Terri Conn Fansite - 2008 articles

2008:

Shooting Star "What performance on your show do you think was a standout this year?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 22, 2008)

Shining Moment "Other than your own, what do you think was your show's best storyline this year? (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 22, 2008)

Growing Pains (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 8, 2008)

Totally Terri (Soap Opera Digest - November 25, 2008)

Motherhood Helped Ground ATWT's Terri Colombino (Celebrity Baby Blog - November 15, 2008)

SOD Insider (Soap Opera Digest Online - November 14, 2008)

Actors pull off Great Heist (www.southbergenite.com - November 12, 2008)

As The World Backstage Tour (Marianne Mancusi - October 28, 2008)

Shining Star (CBS Soaps In Depth - September 29, 2008)

Not Just Another Pretty Face (CBS Soaps In Depth - September 1, 2008)

Soap Stars, Having a Ball (washingtonpost.com - August 18, 2008)

Star Talk "Which of your co-stars could climb Mt. Everest?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - August 18, 2008)

On The Town (CBS Soaps In Depth - August 18, 2008)

Mi Hija (CBS Soaps In Depth - August 18, 2008)

The Secret to Terri Colombino's Success (www.setthestageforsuccess.com - August 2, 2008)

Star Talk "Who was your favorite teacher and why?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - July 21, 2008)

Love Song (CBS Soaps In Depth - July 21, 2008)

Soap's Sexiest Women (TV Guide - July 13, 2008)

All-Star Scrapbook (CBS Soaps In Depth - July 7, 2008)

Star Talk "What's your favorite SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE skit or character?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - July 7, 2008)

Murder In Mind (CBS Soaps In Depth - June 9, 2008)

You Heard It Here (Soap Opera Digest - May 27, 2008)

The Winner Is... (CBS Soaps In Depth - May 26, 2008)

To Tell The Truth (Soap Opera Digest - May 20, 2008)

Behind The Scenes (Soap Opera Digest - May 13, 2008)

Star Talk "Which household chore do you most procrastinate getting around to?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - May 12, 2008)

Who definitely should get an Emmy nomination? (Soap Opera Digest - May 6, 2008)

Need To Know (Soap Opera Digest - April 29, 2008)

It's Raining Men (CBS Soaps In Depth - April 28, 2008)

Star Talk "Who on your cast could be a future James Bond?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - March 31, 2008)

Roundup "What are your superstitions?" (Soap Opera Digest - March 11, 2008)

The Co-Hosts With The Most (Soap Opera Digest online - February 2008)

Definitely, Maybe (Soap Opera Digest - February 19, 2008)

Sexiest Couple Alive 2008 (TV Guide.ca - February 5, 2008)

Scott Bryce fired (Soap Opera Digest - February 4, 2008)

Child Star (CBS Soaps In Depth - February 4, 2008)

Gold Star (CBS Soaps In Depth - January 21, 2008)

Soap Gets A Real Makeover! (CBS Soaps In Depth - January 21, 2008)

Star Talk "Which talk show would you most like to be a guest on?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - January 21, 2008)

Shooting Star "What performance on your show do you think was a standout this year?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 22, 2008) Terri Colombino (Katie): " I love Julie. I think she has brought such a different, amazing energy. She was the thing that was missing, I think, in our show. It's not a specific storyline moment, I just think she's all-around such a great actress. She really made that character her own from day one and has gone through so many levels with it, just in the past however many months that she's been on the show."

Shining Moment "Other than your own, what do you think was your show's best storyline this year? (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 22, 2008) Terri Colombino (Katie): "I did love the exploration of Carly and Holden. I thought that was pretty ballsy and well-played. Just the kind of desperation of the two characters and needing something out of each other that wasn't necessarily love, I don't think, but they were kind of fooled into believing that's what it was. It was so taboo that even the thought of it just probably made the audience cringe, but it really played out nicely!"

Growing Pains (CBS Soaps In Depth - December 8, 2008) Terri Colombino relishes playing an older, somewhat-wiser Katie

Since Katie Peretti first appeared on AS THE WORLD TURNS back in 1998, portrayer Terri Colombino has gotten her alter ego into and out of some pretty sticky situations. "I feel bad for poor Margo being in law enforcement and having these really degenerate siblings that she's always having to compromise her job for," the actress chuckles. "But it helps to have someone high up in the police department when you have a life like Katie does!"

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Of course, after years of blackmail, poisoning, theft and a couple of accidental murders, it's nice of Katie to finally give her chief-of-detectives sister a break by trying to change for the better. "It's something that I, as the actor playing her, always wanted to happen," Colombino says. "Because I was feeling a little ridiculous hitting 30 and still playing this girl who acts like she's 16 years old. So I was pushing for that, and I was happy to see that transition."

So after so many years of making mistakes, it seems that Oakdale's favorite little spitfire has finally learned from them. "She's seen what acting immaturely can do to your life," the actress muses. "She 's been hurt by it, hurt other people by it, and I think she finally just got it." Of course, it doesn't hurt that compared to hubby Brad, Katie would naturally come off as the mature, responsible one! "I know!" Colombino laughs. "It kind of puts her in that position to be the one to step up. Not that he's a total baby, but... she is in a different position that she's ever been in in their relationship. It's a good thing for her."

Good Times

Nobody could have expected that wild-child Brad would prove to be a good influence on anybody, but Colombino loves the changes to her character. "She's still very impulsive," she admits, "But she tries to think things through first before just jumping in. It's still her impulse to just... be impulsive, but she tries to think about the people that she's affecting by the decisions she makes. And she's in a relationship now that she really wants to work and she doesn't want to be the one to mess it up." Still, situations can often spiral out of control, especially where Katie is concerned. But those scenes of wacky adventures are what Colombino really loves playing the most. "I think it's fun," she confesses. "The Henry/Vienna/Katie/Brad kind of hijinks, it's kind of slapstick in a way, but it's grounded. That's not an easy thing to do, but it's my favorite thing to do. I love that they write us that way," the actress continues. "But it stays real, which is interesting for a soap opera. To put that comedy in there without compromising the integrity of the story."

Fighting Words

So while Brad and Katie find themselves up to their ears in the bizarre mystery surrounding Spencer McKay, there may be plenty of chuckles, but there are still real stakes for the future of the pair's marriage. "Yeah," Colombino insists. "I don't think Katie is threatened by Spencer, like he would fall for her, but she knows how manipulation can work to a girl's benefit. It's like, 'This girl may get one over on me if I don't watch it.'"

The Katie of days gone by certainly wouldn't have had these troubles. No, she would've known exactly how to deal with Spencer. "Oh boy, she would have gone after her right away without even thinking of Brad," she laughs. "The old Katie would definitely retaliate in a heartbeat. I don't know by doing what, but... now she's thinking it through. She's trying."

Which means that when push comes to shove, New Katie may have to step aside to let Classic Katie show her how to take care of business. "Oh, she'll break out the claws if she has to," Colombino declares of her alter ego. "She'll try to do the right thing as long as she can, but she's not gonna lose the best thing that ever happened to her because she wants to stay grounded and mature. She'll do whatever she has to do!"

... ON WHAT KATIE LOVED ABOUT SIMON: "Probably the adventure in him and the charm," Colombino muses. "He was just one of those people that walked into a room and everybody wanted to be a part of him. And she got to have him!"

...ON JACK'S APPEAL: "Jack represented stability and home," she says. "She wanted someone and something down-to-earth in her life, and that's what he gave her."

... ON WHY KATIE LOVED MIKE: "He caught her off guard in a way. She wasn't really looking for something, but he just kind of swept her off her feet. In the same vein as Jack, just an honest, good man."

... ON WHAT KATIE LOVES MOST ABOUT BRAD: "I think she sees herself in Brad," Colombino declares. "And he's kind of a culmination of all [her exes], but with an extra-special... something. Je ne sais quoi."

FYI

Birthday: January 28.
Wedding Day: Terri Conn married Arthur Colombino on September 7, 2001.
Labor Day: The Colombinos welcomed daughter Julia Catherine into the world on July 8, 2004.

Totally Terri (Soap Opera Digest - November 25, 2008) As Terri Colombino Rounds Out A Decade In Daytime, She Sits Down With Digest And Discusses How Her Life Has Transformed, While Katie's Has Come Full Circle

Terri Colombino has staying power. Ten years after she arrived in Oakdale as part of a hot teen quartet, she is the only one remaining. "I'm really quite shocked that it's been that long," Colombino marvels. "Sometimes, when I think back, it does seem like it's been a long time, but other times it seems like it's gone by so fast. It's a good thing instead of it being like, 'Oh, my God, a decade has passed and look what I haven't accomplished!' I feel so proud and amazed that I've kept a job for that long. I shudder sometimes when I look back at old scenes," the actress continues. "My mom put together all of my scenes for my first year, actually, it was only about four or five months - every scene I was in up until that point - and gave it to me for Christmas and I was like, 'Oh, my God, I've got to get an acting coach!' I would probably not want to watch that now, 10 years later, if I wasn't happy with it way back then!"

