.

Torchin: Well you sound very sincere about this, I think you probably know what you're doing. We used to make jokes about ATWT because so many of your costars fell in love. We used to say what's in the water in Oakdale? So whatever you do, don't drink the water!
Conn: With the pregnancy thing too, when I first joined the show two women were pregnant, then three women got pregnant after that, they were like don't drink the water!

Torchin: So don't drink the water! Although I don't think you can get pregnant by drinking the water.
Conn: Well you never know!

Torchin: When you went to LA, you went, wanting to be on a soap. Which I think is quite remarkable, because many young actors in particular, who don't know the lay of the land, and don't know how difficult work is, and how difficult soaps are, they consider soaps a stepping stone to other work, you went actually wanting to be on a soap, you didn't want to be a big movie star, you wanted a soap.
Conn: Well I just grew up watching The Young and the Restless, and it's something very special in our culture, I think, to have something always the same, you can turn on the TV when you're 5 yrs. old and turn it on when you're 15 and see the same person, and see how they've grown, and it's kind of a cool thing, so I always thought. I just remember a show, not necessarily a soap, but any show, and I would listen to a line and look in the mirror and say it the way I would say it, you know I always wanted to be an actor, and I just thought what a great way to do it, to have consistent work and be on a show that people really feel that they know you. And so I went to LA and took a soap opera acting class, which was actually a really good class, taught by one of the casting directors of The Young and the Restless, Gail Camacho. I think she's still there, I'm not really sure, and then she gave me, well, she didn't give me a job, but I got an audition after that for an under five on The Young and the Restless so that was my first big job in LA, and I was so excited because it was the show that I had watching - I called my mom and said I'm going to be on The Young and the Restless, and they were all really sweet at the studio, I was there for all of an hour, because it goes so quickly, so that was my first taste of what soap operas were like. I mean of course I did, I do still want to do movies. My main reason for acting is that I want to do things that touch people, that make people think. I love watching movies and walking away going, you know I never thought about that. Or you know, watching a really inspiring movie and going well I can do anything too. I love that, and I love how movies can do that for people and TV and so that's what I want to do. And so long as I'm doing that I don't really care what the medium is, if I'm happy with the people I'm doing it with, and I'm happy with the stories I'm conveying then who cares what it is.

Torchin: You know As the World Turns, you're on a show with an amazing legacy, 45 years, and there are many famous actors who have this on their resume. Do you think about the show's legacy?
Conn: Oh definitely! I love that, like I said earlier, I love the history and the familiarity of having a show that you can just turn on and see the same people over and over. And Eileen Fulton and Helen Wagner and Don Hastings, they have these stories from years and years of being on the show, and it's just amazing.

Torchin: Don is very funny, isn't he?
Conn: Oh - he is just the funniest person I have ever met, I love when he's on set.

Torchin: I love his stories. He just makes me laugh from the minute you start talking to him until the minute he walks away, or you do. He's just a great guy.
Conn: He's great on those days when we have a Thanksgiving show or a wedding, when everybody's onset and we're there for hours and we're all delirious by the end of the day, he keeps us laughing the whole entire time, he, Michael Park and Martha Byrne. We've got some comedians on the show.

Torchin: Ok now I'm going to make up a soap opera scenario. It's the last day of the world, that's it, tomorrow it's all over. How would you spend your last day?
Conn: Gosh that's a good question. Well I probably if I could get every person that I love together in one place which would be hard to do since they're spread out all over the United States and just have a big party. And definitely just spend some time alone with Artie. With no one else around! But I would definitely want to spend it with the people I love. No jumping off mountains or anything, I'm not a daredevil. I would just want to be with the people I love, and make amends, if need be and let everyone I know, know how much I love them.

Torchin: I think that sounds like a great way to end things with a bang! I've heard that you've said, and I've read it, that you think you live a charmed life, now I'm pretty sure that after hearing about the current events in your life why you would say that, do you feel that way about your whole life?
Conn: Yeah, basically I do. Ever since I was a little girl I have always just thought, it makes me emotional too. I have always just wondered why you know. Why do some people get such a short end of the stick and I don't but the only way I can really deal with it? I mean I have talked to my parents about it before and they just said be thankful and give of yourself to others. Which is, we were talking earlier saying Rosie O'Donnell wanted to use her celebrity to help people and I think that is what I am here to do cause I really want to do that. It's really important to me. But you know, it's so tough. Its like great things have happened to me and I am so thankful and so thankful to my parents. Exactly knock on wood. I don't know why I do that. I have to knock on my head and your head. I've always just felt really blessed and really thankful. I just always want to give back and make people's lives a little bit easier. Maybe that is why I became an actress. I don't know.

Torchin: Do you believe in karma?
Conn: Definitely.

Torchin: You have probably led many, many lives as a really wonderful person.
Conn: Or maybe I have led a lot of tough lives and I have all the worst behind me. I hope. But I have a fear too of something tragic happening.

Torchin: I think we all worry about that especially when things are good. I think its human nature. Like when is the bus going to hit me, when is the building going to fall on me but I think your attitude about just enjoying it. I think it is very mature.
Conn: I try!

Torchin: It is good to see you appreciate it.
Conn: I do.

Torchin: A lot of people have charmed lives and they just don't realize it, they waste all of that great karma.
Conn: I know. It's so sad. What I hope for people is that people just follow their passions. I think that is probably why good things have happened to me. Because I always try to follow my heart and follow my passions instead of doing what I should do, what society thinks I should do or my parents think I should do. And luckily they have always been very supportive so I have always felt like I can do whatever I want.

Torchin: You have good instinct.
Conn: Yeah! I try to follow them and when I don't, not so great things happen so I try to always follow them even if I have no idea where I am going or why. It usually works out and everything builds on everything else so it has been good so far.

Torchin: Ok. So now I know that you do a lot of charity events and that you work very hard you are a very lovely young women. But I want to know what you do for a good time.
Conn: I don't ever, no I am kidding.

Torchin: I know you know how to play and have fun.
Conn: You know I don't really have a lot of hobbies or anything. People always ask me what are your hobbies and I am like uh, am I boring? I don't really have any. I like to spend time with friends. I love instead of going to a club and partying till all hours of the night, I would rather have all my friends over with a bottle of wine and just talk and hang out and laugh and dance and goof around. That's my favorite way to spend my time.

Torchin: I wouldn't argue with that. I think I would go along with it.
Conn: I am so excited for my bachelorette party. We are going to Santa Barbara for a weekend, a girl weekend. So all of my best friends from my different times in life, I have some best friends from high school, my closest friend Julie Smith, well now she is married. It's the hardest to remember people's new last names. She's orchestrating the whole thing so she is getting my high school, my college friends, my CA friends, my NY friends and we are all going to Santa Barbara for a weekend just to do that. Dance and sing and drink wine and lay on the beach.

Torchin: Oh it sounds fantastic.
Conn: Oh its going to be the best. I mean when do you get to do that in your life, get all of your friends together?

Torchin: I can't even imagine. It's a wonderful thing for someone to do.
Conn: I am really excited.

Torchin: Do you have any ideas what your wedding is going to be like?
Conn: Well it is such an exciting time just to be able to put together your ideal day. And I love fairy tales and so that is what I want it to look like, a fairy tale. I think every bride does too to a certain extent but I even want the flower girl to wear wings. I don't know exactly how I am going to do that.

Torchin: That is so sweet. Tinker bell for the flower girl.
Conn: Yeah little tinker bell and she is so cute too. I don't know. I just want everyone to walk into a fairyland. Stay there for a couple hours and leave happy.

Torchin: Now, if you could possibly imagine yourself as old as 40, I know that's what people sort of think but take it from me, you get there, How do you see your life at forty?
Conn: I'll never be forty. It's not that far away actually. Well, ideally which I always say ideally, I would like to have a family and a beautiful home either outside of New York or outside of LA, which is where we're going to be being actors. I don't want to be in the city I want to be out in a nice home where it feels like a regular family life. I'd love to be doing movies, scripts that I want to do, maybe one a year. I love Meryl Streep's life. I love her acting. She has a charmed life too. She isn't in the public eye. She doesn't have to be on the cover of every magazine. It's not about that for her, it's not about that for me, she does one or two movies a year or one every other year, she does whatever she feels like. She picks good scripts that speak to people and she has a great family life. She has the best of both worlds and that's really what I want. I'm not in this to be a famous star but I want to be big enough to be able to pick and choose the scripts that I want to tell the stories that I want to tell. Which means that I might be producing eventually because I want to have control, so I wouldn't mind that either so ideally I want to have as normal as a life as possible and still be able to do my passion, which is acting and storytelling.

Torchin: Well, I hope that as in all fairy tale's all your dreams come true you have happy endings and beginnings and I'm sure you'll have exactly the life you want to have. I'm very happy that you came to do this, it was really fun you were great. Thank you.

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If you had not been an actor, what career would you have chosen? (CBS Soaps in Depth - July 31, 2001) Terri: "I tried not to be an actor, but every time I tried to do something else, I just kept thinking about acting, so I think that it was meant to be. Although now that I've gotten into the whole entertainment industry, I think that I'd love to produce because I like putting things together. Maybe direct, too, but I'm not sure I could command that kind of authority. I might have to grow up a little bit more first!"

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Picture Perfect (Soaps in Depth - July 31, 2001) During her sophomore year of high school, Terri Conn found herself attending two separate homecoming dances, both at her home school, and that of her date's. But the most fun she had was to found in between. "The only thing I remember, truly, is walking from one to the other," she admits. Passing through downtown Albuquerque, Conn and date Scott Lewis took goofy pictures of each other posing with the statues along the streets of their hometown. "It was so much fun," Conn laughs, "and I remember thinking this is so much better than going to a dance and pretending I like the people I'm hanging out with."

