The secret is out. As Beth Ehlers herself admits, the actress is coming to All My Children.

“I can’t wait to start working!” Ehlers told SOAPnet.com. “I haven’t acted in a few weeks. I need to act!”

After leaving Guiding Light and the famous character of Harley earlier this year, Beth will be playing an entirely new role: Taylor McBride, a soldier just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. She first airs August 5.

“Taylor is in town to give a Bronze Medal to Frankie [also a vet, played by Cornelius Smith, Jr.] She’s biding her time until her next tour,” Ehlers said, revealing a few All My Children spoilers. “She’s lifetime military … someone that likes rules and boundaries. [She looks at things as] This is right and this is wrong.”

The multiple-Emmy Award nominee couldn’t be more excited to take on the new challenge:

“I started playing Harley when I was a little girl and now I’m a grown person. It’s been a long time since had a character I could start all the way from scratch with.”

Daytime Confidential has just received a big-time scoop on Beth Ehlers (Harley) will exit Guiding Light:

Reportedly, Rafe shoots Jeffrey O’Neal and Harley gets him out of town to protect him. The two are on the run for an unspecified period of time. In the end, Rafe somehow ends up back in Springfield, but Harley does not. Details are still unclear of how this angle ends.

We do know, of course, that Ehlers will soon turn up on All My Children.

Rumor is now fact:

After taking a “vacation” from Guiding Light to job-hunt, Beth Ehlers has been confirmed as joining the cast of All My Children. Insiders said as much to Soap Opera Weekly.

We hear that Ehlers will take on the role of Liza Colby beginning this summer. She’ll be placed in a love triangle with former Guiding Light spouse Ricky Paull Goldin (ex-Gus; now Jake) and Michael E. Knight (Tad). This is subject to change.

Daytime Confidential has received an anonymous tip from someone claiming to be on the set of All My Children, one that has delivered exciting news:

Beth Ehlers (Harley, Guiding Light) has indeed signed on to recreate the role of Adam Chandler’s illegitimate daughter Hayley Vaughan Santos.

We’ll have more on this All My Children news item as more facts come in about it.

With the departure of Ricky Paull Goldin imminent, Guiding Light costar Beth Ehlers has written the following email to her fans:

Hello Everyone,
How can we say goodbye to Ricky Paull Goldin?? I know for all of you the idea of Guiding Light without “GUS” is unimaginable. For me the idea of “Harley” without “Gus” is unimaginable! 2008 was supposed to be the year of their reconciliation.

Ricky and I both anticipated those scenes, to finally get the opportunity to fall in love again… for all of you. Obviously, that won’t happen now. And it’s a tragedy. Please know that I am as saddened, as devastated as all of you. He isn’t just the love of Harley’s life.

He is my best friend. Please send good wishes his way! And maybe in the future, who knows . . . maybe these two people will meet again.

I can only hope . . .
All my love,
Beth Ehlers

This week on Guiding Light, Harley has her eye on her niece’s man.

But this week Marina shows her up with the news that she’s engaged to Cyrus. Don’t expect Harley to just give up, however.

“Their feelings for each other are not going away,” Beth Ehlers says to Soap Opera Digest in the January 22 issue, which hits stands Tuesday.

We can’t wait to read it!

Beth Ehlers recently sat down with Soap Opera Weekly. Here are excerpts from the interview with the Guiding Light star:

Soap Opera Weekly: What was Harley thinking when she learned Gus proposed to Natalia?
Beth Ehlers: She was freaking devastated. She found out from Lizzie, of all people. Harley didn’t know a thing [about it], and Lizzie came in and said she was sorry, and Harley was thinking, “What are you talking about?” What a terrible way to find out. She’s thinking, “We just broke up. We just broke up, you piece of [crap]!”

Weekly: Even though Gus and Harley had been having problems for a while, the divorce and proposal came as a shock?
Ehlers: Harley was trying to give [Gus] a lot of leash to do what she thought he needed to do, because if she didn’t let him explore [a relationship with Natalia], he was going to resent her. I thought it was to come back to Harley.

Weekly: In the aftermath of the engagement news, Gus and Harley seem to be getting along. Will that continue?
Ehlers: No. She’s so wounded and so furious. It’s not casual at all. There are a few scenes written where Harley is sweet to Gus. I understand that, but no freaking way am I playing that. I hate him. He’s an a——.

Weekly: Even though you enjoy working with Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus), do you think it’s better that Harley and Gus not interact much during Gus’ engagement period?
Ehlers: Harley has so much going on in her life right now. After she almost died, she felt like she needed to change the direction of her life and do something that she felt mattered again. That’s why she started up the [detective] agency. Going back to the police force was too intense, since Gus was there. She needs to get away from him and she doesn’t need to see him every day, so [she can] have some space, some freedom and some control.

Weekly: At least you still have Murray Bartlett (Cyrus) and Mandy Bruno (Marina).
Ehlers: I never get to work with Mandy enough, so that’s been wonderful. I know she’s my niece [on the show], but I really look at her like a daughter. It’s been nice working with Murray. His energy is very Buddhist, but I don’t think he attaches himself to any religion. He loves to travel, and he’s a worldly guy, so it’s nice.

Even the most die hard Guiding Light fan might not be familiar with the following Beth Ehlers fun facts:

•   Named one of Entertainment Weekly’s “Stars of Tomorrow” in 1991

• Once worked at Barnes & Noble and Gap

• Sharon Stone let Ehlers use her limousine for her wedding

• Ehlers appeared in Reba McEntire’s music video for the song “And Still” alongside then-boyfriend (and Guiding Light co-star) Mark Derwin (ex-Mallet). The video was filmed on location in Guatemala.

• Ehlers is the only soap opera actress to be nominated in all three female categories at the Daytime Emmys: Outstanding Younger Actress, Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Lead Actress.

• She portrayed Guiding Light creator Irma Phillips during the show’s 70th anniversary special that aired January 25, 2007.