Colombino has not only developed as an actress since joining ATWT, she has grown by leaps and bounds as a person. Her life today as a suburban wife and mother is a far cry from her single girl days in the city. She married musician Artie Colombino in 2001 and welcomed a beautiful daughter, Julia, three years later. Not surprisingly, motherhood has changed Colombino and has even impacted the way she works.

"Julia has grounded me a lot and made me take the focus off of the frivolous things, " Colombino explains. "Kids remind you to be in the moment and appreciate what you have in that moment instead of always worrying about the future and what's going to happen. I am such a worrier and planner that I had to adjust. It hasn't been easy, but it's a nice adjustment. As actors and as people you want to live in the moment, but it's a really hard thing to do. You watch these children and it's just second nature for them. That's definitely how she has helped me."

As Colombino wed and bred, her alter ego gave Elizabeth Taylor a run for her money in the husband department, donated part of her liver to her sister and killing a crooked cop. It's hard to believe that Katie was almost more of an afterthought when Colombino joined the cast. "When Chris [Goutman] came on to executive produce, I think he saw the potential in Katie the character, and the potential in me as an actor. So, he kept me around and gave me that first great storyline, which was the All About Eve-inspired storyline with Lesli Kay [ex-Molly; Felicia, B&B] and Trent [Dawson, Henry]," Colombino recalls. "That was a great story and it really solidified me as an AS THE WORLD TURNS player. It's funny, because now we're coming full circle with this storyline with Nell Mooney [Spencer], who is the INTURN winner," Colombino laughs. "She's like the Katie; she comes in and does that All About Eve thing with me and I'm now the older character - I'm the Molly in the situation. That's how far Katie's come. She went from the young, conniving, naive little bitch to a grown woman in love and a career woman getting her life together."

The argument can easily be made that karma played a role in Katie's latest drama, a sentiment that Colombino doesn't disagree with. "It used to drive the audience crazy because Katie never paid for her sins," she says. "No one ever believed that this sweet girl could do anything wrong. So it has been nice for Katie to be the one to pay for it and suffer through someone else's greed and manipulations."

While clever plot strings and snappy writing played a huge part in her character's development, Colombino was undoubtedly instrumental in molding Katie into who she is today. "As I matured and learned different things, I put that into her decisions and subtext," Colombino offers. "I really wanted her to mature because I had, and I was getting older and I felt silly playing this little girl. It felt really uncomfortable for me to play that because I didn't feel that way anymore. I definitely pushed for it. Of course, she still has her issues, which keep her interesting and me employed," cracks Colombino. "Katie has definitely matured and found a way to love that's not so destructive, as it was in the beginning. I think she finally found a good guy who really cares about her."

Now that Katie appears to have settled down, can we expect art to imitate life? "I love working with Austin [Peck, Brad]," Colombino raves. "I think it's a nice kind of new Katie with him. I'd like to see her go through having a baby or the process of getting pregnant. A long, drawn-out story about something that people really go through. I'm glad they didn't write it in when I was pregnant because I would probably have an 18-year-old by now!" she quips.

With 10 years behind her and endless possibilities ahead of her, Colombino can't help but be wistful: "I've definitely learned so much and gotten to work with so many amazing people. I would not trade it for anything."

KATIE'S CONQUESTS:

Katie has married more men in a decade than most women wed in a lifetime. Terri Colombino dishes on the characters who've captured Katie's heart and their portrayers, who've captivated audiences.

Paul Leyden (Simon Frasier): "First and foremost. The gorgeous Australian character and actor. I'm in love with Paul still, and I'm sure Katie will always have love for Simon. I learned so much from Paul. We still have an amazing, close friendship till this day. Good times, good memories.

Trent Dawson (Henry Coleman): "Henry is just like Katie, but a man. I adore Trent, he really taught me so much about comedy. I thank [then-Head Writer] Hogan Sheffer for seeing that in me and capitalizing on it. I never knew it was there, so I owe that to Trent fully. I still love working with him, and I hate that Katie used him and broke his heart for Mike because that is just another thing that I never forgive her for."

Mark Collier (Mike Kasnoff): "Mike is a tough one. I think if it had been different circumstances, they really would have had a great relationship, but she was so broken from Simon that it was just damned from the beginning. I had the best time working with Mark and he taught me to use my iPod before scenes because we had a lot of emotional stuff. We would listen to sad songs and use that to get in character. I still do that to this day."

Michael Park (Jack Snyder): "Katie wanted so badly to have a normal life and a good man who would do right by her. I think she was always kind of jealous of Jack and Carly and what they had, that strong, forever love that they had. So maybe she was subconsciously thinking she could have that, too. Maybe if she was with the same man. Michael - oh, my God! He's so fun to work with. He's so serious, but in between so funny that even if you're doing really emotional stuff, it's so fun."

Austin Peck (Brad Snyder): "Brad is perfect for Katie right now. He brought such a joy and energy into her life that was missing for so long. They were ready to be together at the right time. Austin did the same for me - I was kind of in a slump when he first came on the show. It was like 10 years, you go in and out of stories. You're like, 'Oh, I really like this story,' or 'Oh, I really don't like this story,' and I was in one of those slumps. He came on with this energy. He was so into it and such a great coach. He lit a new fire under me, and I think Brad lit a new fire under Katie."

Fifth Time's The Charm: Brad (Austin Peck) is a winning combination of Katie's exes, according to Colombino. "He's all of the best of each one, so they're soul mates."

Terri Conn

JUST THE FACTS:

Birthplace: Bloomington, IN

Favorite Store: "Nordstrom. They have everything."

Best Piece of Advice Ever Received: "Treat everyone equally and with equal respect. My parents taught me that and it never fails because everyone deserves that, unless they prove to you otherwise."

Biggest Pet Peeve: "Snobs. People thinking that they're better then anybody else for whatever reason. There is never a good reason."

DID YOU KNOW?

• Neil Patrick Harris was her prom date.

• She is in an AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL, TOO SOON FOR JEFF, with Jessica Alba. "She was the pregnant girl, I was just an extra. They wanted her to pick out of the extras one of the girls to play her best friend who has no lines, but is featured with her all the time and stuff, and she picked me [laughs]."

• Went to high school with Freddie Prinze Jr.

"It's always fun to do something new," Colombino says of her star turn in the thriller iMurders. "It definitely was a good chance to take doing that movie." Her husband, Artie, and parents John and Cathy joined her for a screening of the flick at the Hoboken International Film Festival in New Jersey last June.

Terri Conn

Motherhood Helped Ground ATWT's Terri Colombino (Celebrity Baby Blog - November 15, 2008) Parenthood can change an individual in a variety of different ways, but for actress Terri Colombino, it not only changed her, but kept her grounded, as well. Since welcoming daughter Julia Catherine with actor/musician Arthur Colombino four years ago, Terri shares that motherhood has "grounded me a lot and made me take the focus off of the frivolous things" in life. The As the World Turns star believes that "kids remind you to be in the moment and appreciate what you have in that moment instead of always worrying about the future and what's going to happen," which is good for Terri because "I am such a worrier and planner."

"As actors and as people you want to live in the moment, but it's a really hard thing to do. You watch these children and it's just second nature for them. That's definitely how [Julia] has helped me."

Readers may recognize Terri, 33, from when she appeared on TLC's A Baby Story.

SOD Insider (Soap Opera Digest Online - November 14, 2008) Erika Martinez: I recently got a chance to catch up with ATWT's Terri Colombino (Katie) to discuss her tenth anniversary on daytime. You'll have to pick up the new Digest if you want to hear what the plucky blonde had to say about her alter ego, as well as her leading men. But I thought I'd share a tidbit about a movie project the actress has worked on outside of ATWT. Colombino has a role in the thriller iMurders, about a group of chat room users who are systematically murdered. When I wondered when we can expect to see the flick, she shared, "It's out of the festivals trying to get distribution like any independent film." In addition to earning a paycheck, Colombino enthused that she also "learned a lot about independent films too. It's such a difficult world - only 10 or 15 percent of them ever get bought or make their money back. It really is the passion of people who just want to tell their story or just need to do their project. It's amazing to see and nice to see, but it's also sad because you'll never hear from most of them. You'll never hear about it - maybe even this one," she cracked. "I feel really good about this one. It has an amazing cast." She promised to keep me posted and as soon as I know, you will too.

Actors pull off Great Heist (www.southbergenite.com - November 12, 2008)

The Williams Center hosted a table reading of a not-yet-published novel by Lyndhurst writer and filmmaker Kenneth Del Vecchio last week at a special event at the center's upstairs balcony. Featured at the event were a number of Academy and Emmy Award nominees and winners including actors from films such as Woody Allen's "Melinda and Melinda" and "Dog Day Afternoon" and television shows such as CBS's "As the World Turns".

The novel, "The Great Heist," is about an infamous action filmmaker, Dylan Travant, who is enlisted by the President of the United State to fake a modern day moon landing in order to help her gain a second term in office. However, a charismatic young senator with a personal vendetta against Travant is running against the president in a contested primary and has a vested interest in thwarting the president's plans and exposing their plot.