That's a Fact: Senior year, Conn was crowned homecoming queen.

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An Engaging Affair (Soap Opera Weekly - July 31, 2001) Bellinis in blushing-bride pink were the drink of the evening at Terri Conn (Katie, ATWT) and Arthur Colombino's engagement party at Letizia Amore Ristorante. The bride-to-be, meanwhile, was in a tight, black, Moulin Rouge-style dress, complete with racy red flower. "I figured if I have to be sweet and bridal for the wedding, I can be hot and sexy for the engagement party." Terri said with her beguilingly innocent smile. She was adorned with hair attachments, because, she moaned, "I miss my long hair!" With the wedding just a couple of months off, she won't be able to grow it back for the big day. "I just read about this place in a bridal magazine that says, 'We can make your hair thicker and longer,' so I've gotta check it out!"

Terri and Artie's friends Carolyn Heft and Kenneth Teaton co-hosted the party at the Italian eatery where guests, including ATWT cast mates Paul Leyden, Annie Parisse and Peter Parros (Simon, Julia and Ben), feasted on the glorious array of goodies. Vox vodka was the beverage alternative, which I recommended to Artie's grandfather and namesake, Arthur Hartel. "This drink is too pink for you," I told the macho man as he considered a Bellini. But no one could have turned more tender in speaking of his granddaughter-in-law-to-be. "She's a doll, absolutely beautiful, and beautiful here too - right from her heart. I knew right away they were meant for each other." His love for Terri was echoed by Artie's dad, Ralph, and mom, Vicky. Vicky and her daughter, Stephanie, will be hosting Terri's shower, for which Martha Byrne (Lily/Rose, ATWT) revealed she bought the couple bedding. "People don't usually think to buy it, but you need it."

A couple of weeks later, Terri and all of her bridesmaids will head to Santa Barbara for a bachelorette party. "We're just going to lie on the beach, drink wine, listen to music, tell fun stories, and be girls," Terri told me. She regretted that her parents hadn't been able to fly in from New Mexico to attend this "awesome" party. "But my mom's coming in soon to help firm up all the wedding plans, and then they're both coming in August to get ready for the wedding." The September nuptials will take place in an Episcopal church in lower Manhattan, and then guests will be transported across the bridge to the reception in a landmark Brooklyn building. "I love historical buildings, and this place is amazing."

Terri's keeping her gown hush-hush, but I can tell you that Artie's "very modern" tuxedo is duplicate of one Robert De Niro wore to the Oscars a couple of years ago (the same people are making it). And the bridesmaids' gowns are, according to Carolyn, "incredible. I've been in six wedding parties, and hers are the nicest. If I had to wear any of the dresses again, I would wear Terri's."

Laurie Park was feeling very femme fatale in the new dress and shoes she bought that day to surprise hubby Michael Park (Jack, ATWT), who met her, Martha and Martha's husband, Michael McMahon, at another restaurant prior to the party. Laurie was still reeling over the fact that her dream man, N.Y. Yankee Derek Jeter, had strolled into the restaurant just ahead of her husband. "I was in heaven! We're just sitting at the bar, and in walks the love of my life - besides my husband." "She sleeps in a Derek Jeter T-shirt," Michael confirmed. "I've told her I could be Derek Jeter in bed any time she wants me to. I can be ol' No. 2. You want me to be the Bronx Bomber? Baby, I got what you need! Bam! I know how to swing a 34-ounce bat!" I asked this six-years-married couple, who obviously still adore each other, to give Terri and Artie their best advice for a happy marriage. "Continue to be each other's best friend," Laurie said. Michael seconded it, adding, "And don't mind it when your wife has a huge crush on Derek Jeter."

Martha doesn't think that Terri and Artie need any help at all. "They just love each other so much. I find their relationship to be something rare in this business. Mike and I have it, and Michael and Laurie do, too. It's very genuine and very simple, just about loving each other and nothing else. And the way that Artie speaks about Terri is something that you don't hear very often anymore. He is so supportive of her and whatever she wants to do - he's there for her." Martha's there for her too. "I respect Terri, as a person, an actress, everything. I'm so happy for her. I wouldn't have missed this party for the world."

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Surprise ... Sort Of (Soap Opera Digest - July 31, 2001) Cast and crew members of As the World Turns came to Letizia Amore restaurant in New York City to celebrate Terri Conn's engagement to Arthur Colombino. "It was supposed to be a surprise, but I knew a little about it," admitted Conn. "I found out because there was a notice posted at the studio. I was like, 'Hey - that's me!' But, the best part was that I didn't know who was gonna be there. Artie's family showed up; it was a fun evening."

Caption: "It's so great to see Terri and Artie," smiled Kim Onasch. "They're so perfect together, so happy. It's a real blessing that they found each other."

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Roundup "Which co-star would be your lifeline on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" (Soap Opera Digest - July 31, 2001) Terri Conn (Katie, ATWT): "Elizabeth Hubbard [Lucinda]. She knows everything about everything. She is the most interesting person to listen to, ever. She makes you feel kind of dumb [laughs]."

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Peer Review (Soap Opera Digest - July 17, 2001) Re: Paul Leyden "If there's any way of being serious about what you're doing without being too serious about it, that's Paul Leyden," says onscreen wife Terri Conn (Katie). "It's like a perfect combination. He cares about every scene and wants to make everything the best it can be, yet he doesn't dwell on it or take it too seriously, which you can't, really, in daytime."

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He Eats Like a Bird (Soap Opera Digest - July 17, 2001) As if pretending to be stranded on an island isn't wacky enough, the show brought in a real hawk to pretend to snatch the diamond out of Katie s hand ... which made for an extra-surreal day on the job for her portrayer Terri Conn. "They had me hold raw meat, and the hawk was supposed to swoop down and take it," she explains. "But he didn't like the raw meat, because usually he eats dead chicks. So I got to hold one of those for about 45 minutes." The ick factor notwithstanding, "It was an interesting experience," grins the actress. "Sometimes you look around the set and go, 'How did I get here? I m holding a dead baby chicken on a fake island with cameras and lights all around!' "

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Heading for a Wedding (CBS Soaps in Depth - July 17, 2001) When ATWT's Terri Conn (Katie) first met fiancé Arthur Colombino, there was instant chemistry. Nonetheless, she's hesitant to call it love at first sight. "I knew that he was an amazing person, and I was really comfortable with him," she admits. "I didn't know I wanted to marry him right at that second, but I wanted to know him. So we just went out the next week, and it's been pretty much amazing since." Now, just over a year later, the couple are ready to head down the aisle. But as September 7 approaches, there still is much to do before the big day. "Everything's starting to come together," Conn says of her and Colombino's nuptials. "We found the bridesmaids dresses, finally," she sighs happily. "It's taken me forever!"

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ATWT's Terri Conn Chooses the Friends & Family Plan for Her September Wedding (SoapCity Online - July 2001) Katie's "with-this-green-card-I-thee-wed" marriage to Simon on As the World Turns was strictly a no-frills affair. (The INS agent in hot pursuit of Simon didn't exactly get an engraved invitation to the event.) In real life, Katie's portrayer, Terri Conn, is planning to wed actor/musician Arthur Colombino on September 7 in a big, white-lace-and-satin blowout with all the trimmings. These days she couldn't be more hassled with wedding preparations ... yet she couldn't be happier.

SoapCity's Jason: So are we talking B-I-G wedding here?
Terri Conn: Well, it's getting bigger by the day. Arthur has a huge family in New Jersey and New York, and mine is all spread out. I'm from Albuquerque, New Mexico, but only about a third of my family is there. Some relatives are in Connecticut, others are in Florida, North Carolina, Arizona... they're all over the place. We couldn't decide where to have the wedding. At first, we thought about having it in New Mexico, but then I realized that a majority of the people who'd be coming were from the New York/New Jersey area, so we decided to have it here.
SC's Jason: Have you picked out a best man and maid of honor?
Conn: Oh, we got that done right away. We knew exactly who we wanted. It's been all the other little details that have taken a while to work out. Arthur asked his brother to be his best man, and I asked my oldest friend, Julie Smith, to be my maid of honor. I'm an only child, but Julie is almost like my sister. We've been best friends since we were nine. When my family moved to New Mexico, Julie was my first and closest friend. I was maid of honor at her wedding two years ago; and she's coming all the way from Seattle to be at mine, so it's really special.
SC's Jason: Are you two on the phone all the time discussing gowns, flowers and all that frazzling stuff?
Conn: Actually, the wedding preparations have brought us back together, which I'm really happy about. Over the years, you tend to lose touch. But Julie and I have one of those friendships where even if you don't talk for four months, it doesn't matter. Once we do make contact, we never stop talking. So it's great that we're talking all the time now.
SC's Jason: By the way, how did you and Arthur happen to meet?
Conn: It was a year ago at one of those many pre-Emmy parties. Kristina Sisco [Abigail] and I went together. We almost didn't go, because it was raining that night and we were [living] way out here in Brooklyn. But Kristina wanted to meet some people from the West Coast soaps who were supposed to be there, and we really didn't feel like staying in, so we decided to go, after all. Artie was there with his friend Don Jeffcoat [ex-Joey, One Life to Live]. Ironically, he almost didn't go to the party either, because he had just gotten back from LA. So the fact that we both actually went to this party -- and met - well, it's one of those fate stories, which I like.
SC's Jason: We understand that Arthur is currently involved in a film project that's going gangbusters?
Conn: Yes, he's producing a film right now, so I never see him [laughs]. It's called Long Story Short. It's a collection of five short films that he and his friends wrote and put together, all on digital video. It's terrific, but because it has such a small budget, everybody is doing everything. The other day Artie cooked chicken parmigiana for 25 people, because they don't have a craft service person [to feed the crew].
SC's Jason: Do you have a role in the film?
Conn: I have a little part in it. I play a news reporter, which is funny because of Katie's background at WOAK. I'm playing the part like, this is the girl Katie would like to be, but because Katie is Katie it's impossible!
SC's Jason: Do you keep in touch with Jaime Dudney (ex-Georgia). I know you two were fast friends in the days of the Georgia/Eddie/Katie triangle?
Conn: I just talked to Jaime a few days ago. She's living in LA and doing really well. She's coming to my bachelorette weekend, which is going to be in Santa Barbara in July.
SC's Jason: Is that your pre-wedding bachelor party - your last fling, so to speak?
Conn: Yes, I'm just going to hang out with my closest friends in Santa Barbara. We've rented a place on the beach and we're just going to hang out and have fun. No male strippers or anything - I don't want that. It's different for guys; they have it so much easier. Women's bodies are a lot easier to look at than men's.
SC's Jason: And what will the groom be doing for his last fling?
Conn: His bachelor party is set for Labor Day weekend - the weekend before the wedding. He and a bunch of his buddies are going camping and fishing, so there won't be any strippers there, either! Yay!
SC's Jason: What about honeymoon plans?
Conn: We're going to Italy. Arthur has tons of family there that he's never met. We're going to rent a car, drive around and hopefully meet them. It'll be a little adventure!

