Have you ever had a conversation with someone that left a lasting impression?? In this business, I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with stars from the shows across all 3 networks and have found no one more delightful than All My Children star, Melissa Claire Egan. 

“I can’t believe the Tarheel’s won,” says an excited Egan about her alma mater The University of North Carolina who won this years NCAA tournament back in March. “See I remembered you were a fellow Tarheel and UNC fan,” she says with a laugh that became a synonymous sound during this interview.

Yes, I will admit that it rocks that she remembered that yours truly was a Tarheel and fellow UNC fan. No we did not exchange bios before this interview, instead Egan and I were like two old college students catching up with one another after a notable absence. I had the pleasure of interviewing Egan, a few months after she begin wowing audiences with her portrayal of the mysterious mom on the run, Annie McDermott.

After about 30 minutes of basketball talk, which gave our thoughts about the Tarheels upcoming season Egan I decided it was time to get down to the task at hand….talking about life in Pine Valley. 

“Just like the last time we talked, life in Pine Valley is absolutely AWESOME,” shares Egan. “I’m having a blast with my recent storyline and I love the direction that the writers have decided to take Annie in.”

Unless you are either a) new to the show or b) have been living under a rock for the last year or so, then the storyline and direction Egan is referring to is the dark, downward spiral her character has recently taken. Gone is the Stepford wife, cookie baking, everything is rosy Annie McDermott, and in her place is a darker, more vindictive Annie McDermott……an Annie McDermott that would do just about anything to get what she wants or to keep her daughter safe. 

“Being BAD is so much fun,” Egan says with a laugh. “I pick up my scripts and can’t wait to see what Annie is going to do next.” Hasn’t Annie already done enough?  She’s kidnapped her daughter, faked a pregnancy to keep her former hubby, tried to kill his new fiancée, blackmailed her brother and is now preparing to become the next queen of the Chandler mansion.

“In Annie’s mind she is able to justify all of her actions and come up with reasons as to why she did each of them,” she shares. “Annie is by no means this perfect angel, who has had this privileged or easy life…..she has dealt with a lot of things in her past and has even tried to keep them from interfering with, and to an extent affecting her future and her life with her daughter.”

But does Annie have a future in Pine Valley as Mrs. Adam Chandler or even a life with her daughter, especially with the events that are about to be revealed. This past spring, viewers watched in shock as it was revealed that Stuart Chandler had met his demise and taken a bullet meant for his twin brother Adam. 

Fingers were pointed at many Pine Valley citizens, but evidence began to point at Kendall Slater and Annie. “That darn Kendall is trying to ruin Annie’s life yet again,” Egan says chuckling. Or maybe it’s the other way around and Annie is out to ruin Kendall’s life, and make Kendall pay for her relationship with Ryan.

“We know that Aiden had sent Annie out of the country around the time that all of this happened,” she says. “But we also know that she snuck back into Pine Valley because she missed her daughter and wanted to be with her.”

So does that mean that Annie is the one that killed Stuart? “I don’t know who killed Stuart,” Egan says. “Given Annie’s state of mind, I certainly wouldn’t put anything past her but I do Annie wants to be with her daughter and making a good life for and with Emma is her motivation right now.”

And that is definitely what Annie is trying to do, while trying to show the Chandler’s she is a changed woman. “I’m enjoying working with David Canary and have learned a tremendous amount from him,” she shares. “Adam is grateful to Annie for saving his life and in an essence Annie feels as if Adam has saved her life as well.” Unfortunately, it is anyone’s guess whether or not Annie and Adam will make it to the altar especially if anyone has anything to say about it. 

We know JR is against this marriage and will do anything he can to keep it from happening, but he can do it alone or will he find reinforcements in Annie’s former loves, Ryan and Aiden?

“Unfortunately, I think the ship has sailed on Ryan and Annie and honestly I don’t want them to be put back together right now,” says Egan. And if you visit any message board or fan forum, viewers seem to echo Egan’s sentiments. “I think the writers lost focus and direction for the two them each time the writers changed,” she says. “Each of them had their own ideas and views, on who Ryan and Annie Lavery were and how they should be and that seemed to change at the drop of a hat…the viewers saw that, Cam and I saw that, we played what we were given the best we could.”

Eventually, Ryan and Annie parted ways. He found love with his ex-wife Greenlee, while Annie found love again with dashing PI, Aidan Devane. “I LOVED the Annie and Aidan romance,” Egan says with a sigh. “I thought it was a sweet and fun romance.” I asked Egan what her thoughts would be if the show decided to revisit the Aidan and Annie romance? “BRING IT ON,” she says laughing. “I had a lot of fun working with Aiden; he is a doll not to mention a total HUNK.” 

She even let me in on a little storyline idea she had for the two of them. “I’d love to see them write an adventure type storyline for Aidan and Annie, one where they were like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith, out to solve a crime and nab the bad guy.” Egan even let me in on a little secret about something a fan sent her. 

“A group of viewers sent Aiden (Turner, Aidan) and me a poster from the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith with my face on Angelina Jolie’s body and Aiden’s face on Brad Pitt’s fun…it’s so funny. I have it hanging on my dressing room door.”

As our conversation was coming to a close, I had to ask Melissa about her reaction to her Emmy nomination. “I’m still in shock,” she says with a laugh. “They’re so many talented females in this category and I’m honored and humbled to be in this category with them.

Melissa Claire Egan, one of daytime’s rare gems. “I want to encourage the fans to keep on watching, some interesting stuff is coming down the line. I also want to thank them for their support and encouragement over the last 3 years.” 

Thanks goes out to Melissa for taking time out of her busy schedule to talk with us here at Soaptown. Additionally, a thank you goes out to her fan club for setting this interview up. For more information about Melissa Claire Egan or for details on how to join her fan club, please visit her official site

Photos courtesy of ABC, Melissa Claire Egan Official Site and JPI Studios