Since Martin Fitzgerald disappeared from Harmony years ago, his devoted wife Pilar has lit a candle for him every night, in hopes of bringing him home. Well, now that Richard Steinmetz has brought Martin to the "Passions" canvas, it looks like Pilar won't have to be lighting that candle for much longer. While Richard is no stranger to soaps, having appeared on "Loving" in the late 1980s, it's certainly been a while since Richard has been in daytime. Read on to find out how Richard is readjusting to the genre, what he thinks of his character and much more!

How did the role on "Passions" come about for you?
I just auditioned for it! That was pretty easy and straightforward. But of course there was all the secrecy and trickery of auditioning for one thing and then it turning out to be something completely different! I auditioned with Kim (Johnston Ulrich, Ivy), who has absolutely nothing to do with my storyline! When I got the part, I was told I was the mystery man. I didn't know it was Martin until about a week later.

What was it like to be cast as a "Mystery Man" and not know anything about the character?
They told me I'd get a name in about seven or eight episodes. I was literally blind when I walked in. I had no idea what the story was going to be. I've learned as we've gone along.

Does that make it harder to play?
It does, but it's also made it interesting because you get to discover new things. But you also have to piece things together. You have to think-who are these people and how do they fit into my picture? You just get a little bit as you go along and then a little more and a little more. Now I'm trying to figure out what's going to happen. I like that part-I have all of my scripts in front of me and can't wait to find out.

Do you like playing a character so steeped in the show's history?
I do. It makes the stakes a lot higher, which is a good thing. It puts a lot more importance on things. For example, if it's the first time I'm talking to my son-that's really big. You realize this is my son who has been thinking for so many years that his father is gone and dead. It becomes really important and has a little more kick to it.