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Designing Woman (Soaps in Depth - June 19, 2001) Planning her own wedding has brought out the artist in Terri Conn. "I love decorating," she smiles. "So this is a big chance to decorate for months." And while the young actress doesn't plan on moonlighting, she does admit to enjoying designing dresses. "I always have this creative thing going through my head when I look at a dress," she explains. "I'm like, 'Well, it could be better if I just pulled this side up, or made it strapless, or added some beads ..." But she knows her own limitations. "I can't draw," Conn laughs. "And I wouldn't be able to sew them unless I took a class or something, but I can think them up in my head!"

That's a Fact: Conn once appeared on the cover of New Jersey Bride magazine.

Caption: Happily entrenched in planning her wedding, Conn jokes, "Maybe I'll become a wedding coordinator after this!"

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Terri Conn's Support System (SoapCity Online - June 2001) As the World Turns' Terri Conn is having a blast working with acting vet Don Chastain, who plays Cooley, the Don Juan-a-be beachcomber who's pursuing her on the island where they're stranded. Last week's seduction scene, she admits, needed to be handled with special sensitivity, and Chastain was very understanding of her feelings. "Don is the sweetest, most gentle person ever," Terri says, "and he knew that [doing that scene] was going to be kind of weird for me, so he was very supportive."

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One on One (SoapCity Online - 2001) When Terri Conn taped her first episode of As The World Turns on August 25, 1998, she didn't feel too secure about the future. Her character, Katie Peretti, was basically a bland, blonde question mark - a college runaway who showed up on big sister Margo's doorstep with lots of fanfare, but not much storyline. In truth, the writers didn't know what to do with her. But once ATWT head writer Hogan Sheffer discovered the beautifully bent essence of Katie, he transformed her from an inept junior misfit into a high-stakes hellcat who could make a TV station quake and send the U.S. immigration bureau running for cover.

Terri Conn This spring Terri Conn earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for her turbo-charged antics, proving that getting off to a slow start on a soap can ultimately be a blessing in disguise. And that's not the only good news in her life: On September 7, the actress plans to marry her fiancé, actor/musician Arthur Colombino. In the midst of signing a brand-new contract with As The World Turns , planning her bachelor party (in Santa Barbara, CA) and handling a thousand-and-one wedding arrangements, Terri took time out to chat with SoapCity.

SC's Jason: Tell us about your audition for As The World Turns. You didn't start out testing for Katie, did you?

Terri Conn: I originally auditioned for the part of Lucinda's niece, Georgia. They didn't even have Katie Peretti on the canvas. I wasn't really right for Georgia, but they liked my audition, and I guess they liked something about me, so they decided to find a way to keep me. They figured that if they brought Georgia on, they'd probably need another young girl to either be her friend or cause her mischief, so they looked back at the show's history and said, "Let's bring back Lyla's daughter, Katie Peretti. She should be about 12 years old now - let's make her 18!"

SC's Jason: Poor Lyla. She was always such a saint, but look how badly her kids turned out. With a daughter like Katie and a son like Craig...

Terri Conn (laughing): That poor woman. She's like the opposite of the Virgin Mary!

SC's Jason: In the beginning, Katie seemed to be pretty rudderless, drifting from one story to another. First, she blamed Margo for her father Casey's death; then she tried to break up Georgia and Eddie; then she talked about being a misunderstood beauty pageant queen. None of it really seemed to stick. Was that a hard time for you as an actress?

Terri Conn: I just didn't feel like I fit in at all. I barely worked. Jaime Dudney (Georgia) and I became really good friends. She was working all the time, and I'd just be sitting at home. Her character had this great little love story with Eddie, and all these fun things to do, and I had nothing.

SC's Jason: When do you think the turning point came for your character? Was there a specific moment where you felt, "Wow! I can really sink my teeth into this material!"?

Terri Conn: Once I started to work at WOAK and starting going after Holden, that's when it really turned around for me. Having my own storyline - the whole stalker business - was the beginning of a real turnaround for Katie. And it really helped, too, that I suddenly got to work with a whole new set of people.

Terri Conn SC's Jason: Like Trent Dawson, who had viewers in stitches as Katie's exasperating partner in crime, Henry.

Terri Conn: Yes, he was only supposed to be there for two weeks, but thank God that he stayed on the show as long as he has. I credit him the most, along with the writers obviously, for Katie's transformation. Trent just has this life about him, this energy, that I can't help responding to when I'm doing scenes with him.

SC's Jason: In three years, Katie has really run the gamut of emotions...

Terri Conn: She went from goody two-shoes to a bitch to this goofy lovesick puppy with Simon, but she still has all those facets in her. That's what makes her really fun to play.

SC's Jason: Do you have a favorite Katie/Henry moment?

Terri Conn: Oh, gosh. That's a great question... Let me see... Oh, I remember one. When Henry left town after the Endicott Awards and then came back without telling her. He'd been gone for months, and I'd become this spoiled little bitch living with my brother Craig (in his hotel penthouse) and having everything handed to me. Well, I'm sitting in the Lakeview lounge. I've ordered a drink and he - Henry - brings it to me. I don't even look at him, so I don't know who it is. I take a sip of the drink and go, "Ugh. This is isn't right! I said no ice." So he brings back another one with ice. This time I take a sip and go, "It needs more lemon!" So he brings back yet another one with more lemon. And it still isn't right! Finally, I just look at him very disdainfully and say, "Would you listen to what I..." And I never finish the sentence. I just freeze because I see his face, and there he is, back in my life, rubbing it in my face that he managed to escape all the flak from the Endicott Awards and is doing really well, while I'm actually down on my luck and only pretending that I'm doing well.

SC's Jason: How do get along with your Australian leading man, Paul Leyden (Simon)? By the way, is it pronounced "Lay-den" or "Lye-den"?

Terri Conn (laughing): It's pronounced "Lay-den," but Paul says "Lye-den" because he's Australian. We've become good friends. Paul, Trent and Martha Byrne (Lily/Rose) - that's my dream team to work with. Paul Leyden is hilarious. His character doesn't indicate that, but he's the funniest guy around. We're always cracking up when we rehearse, and I can never keep a straight face. I'm sure that comes across sometimes because I'm not very good at holding in laughter. He gets me laughing a lot, and so does Martha.

SC's Jason: What kind of fan mail do you get?

Terri Conn: Well, it's changed a lot. I used to get some nasty letters. When Katie was going after Holden, people were not happy, and everybody warned me about the mail I was going to get. Lesli Kay (Molly) said, "Be prepared to get the meanest fan mail, to have everybody hate you." And I was like, "Oh, great."

SC's Jason: I bet Paul Leyden had the same problem. After all, Lily and Holden were the show's resident supercouple till his character Simon came along and started causing grief.

Terri Conn: No, it's different for men. It's such a double standard. They get forgiven for doing the same thing a woman does. It's much easier for the audience to swallow a Simon and Lily relationship than a Holden and Katie relationship. Well, I suppose the Holden and Katie relationship wasn't as feasible, anyway. I mean it just wasn't believable that Holden would fall for Katie, whereas it was believable that Lily might fall for Simon.

SC's Jason: True. For one thing, Simon and Lily were stranded on a remote island together, and she was thinking she'd never get back to her home and family. Plus, Lily and Simon obviously had real feelings for each other, whereas Katie's obsession with Holden was pretty one-sided.

Terri Conn: Yes, but it just seemed easier for people to accept Simon and Lily getting involved. It's like that in real life, you know.

SC's Jason: You mean we're more tolerant of the Simons of the world than the Katies...

Terri Conn: Sure, a woman cheats (or busts up a marriage) and she's the big red "w," but a man cheats and he can be forgiven.

SC's Jason: Before landing on As The World Turns , you actually got your soap start on The Young and the Restless ...