Once published, this book would be Del Vecchio's third. His previous works are "Pride & Loyalty" and "Revelation in the Wilderness," both legal thrillers. Del Vecchio and his wife, Francine, who sat next to him at the reading and who co-wrote his last film, "The Drum Beats Twice," both grew up in the area. Kenneth is a graduate of Queen of Peace High School and Francine graduated from Becton Regional. Del Vecchio is the chairman of the Hoboken International Film Festival, which sponsored the event.

"I'm excited I got together such a good group of actors," said Del Vecchio, who noted that if and when the book is published he's hoping to eventually turn it into a movie (as he did with "Pride & Loyalty") featuring many of the people at the reading that night. The author read the part of the narrator while the score of actors and actresses assembled read the parts of its various characters...

...Also featured were Emmy Award winner and "Sixteen Candles" cast member Blanche Baker, Fox News Channel anchor Patti Ann Brown, Emmy Award nominee Terri Colombino and Austin Peck, both stars of CBS's "As the World Turns," and several others. Many of the performers have been in Del Vecchio's seven previous films.

"These kinds of staged readings are some of the things we're planning on using the center for," said Bergen County Film Commission (BCFC) chairman Nelson Page, who himself was reading several small parts. Del Vecchio has worked with the BCFC before, and Page mentioned that the BCFC is planning on working with the Hoboken International Film Festival to create a Hudson County Film Commission.

As The World Backstage Tour (Marianne Mancusi - October 28, 2008) Yesterday morning, bright and early my photographer and I hopped into a car service (since no taxi driver in his right mind would take us) and headed deep into the bowels of Brooklyn to film a segment on the CBS soap opera AS THE WORLD TURNS.

We met up with Terri Colombino who plays Katie Peretti on the show and had her give us a backstage tour. They have two stages they film on - each filled sets of different rooms, restaurants, and shops. Each had three walls that looked just like a living room or kitchen or coffee shop - with a fourth open wall to film through. It was kind of like walking through a furniture store. I don't know why--I'm usually pretty jaded!--but it struck me as immensely cool. Like a little world existing on a soundstage. They had a huge wardrobe room, filled with outfits - including wedding dresses, of course! (Terri's character has been married six times during her ten years on the show - though only to five guys, she pointed out, since one lucky man got to walk down the aisle with her twice.) I especially loved the prop room - where each character had a basket filled with personal items. Terri rummaged through hers and found her alter-ego's fertility pills from when she'd been trying to get pregnant.

Shining Star (CBS Soaps In Depth - September 29, 2008) Against her tanned skin and lovely blonde ringlets, Terri Colombino (Katie, AS THE WORLD TURNS) is absolutely radiant in this strapless champagne-colored mini that drapes and hugs in all the right places. "Since I'm short, I always want to show the curves!" Colombino has said.

Not Just Another Pretty Face (CBS Soaps In Depth - September 1, 2008) Jordan Woolley (ex-Nick) interview: "Oh, I loved Terri [Colombino, Katie]," Woolley recalls of his former ATWT castmate. "She was as good as it gets on that show. She's a wonderful, wonderful human being, and I absolutely adored working with her."

Soap Stars, Having a Ball (washingtonpost.com - August 18, 2008) Pretend History and Real Glamour Dress Up Inaugural Photo Shoot

A few soap stars were in town from New York over the weekend for a magazine photo shoot. They were dressed up to look like presidential couples -- or what presidential couples would look like if they were starring in a soap opera. Jackie Kennedy with a heaving bosom. Bill holding Hillary in a smoldering embrace. George and Martha Washington in an erotic fantasy scene involving grapes.

"Absolutely exquisite! Love it! Love it!" cried the shoot's creative director, Angelique O'Neil, upon seeing soap actress Terri Colombino with her hair and face all dolled up as a sexy Nancy Reagan. Colombino slid off her robe in the hotel suite and pulled on a hand-painted white couture gown that retails for $2,950. It did look like the dress Nancy wore to the 1981 inaugural ball, except with considerably more cleavage.

"Too bad we're not going to the Emmys -- I would totally wear this," said Colombino, who on "As the World Turns" plays a character named Katie Peretti Frasier Coleman Kasnoff Snyder, who's been married five times.

"Well, six, actually, but two times to the same man," Colombino clarified.

In walked Austin Peck, who plays Katie Peretti Frasier Coleman Kasnoff Snyder's husband on the show. He was wearing a tux and displaying a remarkably square jaw and one of those little divots in his chin. He looked like he was about to say something like If we don't find the antidote, everyone in Oakdale will die!

"Is my hair all right?" he asked. The hairstylist -- "hair artist," she corrected; sorry, the hair artist-- studied Peck's dark locks and sprayed them some more. Then Peck and Colombino took the elevator to the lobby of the Willard InterContintental, where they were to pose as Nancy and Ronnie, walking hand in hand to an imaginary ball.

Downstairs, a photographer and a team of photo assistants were setting up a series of glamorous scenes for CBS Watch!, the network's marketing and fan magazine, which regularly features stars from CBS's various shows. A few hotel guests and passersby gawked, though they seemed not to know whom they were gawking at. (For one thing, the actors looked as if they should be famous -- with trim bodies and stark white teeth -- but they weren't household faces. And they certainly didn't look like the Reagans.) This is for the January issue -- a nod to the Inauguration season, as depicted by four actors from "As the World Turns."

This is the part where we say, Oh, the metaphor. So much of politics is a soap opera these days, with who's cheating on whom; with tales of campaign staffers squabbling with each other like members of a wealthy small-town family fighting over the family fortune; with the discovery of shocking long-lost family relations ( Why, cousin Cheney !); with naked ambition and prejudice and redemption and, occasionally, really great hair; and finally -- nothing less then the fate of Oakdale hanging in the balance.

"Poor people," said actress Ewa da Cruz, thinking of how America's politicians have to contend with the media's endless airing of their filthiest laundry. It isn't like that with politicians in her native Norway. It is like that, of course, for her character, a gorgeous heiress named Vienna Hyatt -- get it? think Paris! -- who has, at various points, lost her fortune and been left at the altar.

Da Cruz's hair was being sprayed by the hair artist into a Jackie Kennedy bob. Behind her was a row of lacy, sequined, gauzy gowns, the sort Vienna Hyatt would have worn before she lost her fortune. In the next room of the suite, Dylan Bruce ("Dr. Chris Hughes") waited to play his turn as JFK and explained his soap opera character's love life.

"Are you ready for this?" Bruce asked. "The lady that I first dated when I came on the show is the sister to the woman I'm dating now, but in actuality she's the woman's mother."

What?

"She carried her sister for her mom."

Of course. As a surrogate mother-sister. Happens all the time.

Peck and Colombino breezed in, fresh from the 1981 inaugural ball. Colombino ate soup in a robe. Peck went behind a screen and changed out of his tux into jeans. They talked about politics and the problems with the two-party system.

"They all have to placate the economic machine that is big business," Peck said.

They talked about celebrity and the strange way it is, being a soap actor, residing just below the threshold of fame. People come up and say, Hey, you're sort of famous, I recognize you but I don't know why. Nobody digs through the trash you put at the curb. Nobody cares about whom you fell in love with against your better judgment.

Which is nice, Peck said. Steady work and no paparazzi. Though it'd be cool to be really famous for a month, just to try it. He got a taste of it about 10 years ago, when he was on "Days of Our Lives" and did a publicity tour in South Africa. There were thousands of people at the airport when he arrived, he said, and his handlers had to sneak him out the back. This amused him, he said, because at the time he didn't think much of his acting or his character's development. Mostly all he did on the show at the time was take off his shirt a lot and say, "Carrie, I love you."

Peck demonstrated the variety of lingering looks he gives for those close-in camera shots right before commercials. He has names for them: "The Shotgun" (accusatory), "Oh, [Expletive!]" (shocked), "Keep Loving Me" (needy).

" 'Lusting' is good," Bruce said. "I always do 'Lusting' 'cause I never get the girl."

Colombino left to get her hair done as Hillary, though unlike Hillary, her hair was to be shaped into long, flowing blond ringlets. The creative director, O'Neil, said she was trying to bring out Clinton's "inner sexy." Later they would do George and Martha, with Martha modeled after a "young, sexy Marie Antoinette." There would be a chaise longue and some crawling around. Hot Founding Fathers fantasy.

Star Talk "Which of your co-stars could climb Mt. Everest?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - August 18, 2008) Terri Colombino (Katie, ATWT): "Probably Austin Peck, because he has the biggest muscles, and it seems like he has really good determination, endurance and the strong mind that that would take - and a positive attitude!"

On The Town (CBS Soaps In Depth - August 18, 2008) AS THE WORLD TURNS' Terri Colombino (Katie), with hubby Artie and the Village People's Randy Jones, says her new thriller film, iMurders, "will be interesting to daytime fans because there's quite a few daytime actors in it."

