Rebecca Budig

Rebecca Budig played Greenlee Smythe on All My Children for six years. What was supposed to be a three-month stint turned into a major, integral role on the show. So why on Earth leave? "I had been there for six years and absolutely loved it - but I got antsy," Rebecca explains. "I was itching to get out and do other things."

However, she will always be grateful for the fan support and the support she received from the show, which led to her extended stay in Pine Valley. "It was really great. At first I was happy that it was only three months. Then I started working with Josh (Duhamel, 'Leo'), and I really just loved my character."

Plus, she got to kiss Josh Duhamel. "Working with Josh was amazing. He is incredible. It was the best acting experience I've had so far in my career - we had such a great chemistry together. He's a lot of fun, and he works the way I do. Plus, he's a great kisser!"

More opportunities

However, it was time to move on. So she and new husband, Bob Guiney (The Bachelor), set off for Hollywood because, as Rebecca tells me: "That's where the acting jobs are. There are more opportunities for me out here than there were in New York."

One opportunity that has come her way is the new movie The Perfect Child, which debuts August 6 on Lifetime Television (check local listings for times). This is her first lead role in a movie, and it is exciting for Rebecca to be a part of this film because Lifetime is known for making movies with strong female leads. "This was a fun movie to make. I love that it is for women and that they have strong roles for women."

In The Perfect Child, Rebecca plays Sarah, a public-relations executive who's a workaholic and has survived some bad relationships. On a job, she meets Paul Jacobs (played by Lochlyn Monroe), whom she believes is her soul mate. But, things won't be peachy for long, as a series of strange and dark happenings begin to centre around Sarah and her relationship.

Finished product

A main selling point of the film for Rebecca was: "I would get the experience of doing a whole role, from the beginning, through the middle and to the end. With soaps, you rarely get any conclusion - it's just sort of never-ending. It was nice to have a final, finished product. Plus, it was great working with Lochlyn, and I loved working in Canada (where the movie was filmed)."

So, what's next for our young heroine? Rebecca is up for anything. "I've been doing a lot of auditioning. I did a pilot for Fox that didn't get picked up. It's too bad, because it was a sitcom and I've been wanting to do a comedy. However, I did get my puppy, a yellow lab, because of the show - I played a veterinarian.

"I would love to do more comedies, or a dramedy - somethingI can sink my teeth into. And, of course, film. You know, I basically want what every actress wants!"

Until then, be sure to catch Rebecca on August 6 in her new movie, The Perfect Child, on Lifetime Television.

- Cindy Elavsky