Terri Conn: I was a Jabot model for one day. I was doing a photo shoot with Malcolm, and Dru came in during the scene. The actors, Shemar Moore and Victoria Rowell, were very sweet to me. I've watched Young & Restless since I was in the womb practically, so I knew exactly who their characters were and I was very excited about being on that show.

SC's Jason: Were you equally familiar with the Oakdale scene when you joined World Turns?

Terri Conn: No, coming on World Turns was a very different story because I hadn't watched it as much growing up. I'd catch it every now and then, but I'd never really been a faithful fan. When I got the role on World Turns, my mom bought me the big fortieth anniversary coffee table book - the one written by Julie Poll. It helped me so much because it had all the history and back story. I mean, there's a lot about the show I still don't know. I was actually reading an interview with Kelley Menighan-Hensley (Emily), Colleen Zenk Pinter (Barbara), Scott Holmes (Tom) and Benjamin Hendrickson (Hal). They were being asked trivia questions, just to see who knew the most about the show, and it amazed me how much they knew.

SC's Jason: Who won the game?

Terri Conn: Colleen - she knows everything!

SC's Jason: What kind of future would you like to see Katie have?

Terri Conn: I think Katie and Simon are really good together. I'd like to see what they do with their relationship. And I'd like Katie to have more of a relationship with Margo. There's so much unexplored territory there. Even if it's a difficult relationship, it would be interesting to see them interact. They obviously don't get along - a lot of siblings don't.

SC's Jason: But Margo and Katie have good reason to keep at arm's length.

Terri Conn (laughing): Yes, she killed my dad!

SC's Jason: Well, we know how busy you are these days. Best wishes on your upcoming wedding, and thanks for joining us.

Terri Conn: Any time. Thank you.

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Other than yourself, who should play you in the movie of your life? (CBS Soaps In Depth - June 5, 2001) Terri: "I would turn my life story over to Kristina Sisco (Abigail, ATWT). She's about 7 years behind me, and she actually reminds me a lot of me when I was younger. I think she's a great actress, and I think she understands me pretty well, so she would be able to get to the places that the story would need her to go."

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Performer of the Week: ATWT's Terri Conn (Soap Opera Digest - June 5, 2001) If you really think about it, ATWT's Katie is pretty ridiculous. She's a spoiled, silly, scheming bitch (but not the kind whose strength you have to respect), and from a woman's perspective, her behavior borders on offensive. What could possibly be realistic - never mind appealing - about a character so pathetic, she degrades herself with over-the-top tantrums and humiliating declarations of love to a man who's made it clear that he doesn't want her? The answer is simple: Terri Conn.

Katie may be fascinating on paper, but it's Conn who sells it. Upon catching Simon kissing Ruby, she flew (literally) into one of her jealous rages, lunging across the room. Conn's physical comedy skills are superb because she's fearless - she knows the scenes won't work unless she commits completely, so Katie becomes a squirming, grasping, spitting beast, and always end up making a fool of herself. "And you, don't you get any ideas either - he's mine," she hissed breathlessly, poking an amused Lucinda in the chest before stomping out. Later, Katie met with Simon in a scene that could not have been more different in tone. "You're the one who's making me do these things," she told him, her voice quivering with heartache and frustration. "I am sweet. I can be very sweet if you would just treat me the way I want to be treated."

The wild juxtaposition of cartoonish bursts of violence with serious human emotion shouldn't work in the same character. At the very least, we should be pitying Katie, not rooting for her, but ATWT 's writers (clearly enjoying themselves) keep piling on the complexities, taking more risks with Katie than with anyone else. Maybe it's because they know what those who watch her every day already do - in Conn's hands, it all makes sense.

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Roundup "Who's the best at keeping a secret on the show?" (Soap Opera Digest - June 5, 2001) Terri: "I think actors are inherently gossipers, so don't tell anyone anything that's so important that you don't want anyone to know on a set - because inevitably it will get back to someone. So, I would say trust no one."

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Mother's Talk (Soap Opera Digest - May 22, 2001)

The Little Darling: Terri Conn (Katie Frasier)
Mommy Dearest: Cathy Conn

Mother's Say

What was Terri like as a child?
Cathy Conn: "She was very effervescent, always happy and a little performer. I found this Dr. Seuss book, My Book About Me, By Me Myself, that Terri filled in in second grade. It said, 'When I grow up, I want to be ...' And she wrote 'actress.' But that's the dream of a lot of little girls, so I didn't put as much emphasis on it as I should have, I guess!"

What was she like as a teenager?
CC: "She was very active, very popular. She wasn't stuck-up. She could have been, easily, but she wasn't. She treated everybody equally. I brought her up that way. I told her anybody can be beautiful outside, but being beautiful inside is that most important quality you can have."

What's it like seeing her on TV?
CC: "It's very exciting. Of course, her character is somewhat interesting , so I never know what we're gonna see when we turn it on. The day Katie lost her virginity, I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, we can't let her dad see this!"

How do people react to Katie?
CC: "I was in church, and this elderly gentleman came up with his sister. He said, 'Mildred, this is Cathy. Her daughter is on AS THE WORLD TURNS. So Mildred said, 'Which character does she play?' And I thought, 'Oh, no. Here it comes.' I said, 'Katie.' And Mildred said, 'Oh, her .' Her reaction was hysterical. Then, I was showing a house, and the seller said, "[Katie's] the best bitch on TV."

What's the most important thing your mother taught you?
Terri Conn: "Positive thinking. If you can imagine it in your mind, you can do it. I've done that with everything. And also, I can do whatever I set my mind to. When I was 9, she started a career as a real estate agent, and now she's one of the top three in the state of New Mexico. So I saw her start from nothing and become successful, and I knew I could do it if I wanted to. She's an amazing person."

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Emmy Dish (Soap Opera Digest - May 22, 2001)

What's it like to be a Daytime Emmy nominee? Younger Actress Nominee, Terri Conn (Katie, As the World Turns)

Digest: You were at the studio when you heard.
Conn: We were watching, but our category wasn't on-air. We were all waiting for in in the hair room. They were getting ready to turn off the hair dryers as soon as it came on. Then, someone walked in and said, "Alan's [Locher, publicist] on the phone." I said, "I'll call him as soon as I get my hair done," And they were like, "No, you really want to talk to him." So, I ran in and he told me. It was so cool because then he said, "Is Kristina [Sisco, Abigail] around?" And then, "Is Annie [Parisse, Julia] there?" I had to work right after I found out, so I stumbled through my scenes.
Digest: What about your reel?
Conn: I had some really good, funny stuff written for me last year, and not a lot of people get that on soaps. It's usually melodramatic or sad. I'm so glad that I judged last year because I realized what you needed to use. You have to remember a lot of people watching it have never seen the show. You need something they can relate to as a human being, not an As the World Turns viewer.
Digest: You're competing against castmates.
Conn: I know! But that's the fun part about it. They're both deserving, so I don't care who wins, as long as it's one of us!

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If you could change anything about your character, what would it be? (CBS Soaps In Depth - May 22, 2001) Terri: "I don't think I would change anything about her. There's so many facets to her, and that's what I love about her."

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What was your favorite food growing up? What is your favorite food now? (CBS Soaps In Depth - May 8, 2001) Terri: "Pizza. Still is. I usually like just cheese or maybe pepperoni. I like it plain and good. Real Italian pizza is my favorite."

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Very Pleasant Surprise (CBS Soaps in Depth - May 8, 2001) Actors usually are taken by surprise by an Emmy nomination, but Terri Conn was even more shocked because she didn't realize the Younger Actress category wasn't part of the live broadcast on The Today Show, and the ceremony already had begun. "I wasn't really even thinking about it because it wasn't on for 10 more minutes," she laughs, recalling that morning. But after she received the amazing news from Proctor & Gamble senior publicist Alan Locher, he asked if Kristina Sisco was around. "And she was right next to me," Conn says, "so it was so fun to find out together. People are like, 'Ooh, competition in your own show ...' But I would rather have it that way. I mean who cares if you win? [Being nominated] is the best part!"

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SoapCity Online Chat with Terri Conn & Kristina Sisco (April, 2001) Terri: Hi everybody - thanks for coming. We're excited to answer your questions, so I hope we get some good ones! Kristina: Just what she said!

Terri Conn gmanwannabe: Viewers seem to be enjoying the chemistry between Kristina and Craig Lawlor. Do you have a storyline in the works? Kristina: I know that there is definitely a storyline in the works. From what I've found about it I'm really excited because it seems like something the fans will like. Definitely, summer is the time for the teen story lines come out of the woodwork. Definitely be expecting that for the summer.

gmanwannabe: Terri, I just wanted to say that Breaker High has a huge following in Canada (Go Leafs!). Do you still talk to anyone from the cast? Terri: Yes I do -- two of my very best friends are Rachel and Wendy who played Tamira and Cassidy -- they're in LA now but we still talk all the time and they're both gonna be in my wedding along with Kristina. Yeah we're very close and I talk to the boys every once in a while but not as much as the girls.

amyy0923: Who would you like your character to interact with more? Kristina: Katie! I love doing scenes with Terri, I've only done a couple. Her and Paul Taylor, he's a good friend and I'd like to do scenes with him. That would be fun. Terri: I would love to do scenes with Kristina too! I think we have only had two ever but we have such a good time because we're such close friends. And I think Katie needs girlfriends, although I'm not quite sure that Abigail would like her. We would have fun and there would definitely be chemistry, I know that. I love Benjamin Hendrickson, I love his work. I'd love to get to know him better too, but I don't see Katie and Hal interacting either.

