Emmy-award winning actress and activist Leigh Taylor-Young recently debuted on "Passions." Leigh took on the role of Sheridan and Julian's mother, Katherine Crane, a woman we've heard much about but have always believed to be dead! Of course, now that Leigh has come aboard "Passions," it's clear Katherine is alive and well. Read on to find out what Leigh thinks of her character, what she hopes to get out of this experience and why she'd love to take on Alistair Crane!

How did the role come about for you?
It was very simple. I got a call about the show and that they were interested in making me an offer. I still had to test because they still had to see if I fit the part.

Are you excited to play a character so steeped in history?
I think it's absolutely thrilling. And now that I'm more into it, the stakes have gotten higher. Richard (Steinmetz, Martin) and I try to play this as a very healthy love-a love that's willing to look at reality. We look at it as a love that's been bliss but we are now realizing how hard it's been on our children. And there is also a secret-something more than Katherine having been deeply abused. I don't know what it is yet, but I know it has something to do with protecting our children.

Are you enjoying learning more about the character as you go along?
Since the first week I feel like I've been thrown into the spin cycle of a washing machine! Everything went so fast. I hadn't had the chance to return any phone calls. I got a call from a dear friend, the head of a corporation, who then called me back since she hadn't heard from me. She asked what I've been doing and I said I had news-I had just stared a show. She asked what show and I told her "Passions." There was this huge intake of breath and she started whispering. She made me promise not to tell anyone and told me that she's watched "Passions" for five years. She said if she doesn't have a business lunch then she's in her office with the door closed watching "Passions." So I started asking her all kinds of questions about who all the characters are and how they are related. She gave me the entire history! I just loved that! She was thrilled that I was going to be on the show. She was dying to know who I was but I said I couldn't tell her! But once the news broke in TV Guide I told her whom I was and she couldn't believe it.