Mi Hija (CBS Soaps In Depth - August 18, 2008) With her daughter, Julia, now 4 years old, Terri Colombino (Katie) is amazed at how quickly a young mind can absorb information. "The other day, she was trying to do something with her dolls, and she was like, 'Mommy, ayudame! Ayudame!'" she relates. "And I was like, 'What is she saying? I have no idea!' And then I was at work, and I was like, 'Wait, she needed help. I bet she was saying 'Help me' in Spanish.' So I asked one of the guys that I know speaks Spanish on set." And when it was confirmed for the mommy that her daughter had been asking for help in a foreign language, she was ever so proud. "I was like, 'Oh my God,'" Colombino marvels. "She got it from DORA THE EXPLORER. They just learn so quickly it amazes me!"

inset: Colombino's daughter speaks more Spanish than she does!

The Secret to Terri Colombino's Success (www.setthestageforsuccess.com - August 2, 2008) Set The Stage For Success

"I've loved performing since I was just a little girl," says Terri Colombino, also known as Katie Peretti from As The World Turns. "It's just in my blood."

Terri's been involved in over 500 episodes of As The World Turns from 1998 until today. She was nominated in 2001 for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series and received a nomination for a Soap Opera Digest Award. She and "Simon" played by actor Paul Leyden were nominated for a Special Fan Award as America's Favorite Couple in 2002. Despite these accolades, there were times in her life that she doubted whether she'd make it. Even times when she drifted in and out of the entertainment business. But the passion never went away.

"I can't explain it," she says. "You just know it when you have it. And no matter how much rejection you may take, it's still there."

Rejection is definitely one of the toughest aspects of the business - of any business for that matter.

"It really plays tricks with your mind," she says. "You start to question everything. 'Am I pretty enough? Am I thin enough? Can I even act?' Those questions and more plagued me daily early in my career."

Terri recalls taking rejection really badly in the beginning until she got to see things from the other side of the audition table.

"When I was given the opportunity to see things from the casting director's perspective it all became clear to me," she says. "They really are just waiting for the character to walk in the door. They know it when they see it, sometimes even before you read for the part. They have something in mind and if you don't fit the image of what they see, they don't pick you."

Realizing that the rejection wasn't about her made all the difference for Terri.

"The lesson I learned that day changed the way I approached acting," says Terri. "When you do anything creative you need to be willing to be vulnerable and put yourself out there. It's about risk long before you get the reward."

For many this is a frightening proposition. It's been said before that the more risk you are willing to take, the greater the reward, in acting that risk is a very personal one. It requires a willingness to be vulnerable so that others can connect with you and feel your emotions.

For Terri Colombino acting has helped her to be more vulnerable and real with people. It's also made her tough.

"I wasn't always as tough as I am today," she says with a laugh. "The entertainment business and living in New York really helped with that.

"New Yorker's really get a bad rap for being rude," she continues. "They are just busy and have things to do. If you have something to say, make it quick, I've got places to go."

Growing up Terri moved around quite a bit.

"My dad was in the military so we moved every couple of years or so," she says. "Adjusting to a new neighborhood, new friends and new school that often really taught me to adapt. I became quite a chameleon. That entire experience is a big part of the reason for my success today. Being forced to be vulnerable often, to make new friends just made me stronger."

Terri's family was very supportive of her ambitions. They had reservations about acting and the entertainment business, but never stopped her from pursuing her dreams.

"I have a four year old little girl now and it's a natural parental reaction to want to protect them from anything difficult," she says. "But you can't. My parents were very good about putting aside their natural fears and letting me experience life. They were there for me during my bumps and bruises.

Terri got her start in the movies while attending college at the University of San Diego.

"I made friends with some of the people who were taking acting classes, and doing extra parts in movies," recalls Terri. "I started doing auditions with them and left school a year before graduating to follow my dream."

Back then living the Hollywood high life was an exciting. But as Terri got more and more into acting, she found a real love for the craft of acting.

"When you first go to Hollywood, you are chasing the dream and the high life," she says. "Your focus becomes "Making it BIG." But when you fall in love with acting, you could do Community Theater and feel fulfilled. For me it grew into a passion for the craft, not the lifestyle."

Terri recently enrolled her daughter in a dance class and it brought back so many great memories.

"Walking into that studio for the first time brought it all back to me. The sights, the sounds, even the smells reminded me of my love of performing."

Terri's first role came when she was just 18.

"I was 18 but looked 15 which was great for me," she says. "Agents preferred working with an 18 year old who looked 15 than managing the logistics of parents, tutors and labor issues for a 15 year old."

Terri got a lead role in Breaker High, a teen television series.

"It was tough when it was canceled but it was a great learning experience," she says. "My two roommates who were also on the show, very quickly picked up work acting but I didn't get another job for over 6 months. I had to work hard not to be jealous of them. It taught me to celebrate success for others and let my own success come when it was time."

Terri has an attitude of abundance that's she's cultivated over the years.

"There is enough work out there for all of us," she says. "You have to believe that. When your confidence is low the casting directors can smell it. Desperation never landed anyone a job."

Interestingly what got her through was her overwhelming desire to act and a simple lesson her mother taught her early in life.

"My mom taught me the Secret, even before it became 'The Secret,'" she laughs. "From the time I was very young she encouraged me to visualize what I wanted to be; to really see myself in the position I wanted."

Despite the entertainment industry's cutthroat reputation Terri always encountered people along the way who were willing to help her along.

"I distinctly recall everything from a simple lesson, a little push or positive reinforcement coming just when I needed it," she says. "The most important lesson I learned was to get over the fear and get started."

In addition to her role on As the World Turns, Terri will be hosting the Mike Marino show live on August 9, 2008 at the Paramount Theater in Ashbury Park, New Jersey.

"I met Mike Marino when he hosted the Hoboken International Film Festival in Hoboken, New Jersey," says Terri. "My husband and I both had projects in the film festival and Mike Marino was the host. We never laughed so hard. My husband's family is Italian and they're from Jersey so we could totally relate to his humor."

Terri saw Mike again at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

"We laughed from beginning to end," she says. "And looking around, we weren't the only one's laughing. He had the place in stitches."

She and Mike got to know each other and he invited her to work on this project.

"I know he's known as the bad boy from Jersey, but let me tell you a little secret, he's really a great guy."

Hosting Mike Marino's big show at the Paramount is a departure from the soaps.

"I decided to try my hand at comedy for this event. It'll be fun being funny," she quips good-naturedly. "Who knows, maybe this will be the start of a whole new career or maybe, I'll decide to stick to the scripted lines."

Stay tuned and find out for yourself on August 9th when Terri Colombino hosts the Mike Marino show.

For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com

Star Talk "Who was your favorite teacher and why?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - July 21, 2008) Terri Colombino (Katie, ATWT): "Probably Mrs. Bryce from seventh grade Enriched English. She was kind of a hard-ass, but I realized once I had her how inspiring she was. I'm not much of a reader, but she really did make me love looking into the deeper meaning of what you're reading and how it relates to your life - and not being afraid to be smart."

Love Song (CBS Soaps In Depth - July 21, 2008) Like many daytime actors, Terri Colombino (Katie) is always happy to donate her time to charity events, although she admits that she has her limits. While her husband, Arthur, will get up and perform, the actress confesses that she will never, ever join him. "Because I don't sing!" she laughs. "I always say, 'I'll just get up and play the tambourine or something.' Because I don't play any instruments, I don't sing... I wish I could." But Colombino jokes that she's glad she's not a talented musician like her spouse. "I always joke with him," she chuckles. "I'm like, 'Aren't you glad I can't sing? Then that way you know I'm not perfect.'" She lets out a self-deprecating laugh and adds, "Because everything else about me is so perfect!"

Soap's Sexiest Women (TV Guide - July 13, 2008) TV Guide Network debuted a new special, SOAP'S SEXIEST WOMEN, tonight and counted down the Top 25 sexiest women in soaps.

#25 Rebecca Herbst (Liz, GH)
#24 Maura West (Carly, ATWT)
#23 Ashley Jones (Bridget, B&B)
#22 Michelle Ray Smith (Ava, GL)
#21 Shelley Hennig (Stephanie, DAYS)
#20 Marnie Schulenburg (Alison, ATWT)
#19 Eva Marcille (Tyra, Y&R)
#18 Marie Wilson (Meg, ATWT)
#17 Lesli Kay (Felicia, B&B)
#16 Kirsten Storms (Maxie, GH)
#15 Chrystal Khalil (Lily, Y&R)
#14 Alicia Minshew (Kendall, AMC)
#13 Bree Williamson (Jessica, OLTL)
#12 Julie Pinson (Janet, ATWT)
#11 Kristian Alfonso (Hope, DAYS)

#10 Terri Colombino (Katie, ATWT)
#9 Sharon Case (Sharon, Y&R)
#8 Arianne Zuker (Nicole, DAYS)
#7 Sarah Brown (Claudia, GH)
#6 Gina Tognoni (Dinah, GL)
#5 Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, AMC)
#4 Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, B&B)
#3 Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe, DAYS)
#2 Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R)
#1 Kelly Monaco (Sam, GH)

All-Star Scrapbook (CBS Soaps In Depth - July 7, 2008) First impressions stick: Just ask AS THE WORLD TURNS' Terri Colombino (Katie) what she first thought of Nathaniel Marston (ex-Eddie, ATWT)! "I remember thinking that he hated me!" the actress shares. "I was very uncomfortable [around him] sometimes. And it's so funny, because we saw each other at another event, like two years after he'd left the show, and we totally hit it off! We were having such a good time talking, and I'm like, 'I always thought you hated me!' He's like, 'What are you talking about?' And it's just one of those perceptions. I was just uncomfortable anyway; I hadn't made friends with anyone on the show yet, and he came in, did his work and left, and that's why I always thought that. But it wasn't true!"