amyy0923: What would you change about your character(s)? Kristina: Hmm. She's been too happy lately. Yeah, I think what's a soap opera if you can't cry a little. I miss cryin', I cried so much when I first came on the show and I would like a little bit more range for her. It's great when her life is happy and I'm happy for her being happy, but that would be it. No change in personality traits, I love her personality. Terri: I think I'd like for Katie to mature a little bit. I'd love for someone to fall in love with her too, so she can experience what that feels like and I think that would do the maturity a favor.

gmanwannabe: Do you have any amusing stories to tell from this year's fan club luncheon? Terri: I don't have a specific story, but it was really great. It was neat to see people come together and the various clubs within the clubs (like Paul or Trent's). Kristina: Very funny story. Tom Eplin is just a riot. He is such a great guy 'cause he gives back to the fans 100%. I paired up with him and there was a long line. Every person who would come up he would give individual attention to. I told him we should just take pictures and sign autographs because we had to be out of that space by 4 o'clock. He was kissing people, picking them up, hugging people and throwing them around and he's like "No, these people have waited all year and have given up so much of there time I'm going to give every single person the attention they deserve and I'm gonna be here until midnight if I have to." I was so inspired by that and it was just really neat. I was just so excited to meet the fans. Tom had so many fans there including fans of Another World who came just to see him at the luncheon.

pwrscarlet: Terri, I just love the scenes that you have with Trent Dawson. What do you think are the best scenes that Katie and Henry have had so far? Terri: I loved the very beginning of Henry and Katie because it was so fun to have this crazy couple really start out of what seemed like nothing. So I loved all of the stalker stuff, when he didn't believe me that it was real. And some stuff coming up is going to be really, really fun -- our little 'Survivor' island getaway for the summer.

sm_cosper: Kristina: Will we get treated to scenes of Adam and Abby's prom date? Kristina: There's definitely going to be a prom. I think the show's wanting to have it air really into the summer so that teens are home from school and can watch it. So, we haven't taped it yet, but from what I've heard I think fans will like it a lot. It's so cute and it's so sweet, it's young and it just fits the story so well. That's kind of the beginning of the summer.

carlymolly2001: Are you looking forward to the Emmys? Terri: No, not really. Ha, just kidding! Of course, I can't wait. I have so many things to look forward to this year but that one is coming up the quickest. I'm a little bit nervous too because I'm going to be very emotional because so many of us are nominated. I'm a just worried about crying all over the place, but we'll see. It's a different emotion than happy crying or sad crying, it's 'proud' crying. It's such a great feeling to see the show get the recognition it deserves. Kristina: I have never really been nervous for anything in my entire life but I am so nervous about this. 'Cause I'm so nervous for everyone, Lesley is so close to my heart as is Terri. So, I'm really looking forward not so much to the televised Emmys as I am to the technical Emmy's, the hair and makeup people, we see them everyday and they're such a big part of our lives, as much as our fellow actors are. To watch them get rewarded and recognized for their work is really exciting. I'm just nervous all over the place. I'll really started thinking about the televised Emmy's after May 12th. I got my Emmy dress today! So that has made it all more real!

trstup: Were there any scenes in particular this year that were your favorites? Terri: It's hard to look back and remember but, my favorite to tape and that I felt really good about afterwards were the Endicott awards, and the stuff with the stalker, when it actually started becoming more real, they were really challenging and fun. I've always wanted to be in a horror movie, so that's the closest I've gotten! Kristina: I think in the beginning of the year more in February, I've never been challenged more than finding about Molly and Chris and and here being in the hospital. There were 3 weeks of crying every day and having like 40 pages of script. Going back and looking at those scenes now, I'm so proud about how they came together. It's nice to look back now and feel good about something I did.

sm_cosper: Terri: Today we saw catfight #2 between Katie and Ruby (at Lucinda's). How much fun was it do those scenes? Terri: Those will be my favorites from this year so far. For some reason Guenia (Ruby) and I really got into it. It's so fun to live vicariously through Katie and get that stupid b*#!% who is after my man. It's happened to me before in real life with girls hitting on my boyfriend and I would love to be able to do that. Since I've never done that in real life that's probably why I had so much fun with those scenes.

glteenfan: Kristina - did you have fun at the Caribbean with Laura Bell Bundy? Kristina: Yes, I did! Laura and I went down on the Cruise Ship for E! Entertainment. I love having friends on other soaps because they know exactly what you're going through and especially Laura because she's around my age and it's fun getting to know someone and beginning a friendship and we really began a friendship on that trip. It was really fun. It was great. We hosted a new show as well as Wild on H20 which will be out next Fall. Terri would have had so much fun, but she had to work.

thrillcatz: Kristina, did you have a nice birthday last week? Kristina: I kind of forgot it was my birthday. I was like, "Oh it's almost April 18," and I just didn't make a big deal out of it. Lesli called me up the day before and said she's taking me out. So her and Keith and little baby Jackson took me out to eat and she gave me such a beautiful gift, a 1/2 day at a spa so I could go to a spa before the Emmys and get a massage. I watched TV at their place and played with Jackson, it was just so nice since my mom and dad couldn't be there, it was nice to have my second "mom" take me under her wing and make my birthday special! It was really neat. And I stopped by to see Terri and Artie, it was so neat 'cause I saw everybody I love on my birthday, except my parents of course.

kayla_loves_atwt: Terri: What is it like working alongside Paul Leyden? I think he is such an amazing actor. Terri: He is an amazing actor -- I love working with him. He's so good that it doesn't even feel like acting and that's why I love working with him. There's so many layers in the character that he's been bringing out in Simon recently and that's bringing out different layers in Katie so that makes my job easier. And he's easy on the eyes -- what a great job I have! klimtgirl17: Did you guys go to your own proms? Terri: I did go -- When I was a sophomore I went with Neil Patrick Harris who played Doogie Howser, as well as many other roles, he went to my high school as well as Freddy Prinze, Jr. although he was younger than me. I went to three different proms sophomore to Senior year, so by the last year the specialness wore off and I was ready to go to college. But I got to go with all my friends so that was really fun so we had a big group and rented a big limo, so that was a lot of fun. Kristina: The second semester of my sophomore year, I decided to home school to really focus on my acting career. So I told my friends that when prom came up that they better ask me to go with them and they didn't! So, I never went to prom! But I remember last year at the Emmy's getting dressed up and riding there in a limo and walking down the red carpet, I thought this is my prom. It was much better than any prom or high school function for that matter. But now Craig Lawlor asked me to his prom so I'll be making up for that two weekends after the Emmys and Kim Onasch is coming too with one of his friends, so we're going to have a little mini Oakdale prom, so that'll be fun.

stargazer91625: Terri how can you keep a straight face when acting with Craig and that scene when Simon kissed Lucinda? Terri: I loved it! They had to do it three different times, it was so funny. I have a problem keeping a straight face every single day.

Fee93: Kristina and Terri, if you had to choose one CD to put on right now, who would you listen to? Terri: Right now I'd like to hear Dave Matthews, Under the Table and Dreaming. Kristina: Actually, I have two friends who are recording artists and they're coming out with their CD's, for something that's more well known Lifehouse's No Name Face. I work out to that CD everyday.

Fee93: How often do you get recognized when you go out to eat or shopping? Kristina: For me personally, it's very few and far between but when it does happen it's very rewarding to me. I love to hear people's opinions of the stories and the show. They immediately recognize me and say "Oh I love Adam and Abigail." It's exciting for me because it shows me that people who are watching the show are picking up on characters and chemistry. I never get bothered by it and I always make a point to talk with the person and fish out of them what they think about things. Terri: It didn't happen for me until about two years into my being show. Even now, people look at me and I know they know, but they don't want say anything, but then I'll talk to them, and say "Yeah, it's Katie." and they'll say "Oh my God." First couple of times it happened people recognized me for my voice! They said that I don't look anything like I do on TV but they recognized me from my voice.

greatwhite078: What actor who has left the show would you most like to return? Terri: Julianne Moore because I love her, but I don't see that happening any time soon. Kristina: I love Keith Colouris because I see him all the time. He played Reid/David. I loved him. Terri: And Jamie, too.

klimtgirl17: Do you guys watch any other soaps (or have you in the past)? Terri: I grew up watching The Young and the Restless, and I still watch (it's on CBS, so it's OK). And I've gotten into watching The Bold and the Beautiful because it's on right before our show. I try to catch some of the other ones once in a while because I like to see the work that other people are doing but I'm not hooked on any of the other ones. Kristina: It's sad to say I'm hooked on The Bold and the Beautiful. It's only 30 minutes before our show, it's so short and you can catch up with it quickly. I don't know why I'm hooked on it. A lot of people in my building are on All My Children or One Life to Live, so when I get a chance, I like to flip around channels and try to catch them. I really make a point to try and read soap magazines to see other people's work. We all run into each other at events and I really want to honestly say that I like their work because it means a lot to me when someone from another show sees me and compliments me about my work because they know from working in the same industry they know what goes into it.

pantherfrey62: What was your reaction when you found out you were nominated? Kristina: Terri was the one who found out first and a publicist had called. I found out she had gotten nominated first and then she handed me the phone. I screamed, and Alan who is our publicist, I screamed in his ear and he said that it was really loud. That was my immediate reaction followed by an "Oh my gosh!" Then Kevin the make-up artist saying "We have to finish your makeup so you can go down." I'm like, "Who cares! I've been nominated!" Terri: I found out, as Kristina just said, at work. I was getting my hair done and Alan was calling, trying to find me and I said to tell him to call me back later, I didn't know what it was about. And they said, "No, I think you better come talk to him." So I went into the other room and Kristina was sitting right there and after he told me I was so excited and then he asked "Is Kristina there?" And I knew right away what that meant. It was great that Kristina was right there, 'cause we're so close and to experience it together was fantastic. Being nominated is the most amazing compliment I could ever have and now I'm just going to have fun with it. I'm just glad that I have so many people to share it with instead of being the only one from the show.

