In the AW finale, Felicia had a line after the wedding of Cass (Stephen Schnetzer) and Lila (Lisa Peluso), something about it being ‘okay,’ which seemed to be a way of saying to the audience you were okay with the show ending. How were you really feeling?
Not great. I was very sad. I was the last person to leave the building. I went to every office, every department — wardrobe, makeup, all of them. It was Vivien [Stern, my late publicist] and myself.
I said goodbye to everything and everybody. At that moment, I already knew I was going to ABC to reprise Rae Cummings. [Ed. Note: When Dano first played the part on One Life to Live in 1978, the character went by her first name ‘Gretel.’ FYI: ‘Rae’ is both Gretel and Dano’s middle name.]
I wasn’t allowed to speak about going back to ABC until it happened. Even Stephen [Schnetzer, ex-Cass, AW] didn’t know. I was asked to come [back] to ABC long before AW was canceled, but I said, ‘No, I can’t. If this show goes under, I need to be here till the very end. I won’t do it.’ So, I didn’t and I didn’t know that ABC would ever call again. I felt so strongly about AW. It was my family, and a very special show.
Did you keep anything of Felicia’s?
Everything! I have feather boas coming out of my ears!
Who from AW are you in touch with?
Stephen [Schnetzer], of course. Also, John Bolger (ex-Gabe), David Forsyth (ex-John), Anna Holbrook (ex-Sharlene), and Anna Stuart (ex-Donna). I just had lunch with John Aprea (ex-Lucas).
You’d taken a break from acting and now, thanks to Ali and Hallmark you’re back. What’s next for you?
I’m not sure. I’m open to things that I haven’t been open to in a long time. After [my husband] Frank died, I went to GL because of Ellen Wheeler (ex-Marley/Vicky, AW; former GL executive producer).
My character, Lena Kendall, was in prison and I wore an orange jumpsuit. I said the only way I’d do it is you have to kill me. I want blood coming out of my mouth! I’d never played dead before; she said, okay, I’ll kill you.
It was emotional being there. I knew all the crew members, their families, their kids. After work, I’d come home to my dark apartment and my two baby dogs, and I’d cry. It was so hard on me. Frank hadn’t been gone that long. Then, [my publicist and dear friend] Vivien Stern died four years ago.
I still have an apartment in New York. That’s where all the parties with all the old AW people happen. They all come, we all laugh and talk. We’re all getting together later this month to toast Carmen [Duncan, Iris, who died in February]. We’re going to have several drinks in her honor.
The Chronicle Mysteries will air later this year on the Hallmark Channel.
Video Credit: kerster22
Video Credit: Days Of Our Lives Fan Clips
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