Star Talk "What's your favorite SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE skit or character?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - July 7, 2008) Terri Colombino: "I loved Gilda Radner. She's probably my favorite. Oh, and Will Ferrell. I loved the cheerleaders, just because I was one, and I think they're hysterical."

Murder In Mind (CBS Soaps In Depth - June 9, 2008) Terri Colombino has been pretty firmly entrenched on the frontburner since Katie and Brad's romance took off, and that shows no sign of abating. But the actress still found some time during January to shoot a film called iMurders. "It's a crime thriller," she reveals. "Kind of a whodunit." It just took some careful planning to work the movie into her ATWT schedule. "I was still extremely busy going back and forth between the two," Colombino admits. "But it was only two weeks, so it was definitely worth it. I got to go out and play a different character and meet new people and work on something different. I'm really excited to be a part of it."

THAT'S A FACT - iMurders also stars Charles Durning, Gabrielle Anwar and Billy Dee Williams

You Heard It Here (Soap Opera Digest - May 27, 2008) NAUGHTY BUT NICE "I've never poisoned anyone... I've wanted to, though." - Terri Colombino (Katie, ATWT), when asked if she'd ever done anything naughty, 11/14/00

The Winner Is... (CBS Soaps In Depth - May 26, 2008) When it comes to selecting an award-winning performances at Emmy time, Terri Colombino (Katie) feels that it's like comparing apples and oranges. "I just always feel weird judging acting," she confesses. "It's not like we're all doing the same scene and you're figuring out who made you feel the most. It's different storylines, different people you're working with, and it's two episodes out of an entire year. They don't make a whole lot of sense to me. It's nice to have something that recognizes what we do all year long, but it's so hard to judge and compare." But the actress has nothing but respect for each and every one of her fellow daytime stars. "I know how hard it is to have a life and do this every day," Colombino says. "It's not like you're going off and doing a movie for three months and then it's over. It's constant!"

To Tell The Truth (Soap Opera Digest - May 20, 2008) At the Fan Club Luncheon at the Marriott Marquis in New York City - "I love to see peoples reaction to things. It's not always what you would expect," noted Terri Colombino (Katie, who cuddled up to Austin Peck, Brad). "And I really love the honesty."

Behind The Scenes (Soap Opera Digest - May 13, 2008) LIKE MIKE: The fact that Mike is now played by Jon Prescott - as opposed to Mark Collier, who exited in early 2007 - made a difference in how Katie reacted to her ex's attempts to reconcile, at least as far as Terri Colombino is concerned. "When I was reading the scripts, all I could think of was Mark," says the actress, who still talks to Collier. "I called him around the time I was screen-testing [Prescott]. But Jon was great in his audition and there's a quality to him that's so Mike." The scene in the screen test was from when Mike confronted Katie for keeping Simon's goodbye letter, then left town. "Right before we did it in the audition, I said, "Oh, by the way, I slept with my ex-husband, then you forgave me and we've been back together and that's why you're so upset that I kept this letter." Jon was like, 'Oh, okay, thanks!'" laughs Colombino. "That's hard to do: have these scenes where this history comes into play and he doesn't have that to draw from, but he executed it beautifully."

Star Talk "Which household chore do you most procrastinate getting around to?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - May 12, 2008) Terri Colombino: "Probably unloading the dishwasher."

Who definitely should get an Emmy nomination? (Soap Opera Digest - May 6, 2008) Austin Peck (Brad, ATWT): "Terri Colombino [Katie] should get an Emmy, not just a nomination! She's fantastic. One thing that's great about Terri is that her choices as an actor aren't melodramatic or 'soapy' at all - they can be translated into anything. Her choices are really grounded in reality and they're really simple. A lot of times, that could be overshadowed by someone crying their eyes out, but I'm not moved at all by that. I think it's quite boring to watch a woman cry through a whole scene. It's like, 'Oh, shut up!'"

Need To Know (Soap Opera Digest - April 29, 2008) Q: ATWT's Katie fell into Snyder Pond last week. So where is it, really?

A: "It's in Clinton, New Jersey," reports Terri Colombino (Katie). "It's far --- almost to Pennsylvania. There are beautiful farmhouses and rolling hills, it's so pretty. I thought, 'If this is Oakdale, this is very nice.' It wouldn't have been bad two months from now, but in the middle of March, to go into a pond.....It's actually at a dinner theater. I guess a lot of people get married there and they say people go in all the time. Although I said to the guy showing me around 'Two people have gone in already.' He said, 'You guys are crazy; it's freezing outside.' I said 'Yeah, but they told us that you had weddings here, so people go in, intentionally or not, all the time.' He said, 'Who told you that?' Apparently, someone tested the water [for parasites]. I never saw the results, but I kind of took them at their word!"

It's Raining Men (CBS Soaps In Depth - April 28, 2008) It's not unusual for soap heroines to have multiple marriages under their designer belts, but it's becoming a bad habit for AS THE WORLD TURNS' Katie to be constantly turning Oakdale's most eligible bachelors into the next ex-Mr. Peretti? "Yeah," chuckles portrayer Terri Colombino. "This is the sixth time, fifth man... because she married Simon twice." But don't think that fact is going to stop the perky blonde from wearing white as she prepares to walk down the aisle once more, this time with Brad! "Which I think is hysterical," she laughs. "Katie is Katie!"

THE EX FACTOR

Of course, Katie's plans to marry her sixth husband could be complicated by her lingering feelings for hubby No. 5 and especially the unexpected return of No. 4! "She's just newly opening up about her feelings for Brad," explains Colombino, "and then here comes Mike back, who she hasn't spoken a word to since he left over a year ago. The whole situation is unresolved," she continues. "Had it been resolved and then he came back, it would be a little weird, but I don't think it would be so difficult for her. But it was such an open-ended, hurtful situation that it's going to be something big to deal with before she can move on."

A WHOLE NEW LOOK

While Mike is an established character, he's returning with an unfamiliar face, that of daytime newcomer Jon Prescott. "It was a little weird," Colombino confesses of adjusting to the recast. "Luckily, there's been some time. But I'd be lying if I said I read the scripts and wasn't thinking of Mark [Collier, ex-Mike] in my head. "In fact, the actress remains in touch with her former co-star and informed Collier that he was being replaced. "I told him that it was happening,"she reveals. "I said, 'I'm testing new Mikes next week, and it's going to be so weird!' I told him how strange it was to read the script, because of course, I pictured him, and I was like, 'Oh, this is really heartbreaking.'" But Colombino is looking forward to the fresh take that Prescott will bring to the character. "It's nice to have a new actor in there because the character has changed a little bit, too," she allows. "It's a different dynamic. I think it's good."

SEARCHING FOR TRUE LOVE

Juggling multiple men is nothing new for Katie, who has been involved in more than a few love triangles. But though it would seem to be a simple case of Brad vs. Mike, let's not forget about Jack! "She's such a mess!" laughs Colombino. "I think there's some residual feelings there, definitely. But it didn't last as long and it wasn't as intense as what she had with Mike. I think Katie was just dreaming when she wanted a life with Jack," she muses. "She was more falling in love with the idea of what he stood for. And I think her ego gets in the way, too, because she wanted him to love her more than he loved Carly, and that wasn't going to happen." For her part, Colombino believes that Brad combines the best parts of Katie's former loves, and could possibly be her Mr. Right. So even as her character rushes into another marriage, the actress is hopeful that this time, Katie could have a shot at happiness. "I mean, she doesn't go into them not believing that it's going to last," Colombino insists. "In her mind, she's ready. This is it. I don't know... I have a good feeling about this one!"

FAVORITE THINGS

Movie: "That's a tough one," Colombino admits. "Probably my favorite comedy is AIRPLANE. I don't really have a favorite movie that I always go back and watch over and over again. There's so many good ones to choose from!"

TV Show: "HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. It's hysterical. When you can really do a sitcom well, it'll have my attention. And I think that's the best one right now."

Musician:"[My husband] Arthur Colombino!" she says with a laugh. "Available on iTunes, Napster and like 300 different on-line stores!"

Magazine:" Body+Soul. It's all natural living, inspirational, positive kind of stuff. I find most magazines are just so negative."

Vacation Spot: "Anywhere warm with a beach... and a baby-sitter!"

...ON MIKE'S FORMER PORTRAYER: "He's very busy," Colombino reports of Collier. "He's loving L.A. We spoke right after the writer's strike ended, so he was psyched about getting back to auditioning and working."