qwiji081380: Kristina: why don't you sing on the show? Kristina: I am going to sing on the show. I'll give a spoiler. Something is going to happen this summer, maybe a wedding and maybe someone is going to sing at that wedding. You never know.

jungle_girl_ag: Terri are you excited about getting married? Terri: That's definitely the most exciting thing of the year! Yeah the Emmy nomination is really cool but it's nothing compared to the feelings I feel to marry this amazing man. It's such an exciting project, today I was running around looking for hotels for guests. I picked out the brides maids dresses today as well. Kristina: Oh you did?!? Terri: Yes I did and I'll tell you about it later. Just putting everything together and putting your dream together is just such a fun experience. I just can't wait for that moment when we say the vows. You never can expect what it's like until you're in that moment and I just can't wait for that moment. The planning's gone pretty smoothly up to this point - knock on wood. Getting married has been so commercialized, people make up all these traditions just so they can make money off of you. So we're really trying to things ourselves and make it our own, but that's the hardest thing to do because everybody wants your money and for things you don't need. So anyone who is getting married out there, if you have the time to do things yourself it's so much more meaningful and you save a lot of money and I don't think people realize if certain things aren't there that the wedding industry says you need.

pantherfrey62: Which cast member do you admire most and why? Kristina: Lesli Kay because she's a professional and always prepared. She has a 14 month old son and stays up with him all night and comes in the next day and knows all of her lines. Tom is a wild man and Lesli loves him and tolerates him and deals with changes that happen every day. I'm very impressed with her 'cause she'll cry when you need it and angry when she has to be or be subtle and in the background. She's just like a second mother on the set, it's really great to have someone who is older than you that you can look up to. I admire her working habits. She's a strong woman. Terri: I'd say -- well there's so many -- but on the level of longevity I would say Eileen Fulton because has been on the show for 40 years, and she has stayed passionate about the show and the fans. She still does a cabaret show because she loves to sing and she loves to perform. She just always seems to me to have followed her heart and her creativity and her passion. I admire her for that because I hope that I can do that same thing when I'm her age.

johnnyknoxvilledajackass: Who was your biggest inspiration to become who are right now? Kristina: That's a tough question because my biggest inspiration has been my faith and my family. I grew up in such a great Christian family, my inspirations come from Jesus Christ and my parents, who are so strong and so supportive. I wouldn't be here without that. Terri: My parents are definitely my inspiration and I wouldn't be here without them. I wouldn't be here without them. They have always supported me 100%. I've been thinking about that a lot lately, thinking about the Emmys and if I were to win, who would I thank. I think that's the most special thing if one of us were to win, is to publicly thank the people who have been there your whole life and have made so many sacrifices just for you and mostly supported you. If I hadn't had the support from them and from my good friends I wouldn't have been able to do the acting thing because it's not easy and you get rejected a lot and people nit-pick at you and your ego falls sometimes. But if you have a strong support system from your parents and your friends then you can do anything.

latinplayer2345: Terri & Kristina: what is the worst pick up line a guy has ever used on you? Terri: Are you doing research 'latinplayer'? The worst pick up line? I don't think that people really use lines anymore. But the usual suspects 'Haven't I seen you somewhere before?' or 'I feel this really strong connection,' 'We must have known each other in a past life.' Etc. Kristina: I haven't really been in a situation like being in bars with guys trying to pick me up. I usually go with friends and I'm the youngest one of the group so I'm the last one who gets picked up. It's the typical kind of line, ''If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put you and I together.'

kayla_loves_atwt: Terri: Hunt Block is an awesome actor, and he portrays Craig so well, how is it doing so many scenes with him? Terri: It's interesting -- he is so focused. He's just about the most focused person I've ever worked with. It's a different dynamic with Hunt than doing scenes with other people. And also, he's really funny, but most people don't get that because of his character. He'll tell a joke, everyone else will laugh but he won't laugh, then two minutes later he'll be staring straight forward and going over his lines and not talking to anybody. I think he's great. I love working with him. I feel so lucky, I get to work with the greatest actors, our whole show is like that. I have a friend who is auditioning for the show right now, he's from another show but I can't tell. They're doing his deal right now and his agent was saying that if you do want to go on another soap then this is the one, the actors are the most respected in the business and it's an actors' show.

thrillcatz: How has the show changed since Hogan has been head writer Kristina: I think the whole morale has changed. It's injected new life because it came at a point where the actors were rallying together to bring our show recognition. We have the best actors on daytime and I say that proudly because I believe it. So Hogan came in at the perfect time with the changing stories and the interesting characters that were being written. It kind of made everyone excited. It changed it in that sense and brought the actors closer together. Terri: I agree, and also I think he injects comedy as well as drama at the right times, which is very important in soaps. They tend to get very melancholy and very down. He has a gift for bringing out layers in characters that you would never have thought of before. Who would have thought that Katie had a goofy side a year and a half ago?

kayla_loves_atwt: Kristina: Is it difficult working with little twin girls on the show? Or do they behave well? Kristina: Surprisingly, it's not difficult. They always have a backup set of twins in case they start crying. But the specific set we've been working with lately are so well behaved. I remember when we were shooting the scenes of hiring the nanny it was written in the script that the girls had to run around and that we had to run after them, more specifically that Abigail had to run after them. And I told them that they got to run around and that I would run after them. They got so excited! I got my workout for the day. I was running all over and couldn't find the little girl who plays Michelle and she was referenced in the scene. So I see her and she's sitting at the bottom of the camera and I couldn't get to her. So, I had to go offset and get her. I could see what parents go through chasing after little toddlers all day. They are very well behaved. You give them a little cookie or some cheerios or something and they sit and are quiet.

Bernard_Sandner: What are your favorite television shows? Terri: I love Sex & the City and I can't wait for the next season, and I'm into The Sopranos lately. And I always seem to get sucked into VH1 Behind the Music, no matter who it's about because I love that show. And the same thing with Inside the Actor's Studio. It's so interesting to see what people have gone through in their life both personally and professionally. Kristina: I agree with Terri, Inside the Actors Studio on Bravo. Nobody takes the same road. I also keep the E! Channel on all day. My guilty pleasures are the WB Shows, Roswell and Popular. I'm taping Roswell at this very moment.

klimtgirl17: Terri & Kristina: What are your all time favorite movies? Terri: The Sound of Music, The Breakfast Club, Casablanca. Kristina: Okay, let's see. Forrest Gump and I will watch Titanic a million times and it never gets old. I don't watch it just for Leo, I love that movie and I've always been fascinated by the Titanic. Also, Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve is such a beautiful love story. Also, Newsies with Christian Bale is a favorite.

plkitties: Do either of you have plans to venture outside the world of soaps? Terri: I definitely want to do movies. I eventually want to produce, because I want to be able to tell the stories I want to tell. I love movies, because they can change the way you think about things. And now that I'm into comedy, maybe sitcoms. Kristina: I think I'm just so young and there's so much I want to learn like writing screenplays and directing, even working the camera. I love to learn and grow. I love coming home and writing or writing music. I'll just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens.

tyshanescott: Terri what is it like working with Martha Byrne? Is she one of the most amazing people on the set? Terri: She is amazing. She was going to be my answer for the "Who do you look up to?" question. I admire her so much. Like Eileen she is very passionate about what she does, and she's so giving and kind. What she does with St. Jude's blows my mine. And she is such a good mother and friend -- I can't say enough. If she doesn't win that Emmy I'm gonna be so mad. She's gotta win that Emmy -- I'm a presenter, I'd love to give it to her.

johnnyknoxvilledajackass: If you weren't acting in soap operas, what do you think you'd be doing today? Kristina: If I wasn't working tomorrow I would be studying in Italy (Rome or Florence). Studying Italian or cinematography. Terri: I would probably be traveling, if I had the money -- that's something I love more than anything. I've been to Europe, and Hong Kong, and I want to go everywhere. I hope some day I'll be able to do that. Careerwise, maybe photography. It's creative!

Terri: Thank you all so much for asking such great questions. It's always fun to interact with the fans and you asked some great questions. We appreciate it a lot -- and see you at the Emmys! Thanks for being such great, loyal fans of As the World Turns! Kristina: Thank you all for taking the time to come online and chat with us. It means a lot that you all are fans and are interested in our characters and the show. So please tune into the Emmy's and watch for us, root us on. Thank you all and God Bless!

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The Gossip (Soap Opera Weekly - April 17, 2001) PRO CONN Terri Conn's fiancé, Arthur Colombino, has just recovered from food poisoning, but Terri's still reeling (happily) from her Emmy nomination. "I wouldn't have wanted to get nominated in previous years, because I didn't have enough to back it up. But this time I'm proud of the work, and I'm glad it was recognized." Terri's also delighted to be sharing the category with two cast mates, Kristina Sisco (Abigail) an Annie Parisse (Julia). "Doing it all together will be fun. I can't wait to start looking for something great to wear!" She's already found a fabulous dress for that even more important occasion: her upcoming wedding. "It's beautiful white-white, duchess silk with crystals, spaghetti straps, and it's backless." Since she and Artie will be flying down to Houston for another wedding the morning after the Emmys, they'll have to leave the festivities early, she says, "or stay up the whole night!"

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Actress's World Turns (ABQ Journal - March 30, 2001) Albuquerque's Terri Conn busy with upcoming wedding, Daytime Emmy nomination

Terri gets nominated for a Daytime Emmy, just months before her wedding to Artie. That makes her dad feel better about her dropping out of college. Her mom is thrilled, but nervous about planning the wedding. Terri, meanwhile, has to decide which clips to submit to the Emmy judges. And Artie? He is desperately looking for green chile in New York City, so he can make her some posole.

Terri Conn's life doesn't really resemble a soap opera. That's because any drama in it has always been the good kind. Well, except for that dropping out of college thing, which her dad, an Air Force Academy graduate, has finally stopped thinking about so much. But Terri does play a drama queen on a soap opera. She's that bitchy Katie Peretti Frasier on "As the World Turns." And yes, Terri, who grew up in Albuquerque, just got a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series. On Monday, April 2, the series turns 45 years old, having just been named "Best Show" of 2000 by Soap Opera Digest. Over those years, the show has functioned as a launching pad for some of Hollywood's best-known film stars. And Terri, 26, hopes to take a similar flight. "I've done my research," she says, rattling off a list of stars who played on the series. "I know whose steps I want to follow. A mixture of Meg Ryan and Julianne Moore would be perfect."

To top it all off, Terri recently announced her engagement to Arthur ("Artie") Colombino, 28, an actor, singer and writer, with a wedding planned for Sept. 7 in New York City. Meanwhile, her folks, Albuquerque's Cathy and John Conn, are practically reeling from the frenzy. "Tickets are $600 each to go to the Emmys," says Cathy, who will be flying to New York with her husband for the awards show May 18. (Artie and Cathy will get the two complimentary tickets, and Dad will have to buy his own.) Add to that trips back East to plan the wedding and shop for the special dress. But at least it takes the emphasis off that nasty role Terri has. "It's pretty odd to hear people say about your daughter, 'She's the best bitch on TV,' '' says Cathy, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker.

As for Terri, she's thoroughly enjoying the excitement. "My character's become sort of comedic over the last year," she says, in a phone interview from her apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side. "She's evolved. It was her struggle to go from a goody goody to a femme fatale. She's a comedic brat now." Well, that's a nice way to say it. But those in the know say she's a classic soap opera vixen. "She makes you love to hate her," says Jennifer Lenhart, who has covered "As the World Turns" for the past five years for Soap Opera Digest. "She's kind of goofy but can be very catty." The character's redeeming quality is that she's a bit pathetic. "Everything she's done is because she becomes obsessed with men who don't love her, so you feel sorry for her," says Lenhart. "She always ends up being knocked down and has to pick herself up." If you're an evening TV person, you might think of her as a cross between Rachel on "Friends" and Karen on "Will and Grace." But Katie Peretti Frasier is a little more devious than Rachel and even a bit more scheming than Karen. "Terri can have an attitude," says her mom. "I think that's why she can play that part." Her role since she began on the show in September 1998 has grown into a stronger and more regular part. "She's in heavy story line rotations now," says Lenhart. "She's become very valuable to the show. I think she has a really good chance at the Emmy."

Old friends

But is she still a regular person? "That's what people always want to know,'" says Terri. It's a tough question to answer, considering she was a cheerleader and homecoming queen at La Cueva High School. In fact, when asked if any of her friends thought she was stuck up when she became an actress while still in high school, she says with a laugh, "No, but I had that problem when I became a cheerleader." But old friends and family say she's still the regular, warm-hearted kid they've always known. "She is what she is she doesn't judge other people. She's very outgoing and likes people," says Charissa Grigsby of Albuquerque, who's been friends with Terri since their Eisenhower Middle School days. It didn't really surprise anyone that Terri Conn grew up to be an actress though. "It's always been in the back of my head that I would," says Terri. "I used to watch TV and then look in the mirror and say the lines they said." Sissy Varela met Terri when the two took classes at Stars Dance Studio in fifth grade. "She's always had a very spunky charisma," says Varela, who now works with at-risk kids at New Day Youth and Family Services. "I always knew she'd be going places." Both Varela and Grigsby will be attending Terri's wedding in New York. "The friends Terri still has from here, we're all really tight," says Grigsby, who runs Champion Carpet Care with her husband.

Early roles

Before the Conn family moved to New Mexico from Texas when Terri was 9, she took children's theater classes in Texas. At La Cueva, she was on the speech team, which also had an acting division. "We would go around and compete for doing a monologue or a scene," Terry says, recalling that she won a best dramatic duo her freshman year for a scene from "Of Mice and Men." Then she got some bit parts in B movies, her mom recalls, like "Hong Kong '97" and "Kickboxer 3." Cathy says though, that after a trip to Hong Kong in January of her senior year for an acting part, Terri became a bit more hesitant about acting. "I think she saw how ruthless it could be," Cathy says. "And I was adamant about her getting a liberal arts education." So Terri started at the University of San Diego studying communications. But the Conn family knew that the acting bug wasn't dead. After spending her junior year in Europe, Terri decided it was time to go for it. "I had spent my first semester in Florence," she says. "Being around such passionate people made me want to act, no matter what." So after her junior year, Terri told her parents she wanted to move to Los Angeles "for the summer, just to see how it goes," she recalls. "I convinced them I'd go back but I haven't had time to do that." Instead, Terri landed a part on a syndicated TV series, "Breaker High," doing 44 episodes as Ashley Dupree, "a stuck-up little debutante," says Cathy. Terri also played a model playing a cheerleader on "The Young and The Restless," the only soap opera she had ever watched. "My mom watched it," she says, "so you watch what your mom watched."

Looking ahead

Terri Conn is definitely a looker. Sort of a Farrah Fawcett for the new millennium. The girl-next-door with great hair. Combine that with her comedic abilities and ambition and it's anyone's guess where she will land next. "My contract with the show is up Aug. 25 and I don't really know what I'm going to do next," she says. At 26, she knows it may be the time to take a leap into movies, in order to keep youth on her side. She mentions reading a script that called for "a younger Jennifer Aniston" (is she old?). "Soap operas are a part of American culture and I'm proud to be on one," she says. "I've learned a lot it's 30 pages of dialogue I have to learn every night. "But I want to do movies next," she says. "I think I'd like to produce, also, because I want to tell stories ... movies that leave you with a sense of hope. Artie and I have started writing some things together."

Terri also wants to have children some day, but knows that she and Colombino will have some juggling to do to manage a family and their careers. For now, Terri, who is one-quarter Italian, is enjoying her family's reaction to her Italian fiancé from New Jersey. "My mother is half Italian, her mom is all Italian. So everyone is thrilled about Artie," she says. And, Artie, who loves to cook, is expanding his repertoire to include some green chile. "He called up my assistant recently because he and Terri had bought a bag of posole the last time they were here," says Cathy, "and he wanted to know what to do with it. "He said, 'But how am I going to find green chile in New York City?' '' Which might be part of the reason the newlyweds will continue to visit Albuquerque. "The first thing I always do is go to Garduno's," says Terri. And did Artie ever find that green chile? Yes. Which just might mean he's got a little New Mexico in him.

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Going to the [Cats &] Dogs ( Soap Opera Weekly - February 27, 2001) Terri Conn (Katie, As The World Turns) and her fiancé, actor Arthur Colombino, didn't realize when they set out for the Animal Haven adopt-a-thon that they were heading for a date with Destiny. They were simply (or so they told themselves) lending some star power to the event, held at La Rue La Galleria, a fashionable boutique on Manhattan's west side that proprietor Lynn Cohen had turned into adoption headquarters for the day. "She's super nice to allow this in the middle of the store," Erin Torpey (Jessica, One Life to Live) raved. Not that there wasn't plenty of shopping going on. Marj Dusay (Vanessa, All My Children), who was more drawn to the racks of clothes than to the cages of cats and dogs ("When I can have a horse in my apartment, I'll get an animal"), bought a skirt and sparkly evening bag. Catherine Hickland (Lindsay, OLTL) bagged two pairs of pants, and Terri got a shirt. She also got a dog. It was the name - Destiny -on the cage door that caught Terri's attention when Artie looked inside and saw "the most beautiful face looking back at me." Terri was afraid that the black-Lab mix might be too big for their one-bedroom apartment. But after spending an hour playing with Destiny in the downstairs play area, Artie was impressed by Destiny's temperament and her repertoire of tricks, taught by two volunteer trainers, and Terri was taken by her range of facial expressions: "She's a little actress." Space concerns had evaporated. "She's been living in a cage for two years, so I guess our apartment will seem like the Taj Mahal. And we're only a block away from the park. Besides, we have to take her; we're in love with her. So the 2 1/2-year-old, who was twice rescued from death row at other shelters before landing at the no-kill Animal Haven, had found a home. But Mugsy, a loverboy of a pit bull mix (he kissed everyone, including the cats), was still cruising. Although, Terri, Artie, Erin Torpey and Catherine Hickland (Jessica and Lindsay, One Life to Live) all left messages for Don Jeffcoat (ex-Joey Buchanan, OLTL), to come meet his soul mate ("He's such a Donny dog," Terri declared), he never showed up.

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It's Not the Way It Looks (Soap Opera Digest - February 13, 2001) They may play mortal enemies on-screen, but Terri Conn's real-life relationship with co-star Martha Bryne (Lily/Rose) is closer to "Dear Abby" than Dynasty. "I trust her advice for everything - personal and on the show," says Conn. "She's very open and wants to help, so you feel comfortable. She's kind of known on the show for doing that. She was there the night that I got engaged; she took us out and [we] had a champagne toast and had the band toast to us and everything."