...ON WHAT MAKES KATIE SO POPULAR WITH GUYS: "I don't know," she laughs. "It's embarrassing to me. I always say she must be really good in bed because she's got all these hot guys after her!"

...ON HER EMMY WISH LIST: "I would love to see someone like Trent [Dawson, Henry] or Austin [Peck, Brad] win," muses Colombino, 'Because they're so brilliant at the comedy, and it is not easy. Nobody understands that."

...ON HER CURRENT ACTIVITIES: "Working," she chuckles. "All the time. All day long. And we're doing all these location shoots, so I'm always at the studio or in the car."

Star Talk "Who on your cast could be a future James Bond?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - March 31, 2008) Terri Colombino: "I guess Austin [Peck, Brad], probably. He's got the charm, the looks, and I could see him kicking some butt."

Roundup "What are your superstitions?" (Soap Opera Digest - March 11, 2008) Terri Colombino: "I used to have the superstition of picking my feet up when we drove over a railroad track. Finally, Artie [her husband] was like, 'Why do you do that?' I said, 'I don't know!' I tried to remember the reasoning but I couldn't."

The Co-Hosts With The Most (Soap Opera Digest online - February 2008) Our Valentine's Day issue features a Q&A with ATWT's hottest non-couple, Terri Colombino (Katie) and Austin Peck (Brad). You can read about what she thought of his screen test in the magazine, but here they talk about when they met - as well as the bizarre trip they took not long after, as they (in character) cleaned up a contest-winner's basement for a segment on their fictional talk show, OAKDALE NOW.

Soap Opera Digest: Was the screen test the first time you met?

Austin Peck: Yeah.

Terri Colombino: Well, I think we had met before, but he doesn't remember. I remember meeting you at the thing with the wrestlers.

Digest: That thing at the China Club? It was a weird animal-rescue benefit, with soap stars and wrestlers.

Peck: Oh, yeah! Where I jumped up and hit my hand on the fan and I thought I chopped my fingers off!

Colombino: Yes! I remember that, actually.

Peck: Because it was so stupid, how could you not? This big oaf jumping up and hitting a fan.

Colombino (to Digest): He was just tall.

Digest: Was there chemistry right away?

Peck: I thought so. I tried to give her permission to be the way she needed to be with me as the character and really hit my feet off the table or really come at me. I don't even know if I said anything, but even after we started working, any time it was in the script for her to be physical with me, I said, "Push me! Really go for it! Just do it!" It was giving her permission to be how she needs to be as Katie to Brad and that just gives me what I need.

Colombino: He still does that.

Peck: But as far as the screen test was concerned, I saw the character and I felt like I saw what they wanted and I saw the traps that most actors or that I myself might have made. I knew that I was going to go for the fun. Katie is trying to grow up and take her life seriously. Here comes this guy who doesn't take much of anything serious, but he is inside. And I thought that was the fun thing about him that he was challenging her.

Digest: Not long after you started, you had to go off and clean someone's house together.

Colombino: Yeah, that's so weird! We barely knew each other then.

Peck: That was all improv. Chris [Goutman, executive producer] was great: he gave us a lot of freedom.

Digest: That must have been surreal, though.

Colombino: It was like reality television, but for a television show.

Peck: I thought it could be a real miss, but it flowed perfectly with the show.

Colombino: And the people were great! It was very confusing for them, too, because in between we were talking as Austin and Terri, and then all of a sudden, they'd be like, "Come on in, Katie and Brad!"

Peck: It was almost like they were cast.

Colombino: They were great. Awww, I wonder how they're doing. How much did they win?

Peck: $5,000. The funny thing is, we had cleaned the guy's office and knowing how offices are, with paperwork, before he saw it I thought, "This guy's going to be p----d." He came down and I saw it on his face. The wife was like, "Grin and bear it!" It was spotless, but where did all his papers go?

Colombino: Oh, no. And I remember using them as props!

Digest: Did you get to know each other better doing that?

Colombino: I think so.

Digest: Do you ever hang out?

Colombino: We have a couple times.

Peck: Considering you're in Jersey.

Colombino: And they're in the city. They came out to our house for dinner and brought the kids. I have pictures of all three of them in front of the TV. It's so cute.

Digest: They're close in ages, right?

Colombino: Julia's right in between.

Digest: So one day, they could date....

Colombino (laughing): She'll get caught...

Peck: Between the two brothers!

Definitely, Maybe (Soap Opera Digest - February 19, 2008) ATWT's Katie and Brad Take a Chance On Screwball Romance

A year ago, Katie was trying to be a grown-up, which was hard with a goofball like Brad around making her laugh at the stupidest jokes. For their portrayers, Terri Colombino and Austin Peck, it's not so different: His supercharged energy as an AS THE WORLD TURNS newcomer helped make her excited about coming to work again. As we celebrate the most romantic day of the year, Colombino and Peck look back on how their characters' co-host bickering blossomed into no-strings-attached babymaking and now, maybe more.

Soap Opera Digest: What would Katie and Brad do for Valentine's Day?

Terri Colombino: It's a stand-alone episode, like the Christmas one.

Austin Peck: Where Brad is being rejected again by Katie? I think you're orchestrating that.

Colombino: Me?

Peck: I don't think you want to be tied to me. You've seen the future with Michael Park [Jack].

Colombino: You've figured me out.

Peck: You want to be the matriarch of the show.

Colombino (rolling her eyes): Yeah, that's exactly what I want.

Digest: Were you surprised that Katie's already moving on to Brad?

Colombino: No, because the beginnings of it were there for so long. But she's not admitting it yet.

Peck: It has been a year since they met. I think the writers have done an excellent job - and I'm not just kissing butt here - of bringing them along in the time that they have. They brought it along slowly but surely, from Brad realizing that he loves her and admitting that he loves her. It's really been appropriate.

Colombino: I think so, too. By now she's kind of realizing that she has feelings for him, too, but it's not appropriate in her mind. In her mind, "I was married to his brother, so this would be awful, I would look like..."

Peck: The whore that you are (laughs)

Colombino: She's been married to every man she's slept with!

Peck: Like Elizabeth Taylor.

Colombino:: Right. As long as she marries them: Simon, Mike, Henry, Jack... oh, except for Brad!

Peck: I'm out of the norm. I'm unique! Brad's not marriage material, I guess.

Digest: You've both been part of grand soap romances before. How does this compare?

Peck: Compared to what I've had to do in the past, Brad is much more complex. He can be completely shallow and childish and goofy, but then turn around and be a deep confidant and close friend to somebody. He does really deeply care, but he covers it with his sense of humor. His feelings for Katie have been because suddenly he's come across someone who's challenged him, who dishes it out as much as he does.

Colombino: Right. This one has the most potential, I think, because it has taken so long and there are different depths to the relationship already, even though they haven't even had it yet.

Peck: They've proven that they can be friends. He's been a really good friend to Katie.

Colombino (laughing): She hasn't really been that good of a friend to him, though!

Digest: What about you two as actors? What were your first impressions?

Peck: She was sweet as pie, really easy to work with. I came in with my actor's points of view as far as the character was concerned. Of course, she's been playing her character for a long time, so I was very neutral, reserved and respectful. It was like, "This is your home and I'm here. Let's just have fun and do this." She went right along with it.

Colombino: I knew, because he had been doing this as long as I had - longer, actually - that he was comfortable in the medium. And he had Brad, totally. There were some other guys who were really good, but he was Brad to me. It just was obvious. And he had fun with it, still. Most people are so nervous. I get so nervous for the people auditioning and if they're really nervous, it comes back to me. I soak it in, somehow.

Peck: I've never been in that situation. I've always been the testee, not the tester.

Colombino: It's hard because you want to give everybody an equal shot -

Peck: But you kind of know right off the bat.

Colombino: You know! It's actually really good, as an actor, to see because you see why you don't get the role sometimes. You could be the best actor - I mean most of them were way better than you (laughs) - but they're just not the character. From what they wanted, he just nailed it.

Digest: Was Austin what you expected him to be?

Colombino: I didn't really know anything to expect. But we work really well together. When he started here, I was at kind of a low point. That happens when you're here for so long - I guess it happens in any job - where you're psyched to be there for a couple of months and then you're like [groaning], "Oh, I've got to go to work." I felt bad because we didn't really know each other that well at first and I thought "Poor thing, he's getting me at this time where I'm like, 'I'm just going to do my lines and go home.'" But it was good for me because he totally brought me out of that. He's so excited about figuring out what's going on and taking the negatives out. Instead of saying, "I don't want to say that; she wouldn't say that", just making it work and figuring out why she would say that.

Peck: She was so willing to play. If I came up with an idea, she wouldn't hold back. She always thinks she's doing too much, so I'm always challenging her to take it up. My problem is I feel like I'm never doing enough, so my tendency is to do too much.

Colombino: We complement each other like Brad and Katie [laughs].

Peck: And I'm just an enthusiastic person. My father used to say, "Austin, you're so easily entertained."

Colombino: That's not a bad thing.

Peck: So I don't have the curmudgeon actor thing where nothing is ever good enough. I'm always like "Okay, I'm going to make it as good as I possibly can."

Digest: Katie's done a lot of wacky things, but this might be the most physical of her scenes.

Colombino: That's where your sexual frustration come out: You want to touch them somehow! It's written in, but at other times I try to add it in because you've got to feel that she wants him and she's just not letting herself go there.

Digest: It must have been fun to pour gravy on him, too.

Colombino: Yeah, that was pretty fun. The director said "Have fun with it," I was like, "Oh, I will."

Peck: That was one of the most bizarre feelings I've ever had: to have your head shoved into a giant vat of mashed potatoes and then - they didn't show it on camera - the gravy went right down my shirt. It was like, "Uggggh!"

Colombino: Now, every weekend, he's like "Tara, heat up the gravy."

Peck (laughing): Yeah. "Honey, I'll be home early tonight for some gravy." "Not again, Austin!"

Digest: So back to Valentine's Day. What would their ideal be?

Peck: Lots of moisture.

Colombino (disgusted): I hate that word! It's an onomatopoeia. It sounds like what it is. But ideally, Katie would just drop the wall and drop her drawers. No, I take that back.

Peck: You put it out there: you can't take it back now.

Colombino: No, I would want it to be more romantic. I would want it to be when she finally admits to herself and Brad she's falling for him.

Peck: And then Brad -

Colombino: He goes, "Oh, just kidding!"

Peck: "Not what I wanted! Never mind!"

Digest: Do you think he'll do that?

Peck: No. When it comes to Katie, he's for real.

Digest: It seems to be going well.

Colombino: Yeah, that's why I'm worried - I don't want it to last too long, where Katie's shooing him away.

Peck: I think Brad's starting to get mad about being rejected so intensely. But Brad is the kind of guy you could reject for a very long time. He's got great stamina for that. It's like that scene in Dumb & Dumber.

Colombino: I love that!

Peck: Where he say, "What are our chances?"

Colombino (laughing): "One in a million."

Together: "So your saying there's a chance!"

Sexiest Couple Alive 2008 (TV Guide.ca - February 5, 2008) Good night and good luck, Brangelina: 'As The World Turns' Austin Peck and Terri Colombino are making headlines as soaps' most romantic soulmates

In their first major joint interview, TVGuide.ca spoke with daytime TV's sexiest super-couple, As The World Turns' Terri Colombino (Katie) and Austin Peck (Brad) about their already legendary chemistry, why the soap dropped the ball on Noah and Luke's popular coupling, The Daytime Emmy Awards, being thin in Hollywood, and, oh yeah, how they're single-handedly making soap viewers fall in love with romance all over again.

For the first time, I'm not going to waste any ink on an intro because the hilarious and enlightening interview says it all. Enjoy - and remember it's Bratie's world, we just live in it!

TVGuide.ca: Congratulations on being named Sexiest Couple Alive!

Terri Colombino: Seriously? In all of daytime?

TVG: Yes, in the entire history of the universe - evah! [laughs]

Austin Peck: Wow! Sexiest Couple Alive; I can die now!

TVG: You guys are so going to Disney World, aren't you?

AP: The only place to go after you reach this level is to go to Disney World!

TVG: Each of you, tell me the sexiest feature of your co-star.

AP: Her personality. Terri's fun and lighthearted. She's so willing to commit to her job, but also have fun.

TC: [laughs] His ass! Just kidding! Austin has this charisma that's just sexy. The way he plays Brad, and his all-consuming, unconditional love for Katie is the very definition of sexy.

TVG: I agree; it's clear Austin understands what it's like to be truly in love. You can't teach that in acting class.

AP: Brad definitely wants Katie. He has 10 hard-ons for Katie!

TVG: We all want to find a man who looks at us the way Brad looks at Katie.

TC: Absolutely!

TVG: Are you guys surprised over the success of this coupling?

AP: Surprised, yes, because we're so involved in the work that we do, that we don't hear a lot of feedback. Also, there are so many days when I have no idea what I'm doing! [laughs] We're having fun - perhaps, that's what fans are seeing. We're not playing soap moments, we both approach this as we're telling a story about this couple in their own time and place. We honour our characters, even if we're on a soap.

TC: We're very fortunate these days. Even during Bratie's serious moments, we get to have fun. I get why the audience is responding to us. Bratie is a couple I'd get behind as a viewer.

TVG: You guys have created, in my mind, two real, breathing and living human beings - I don't see any traces of acting in your performances. How much improvising do you guys do; ATWT is very bipolar these days so I wouldn't be surprised if most of this magic comes from you both.

AP: Wow - that's a really great compliment. Whoa - that's really good feedback!

TC: Thanks a lot! We don't improvise very much, honestly. It's all in the writing.

AP: There are perhaps a few improv moments we indulge in - which comes out of the natural dynamic of the characters and writing. The writers really get the characters, this couple and their inner conflict. I like the fact that when Bratie are on TV that day, fans don't know what to expect - will it be fun, painful, or dramatic - or all three?

TVG: Let's talk about the underrated Colombino, who has made Katie a modern-day, urban heroine that everyone can relate to in this post-Sex and the City age of ours. Katie has been so hurt by Jack, that she is transferring her pain on to Brad - torturing him in the process. It almost borders on romantic terrorism! [Both actors laugh hysterically]

AP: I, Austin, always tell Terri it's okay to say what she needs to say to Brad because Katie has been given a raw deal. It's cool for her to push Brad away because of Jack.

TC: This is what makes my job hard these days: Brad's sooo sweet, and Katie just tramples on his heart. Now that she knows how he feels, it makes it so much harder because I want the audience to root for them, but if she keeps hurting him... I worry about their survival because a man can only take so much. But then again, it works because that's where the yearning for this couple to unite is born from.

TVG: ATWT couldn't have written Brad proposing to Katie any better if they tried - and all this during the writers' strike! I admit, I teared up when Brad told Katie not just that he loves her, but what she had also been yearning to hear - that he would never hurt her like Jack did. It was a cathartic moment. He knows what's happening in her heart and mind, and she can't stand it! [laughs] I love how she interrupted him at every chance before he proposed. It reminded me of those old romantic, screwball comedies.

AP: But you know, it's more than Jack, too, Brad's not been necessarily trustworthy.

TC: I don't think it's all about Jack either - it's more about her track record. It's so scary for her because whenever she opens herself up, she keeps getting hurt.

TVG: Do you really think Katie still loves Jack - because I don't. She needs to sit Jack down tell him how much he hurt her, ream him a new one, and tell him to f*ck off!

TC: I do too!

AP: I agree completely!

TC: I don't think she loves Jack anymore either. I think she had this idea of who Jack was and what he represented. That's what so ironic about this - she's finding true love in the most unlikely place. Also, I believe she's pushing Brad away because she's embarrassed about their relationship. Does that make sense? I know that sounds mean - but Brad is Jack's lothario brother. It's scandalous - and at least on this soap; we're addressing an incestuous love triangle because falling in love with her brother's fiancé is embarrassing no matter how real the feelings. Especially when you're a TV star like Katie is.

AP: But you know what - Jack will never make Katie happy. But then again, it's not really about Jack either, because she wants to change this crazy pattern she has developed with falling in love with the bad boy - but Katie's in control for once, because Brad would do anything for her, including change himself. As an actress, Terri has so much to draw from and touch upon.

TVG: Yep, Brad's the bitch here in this relationship - for once Katie has the upper hand. You know - despite her waffling - I love how Katie in every instance always chooses Brad in the end. After every fight in which she screams, 'get out of my life, fool,' Brad goes, 'Okay, but let's get coffee first,' and she always replies, 'Okay.' It's so freakin' sweet, I can't stand it! [Both actors laugh hysterically]

TC: I love that, too! He's too damn charming. If Terri was Katie, I would be done so long ago because even I'm smitten with Brad. Who isn't? Brad would've had Terri at 'Hello.'

TVG: Even Brad's smitten with Brad! I've written ad nauseum about Austin's emergence as a viable leading man and how much he's improved as an actor. Is everyone on ATWT proud of Mr. Peck's work, Terri?

TC: Omigod, yes! Everyone keeps saying that Brad is one of the best characters to be on our show in a long time. Yes, thanks to the writers they gave him a solid foundation, of course, but Brad's reinvention wouldn't have happened without Austin. Brad is a lot like Austin and vice versa. Our writers, say what you will, have a huge talent like no one else at tapping into what an actor brings to a role and fleshing that out.

TVG: Soap legend William Bell mastered that.

TC: Exactly. I don't think it's because Austin became a great actor overnight, but it's more that he finally has great writing to work with. No offence to Days of our Lives, but they're not really known for great writing.

AP: It's amazing what you can do when you're thrown a bone! [laughs] I had fun when I worked on Days, [coughs], but I was tied down by the limitations of the character, Austin Reed. Most of my acting consisted of me wearing a towel on every show. I'm really appreciative that TV Guide has supported me from the get-go on ATWT, so thanks.

TVG: ATWT dropped the ball with Oakdale's last super-couple, Noah and Luke, are you guys worried the same will happen to Bratie?