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Here's Looking At You (CBS Soaps In Depth - February 13, 2001)

As radiant as she is, Conn is reluctant to focus on her finest features, for then she would also have to acknowledge her flaws.

What do you think is the key to inner beauty?
Terri: I think it's confidence and self-love, and care for other people.

When do you feel that you are most beautiful?
Terri: In the morning.

What do you feel are your best and worst features?
Terri: I hate those kind of questions. I don't like to focus on either of them. Because if you focus on the best, you have to focus on the worst, and people just get way too obsessed with those things. So I prefer not to think about them.

What, if anything, would you change about yourself?
Terri: Well, I wouldn't be such a procrastinator at times.

What would we find in your make-up bag?
Terri: Max Factor mascara, Estee Lauder Lucidity make-up, a big pallet of MAC eyeshadows, Bobbi Brown brushes and blush, and a plethora of lipsticks - all different brands.

Is there any one beauty product that you can't live without?
Terri: Mascara. I've got blonde eyelashes, so I look like an albino if I don't have any on!

What about your appearance do you think gives you character?
Terri: Maybe my freckles. Which no one ever really gets to see because they cover them up on the show.

If you could look like anyone else, who would it be?
Terri: I probably used to have a list for that question, but I've really come to appreciate how I look. It's me, and I really wouldn't want to look like anyone else.

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If you could write your own storyline, what would your character do? (Soap Opera Digest - February 6, 2001) Terri: "Katie and Simon would go really bad and sweep Oakdale in a crime spree like Bonnie and Clyde. And become really rich all of a sudden, and just be like those nouveau riche, trailer trash types of people. That's a good start."

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What was the exact moment you knew your partner was "The One?" (CBS ATWT online - February 2001) Valentine's Day is not just a time of love and romance in Oakdale -- it is also a time for love, romance and reflection in real life! We asked some of your favorite As the World Turns actors the following question: "What was the exact moment you knew your spouse/partner was "The one?" Here's what they had to say:

Terri Conn (Katie) on fiancé Artie Colombino - Engaged October 2000 - "Artie and I were sitting on the beach a couple of weeks after we met, just talking about our views of the world. Everything we were both saying was so similar. I remember looking at him thinking, 'He's it. He's the one for me.'"

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The Love Connection (Soap Opera Digest - January 16, 2001) Terri Conn had almost given up on love when she met Arthur "Artie" Colombino at a pre-Emmy party in May. "I was so over guys. I had wanted to meet someone for almost a year, and it just hadn't happened, so I was like, 'Never mind. I don't need a guy. I want to focus on my career anyway,'" she says. "They always say that's when it happens, and it's so true."

It was a rainy night, and Conn and co-star Kristina Sisco (Abigail) had to work late, so they skipped the bash they originally planned to attend and went to a later one instead. Meanwhile, Colombino had just gotten back from pilot season in L.A. and didn't feel like going out, but his buddy, Don Jeffcoat (Joey, One Life to Live ), talked him into it. "And then they almost went to the first party, too, but decided not to because it was late. So they walked in, and I saw Donnie, who I knew, and this beautiful guy with him. I was like, 'Hmm. He's kind of cute.' Just in my mind, but I really didn't think much about it," she says.

Then photographer Steven Bergman who was shooting the party, stepped in. "He goes, 'Do you know my friend, Artie?' And I'm like, 'Oh, please don't.' I hate when people do that - when they just introduce you to someone, and it's such a setup. But he introduced us and yes, walked away," she laughs. "There we were, just standing there going, 'O- kay , what do we have in common?' I was attracted to him, of course, but I remember thinking, 'I just need good friends right now, and he seems like such a good person.' We went out the next week, and after that night, I was like, 'Okay, forget about the friends thing. I like him a lot. Here we go again!' I was driving away in the cab and I just remember looking back at him and going, 'He's a good one.'"

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Pros and Conn (Soap Opera Digest - January 16, 2001) Terri Conn turned a seemingly doomed role into a hot commodity - and now she's weighing her options. Flash back to December, 1999 at As the World Turns: Christopher Goutman was settling in as executive producer, Georgia and Eddie had just gotten together, and their portrayers Jaime Dudney and Nathaniel Marsten, were let go. Terri Conn's Katie was the third wheel in that storyline, and everyone - including Conn - figured she was next to leave. Certainly no one would have ever anticipated that a little over a year later, not only would Conn still have her job, but Katie would have become one of ATWT's most dynamic characters. "I'm totally surprised that I'm still here. I thought for sure I was gone too," states the actress, without a moment's hesitation. "The first year that I was on the show, I don't think they knew what to do with the character. I was always trying to give her some backstory, and then something would happen on the show that would totally negate what I had in my mind. I was really lost, and frankly, I wouldn't have been too upset if I'd been let go because I wasn't that happy. I mean, I wasn't unhappy; I just wasn't thrilled. Especially like I am now. But I think Chris Goutman saw potential in me and in the character and decided to take it another way, and it's definitely gone the other way!" In fact, while everyone was speculating on exactly when Conn would get the pink slips, Katie was already evolving. The endearingly pathetic character found a perfect foil in Trent Dawson's equally engaging Henry, and Conn made the most of Katie's clumsy attempts to claw her way to the top at WOAK. Katie finally had a purpose, and when new Head Writer Hogan Sheffer arrived, he brought her truly complex identity into focus.

Today's Katie is full of contradictions: She's capricious one moment, calculating the next; both bold and insecure; comically clueless, yet surprisingly shrewd. She manages to be a dreamer and a realist at the same time. Somehow Conn sorts it all out, and Katie makes perfect sense. A gifted comedienne, she tackles the new material with gusto. "I think that's where her vulnerability shows - through just laughing at herself, basically," Conn smiles. "I always imagined that I would love it as much as I do now." In a way, Conn's rebirth precipitated Conn's own. "I'm not the new kid anymore. It's a different feeling, and it took a while for that to happen, too. I think because I wasn't really confident in what I was doing, I wasn't confident in myself as a person with the cast. I wasn't showing who I was. And I didn't notice that until I got to know people and feel comfortable. I could see the difference in them seeing the real me. I think that's affected my work and my life."

The real Conn is smart, driven and somewhat pragmatic -- but she's also a bit of a romantic. In November, she got engaged to fellow actor Arthur Colombino after about six months of dating. The proposal was a surprise (though they had discussed getting married eventually), and she knows it's fast, but she's also positive that he's The One. "I'm so happy and you know, I don't feel scared or anything," she enthuses. "There's no doubt in my mind. Especially about him. I thought I was so far from [marriage], but what I realized I needed in a relationship was someone to understand my passion for acting. No one has really understood that before. It's great to have a romantic relationship like that where you have that best-friend bond and something that you're both really passionate about, plus all the other stuff." Of course, actors are notoriously bad matches for each other because the competition can get in the way. Conn knows the score. "That's why I never wanted to date an actor before because I'm a very competitive person, and actually so is Artie," she admits. "But the funny thing is, once you realize you love someone, you just want them to do well regardless. And I've also realized -- I mean, it sounds so stupid and cheesy -- but life is about learning to love someone. I love what I do, but I will never let it -- and I hope I will always remember this -- get in the way of the relationship because that has made me feel better than acting has. But I'm not kidding myself. I know it's going to be hard," she says, noting that she might have to move with him for a job or vice versa.

Which brings her to the subject of her ATWT contract, which defied expectations and is about to expire in August. "It's not too far away. I've thought about it, and it's tough. I don't know what I'm going to do," sighs Conn. She obviously has more leverage now that Katie is not only in a front-burner story, but has just been told by the INS that she has to stay married for two years, though Conn is thinking of her own husband-to-be. "I guess it's all going to depend on where he is in his career and what we decide to do. We both love New York, so that would help us stay here, as long as ... see, I love what I do, but I also want to do stories that I want to do. And that's the only thing about soaps that you don't have any control over. Ideally, I'd like to do both." That includes working with Colombino on some projects. They're putting together ideas even now. If all goes well, she might try to get a few more "outs" from her ATWT obligations. "I don't know," she finally says with an exasperated grin. "It goes back and forth. There are so many variable." The irony of all of this contract confusion has certainly not escaped her. "Because finally I've gotten to a the point where it's so much fun and the character's great and I feel good about what I'm doing," she says. "I love everybody I work with. Before, they were cool people and they seemed nice, but I didn't have a relationship, really with anyone, except for Jaime. Now I have a friendship with almost everybody. It's weird. I wasn't confident at all, and it affected me in a big way. It's taken me a while to get out of it and look at it from a different side. Now I'm like, 'Wow. You've come a long way, baby,'" she laughs.

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Making Merry (Soap Opera Weekly - January 9, 2001) Beautiful people in various interpretations of "festive holiday attire" (per the invitation) decked out the vast space of the bank-turned-Cipriani catering hall in which Procter & Gamble threw its annual Christmas party Dec. 16. Terri Conn and fiancé Arthur Colombino decorated their tree with bows they made from tapestry cloths. "It looks like it's from the Victorian period," said Artie, who was debating putting a puppy under it. "I don't know if we're home enough to care for a dog." They were to spend Christmas in New Mexico with Terri's parents, who were throwing them an engagement party.

Caption: "I walked in and looked at Artie and said, "Oooh, we could get married here. It's really pretty,'" Terri Conn confessed.

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Hint of the Week (Soap Opera Weekly - January 2, 2001) Terri: "Always wear what makes you feel good, because then you'll look good. Also, one trick I've learned from being on the soaps is to get everything tailored to you. It costs five extra dollars to fit you to a tee and look like [your clothes] were made for you, but it makes all the difference."

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