TC: No. I think we've created something larger than us and the show that even if we now get a script that has us scratching our heads, we know that our chemistry will come and save the day. We have momentum, which no matter what, will help Bratie prosper.

AP: With Nuke, ATWT got scared off because they were two men.

TC: I doubt that will happen with us, because I have a vagina! [laughs]

AP: I haven't seen it personally, but let it be known that Terri and Katie have vaginas! [laughs] She has a child, so I just assume...

TVG: [laughs] Very funny and very true. You should take this comedy routine on the road. You two should host the Daytime Emmy Awards. Okay, so I have to ask: have your spouses hired hit men to come after you both?

TC: [laughs] No! We're very lucky in that we have spouses, who are also actors, who understand our job. It is a job. I hate it when real-life spouses use on-screen chemistry to act out their insecurities in their respective relationships, and that happens in a lot in this business.

TVG: Okay, then - how about Michael Park [Jack] or Maura West [Carly] - have they commissioned an assassin?

AP: No. Heck - they work more than us.

TVG: Jack and Carly are yesterday's news. Any news whether Paul Leyden [ex-Simon] might return? I've heard rumblings that he may come back. And also, who would win in a fight for Katie's heart - Simon or Brad?

TC: I'm a lucky girl. I'm surprised the other actresses haven't sent out a hit man after me because I always get the hotties on the show! As for Brad vs. Simon, I couldn't call that fight.

AP: She's being kind because Brad would kick Simon's ass!

TC: As for Paul, he just sold a screenplay to Joel Silver so he's busy, but yeah, I read that rumour too, but I don't know where they got that from.

TVG: Can you tease future story for Bratie?

TC: I would tell you if I knew, but honestly, we don't know anything especially because of the writers' strike. We were just talking to the VP of CBS Daytime, Barbara Bloom, who said she loved Bratie - loved our chemistry, storyline and wants it to continue. So at least we know CBS and Bratie are in each other's orbits. We're happy.

TVG: What about the Emmy Awards, Terri - are you submitting yourself?

TC: That was a tough one this year. I put myself up for lead out of shear insanity, I think. Not to be a hypocrite, because I've always said in the past that it's ridiculous for an actor to submit themselves in supporting when they're lead - it screws everything up for everyone. I was on everyday, I couldn't all of a sudden put myself in supporting so I would stand a better chance at winning. There aren't any rules, which makes it frustrating. I'd probably submit the breakup with Jack, but also Katie and Brad's first sex scene because even though it was lighthearted, it was really tough to play when you factor in all the back story and dynamics of her broken heart. Comedy always gets overlooked, but humour is rooted in anger and pain. I love the scene where Bratie made love for the first time - in my opinion, that was amazing daytime drama!

TVG: I agree on all counts. As for the Emmys, NATAS does need to define what makes an actor supporting or lead because, especially in a genre like soaps, a performer can be both a lead and supporting actor thanks to various umbrella storylines. But perhaps, the Academy will give you an Emmy, Terri, just for having to work opposite this diva, Austin Peck! Now, I hear Austin you submitted yourself in Best Younger Actress, can you confirm that? [laughs]

AP: Yes, and I'm in it to win it. [laughs] Nobody else can compete with me in that category.

TVG: We've talked enough about Austin's body [snore], let's spend some time dissecting how Terri's evolved into such a beautiful and sexy woman - especially of late. Terri, you've never looked better - even post-baby! What are you doing?

TC: That's an interesting topic for me, because I'm not the typical skinny-actress; not only just on daytime - on anything. Actresses have gotten so unbelievably skinny that I just don't want to look like that. I want to represent the average woman, and I'm not saying I'm overweight by any means, but sometimes I feel like I am compared to the stick figures out there.

AP: I don't find the uber-skinny look sexy at all.

TC: It's what you do with it. When you picked Crystal Chappell as Sexiest Woman Alive, that was an inspired choice because sexiness is what you do with it as much as what you physically present. As I get older, I've learned to own my sexuality. But having said that, I have fun flaunting my body and sexuality onscreen because I'm proud of myself and my body now.

TVG: One of the highlights of your epic love story is that Vienna and Henry have been utilized. It must be a riot filming those scenes, huh?

AP: We're all so funny when we work together, and we're so happy and grateful that Vienna and Henry are Brad and Katie's friends.

TVG: I think Henry has a huge crush on Brad!

AP: Big... big crush! Who wouldn't [laughs]?

TC: They have a cuddling scene soon!

TVG: What? Oooh, that's good.

AP: Henry and Brad love each other, but Henry always needles Brad.

TC: Their friendship is so unique.

TVG: Friendships are so rare in daytime.

TC: That's why I love this quartet; at the end of the day, the four of them are buddies, first and foremost.

TVG: Has Days of our Lives tried to steal you back Austin?

AP: Um, no.

TC: [laughs]

TVG: Thank you both for making my daily Herculean task of watching eleven soap operas a day, somewhat worth it. A day without Bratie, is a day not worth living.

AP: I agree!

TC: Spread the word!

Scott Bryce fired (Soap Opera Digest - February 4, 2008) "I hung out with him a good deal, even though we didn't work together," says Terri Colombino. "I really love him, I'm sad to see him go and also that we never got a chance to have scenes together."

Child Star (CBS Soaps In Depth - February 4, 2008) With husband Arthur also a performer, Terri Colombino (Katie) wasn't surprised when daughter Julia started displaying a love for singing and dancing. But seeing as their baby girl is only 3, the actress isn't quite ready to let her follow them into the business yet. "We've talked about it," she confides. "If she really wants to do it more than anything, we'll let her take acting classes and do theater and all of that stuff - which is more like playing, which is what a child should do. It's not a business for kids. It's a professional business." Colombino smiles as she adds, "I figure once she's a little older, like maybe a pre-teen or something, then we can use it as bribery. Like, 'Well, if you get all A's this semester, we'll let you go out for commercials!'"

"She's a little performer," Colombino says of her daughter.

Gold Star (CBS Soaps In Depth - January 21, 2008) Austin Peck (Brad) and Terri Colombino (Katie) are this issue's outstanding performers

The best soap romances are between actors who have instant chemistry but whose characters are given time to truly fall head over heels for one another. AS THE WORLD TURNS' Brad and Katie are a perfect example of this thanks to the sparkling repartee between their portrayers Austin Peck and Terri Colombino and the unique path which led their alter egos into each other's arms.

The Agreement: Having agreed to take up Brad on his offer to father her child without any emotional attachments, Katie slept with the hunk, but it was clear that there was much more going on between these two than just sex. Desperate to avoid having her heart broken again, Katie tried to suppress her emotions, but Colombino let some longing and desire slip through when Katie thought Brad wasn't looking. And as soon as Brad began to sound like he was actually falling for Katie, Peck quickly covered his alter ego's true feelings with a façade of machismo and typically bad jokes.

Secret Passions: Back at work the morning after having done the deed, Katie demanded that their "arrangement" be kept secret, but Brad's inability to resist boasting led to her letting him have it. Anytime Brad and Katie argue, Peck and Colombino imbue their performances with a scorching sexual chemistry that always bubbles just beneath the surface. And when it finally explodes, look out! As the two co-workers took their argument into one of the offices, their barely-contained passion burst forth, and neither could resist the urge to tear off the other's clothes as business became pleasure.

Twisted: Brad and Katie dance around the notoriously thin line between love and hate on a daily basis. And somehow, Peck and Colombino manage to juggle both of those emotions and more every time they are in a scene together. The actors share a natural chemistry that lends itself well to humor, and the banter between Brad and Katie sparkles like the dialogue in a classic screwball comedy. But when Katie gives him an opening, Brad turns on the charm and goes from rude to romantic in the blink of an eye.

Peck and Colombino's performances are inextricably intertwined, and whenever their characters are apart, we can't wait for them to be together again. This is one pair that we believe has the potential to become a supercouple.

Soap Gets A Real Makeover! (CBS Soaps In Depth - January 21, 2008) Right up until winter hit, AS THE WORLD TURNS made the most of the good weather by taking its cast and crew on location whenever possible - and that seems to be one change the soap is going to continue.

"It's the new look for the show," explains Terri Colombino (Katie), who recently found herself outside ATWT's Brooklyn studio at a church on Long Island for Jack and Carly's almost-wedding and at an ice-skating rink in upper Manhattan for an almost-date with Jack. "It makes you feel a little bit more like you're there," she continues. "Oakdale is becoming more real, instead of such an imaginary place. It's a great idea." However, the cold weather hasn't put the kibosh on all of ATWTs creative new taping methods. We'll let you in on a big secret: The stairwells of the hospital where hushed conversations often take place are actually the stairs in the soap's own studio! "It's so funny, because I thought they painted it to make it look different so you could figure out what stairwell you're in," Colombino laughs. "And I was like, 'God, what an ugly color they chose!' But it's the [same color as the set]!'"

Star Talk "Which talk show would you most like to be a guest on?" (CBS Soaps In Depth - January 21, 2008) Terri Colombino (Katie, ATWT): "THE SOUP. It's not really a talk show, but it's my favorite show ever!"