Kassie DePaiva News

In a new interview with TV Guide Canada, Kassie DePaiva talked about the evolution of her One Life to Live character.

Here's what the actress had to say abut Blair:

She’s come a long way! [Head writer] Ron [Carlivati] has a great grasp of Blair’s history. It’s nice to see that Blair has matured somewhat based on how she treats her children, stood up to Todd, and allowed John into her life. You know what? I’ve been playing this character for so long, so for me, it just seems like a natural progression. Ron was smart in not having Blair continue her relationship with Todd because it had become way too abusive.

Kassie DePaiva has portrayed Blair Cramer since 1993.

In a new interview, the One Life to Live star talks about what it's like to be this character.

"I dont want life to be tame for her," DePaiva said of Blair. "I like the excitement, although it does get a little exhausting in real life and on the soap opera. But it’s all good."

The actress also said that more trouble lies ahead for Blair on One Life to Live.

"Blair is gonna have her hands full with the turn of events in the next month. Once you think things have settled in, something else happens. Starr is giving the baby up, and there’s a lot of things that are going to come out with the birth of that baby."

As Todd’s outrageous plan for his daughter’s baby? Kassie added:

"I think he truly believes that he’s got this clean slate now with Marty, and if he can get her to believe that he is the good person that he is and not the bad person that he was, then he’ll absolve himself. People who are that narcissistic truly believe that. I think he truly believes that he can pull this off and that everything will be perfect."

Who needs journalists?

In a special Soap Opera Digest feature, One Life to Live star Kassie DePaiva (pictured) interviews fellow One Life to Live star Hillary B. Smith.

Here are highlights of the conversation:

DePaiva: You are extremely talented and have done stage, primetime and soap opera. What vein of work, or what medium, did you find the most challenging?
Smith: Two things. I find films very, very challenging because it's so much downtime. It's just hard to keep up the performance and then you cut and break down and they turn the lights around, so you have hours [until] you go back and try to do that performance from a different angle. I have great respect for film actors. Sitcoms were very challenging because what we got on Monday was very rarely what we ended up shooting on Friday. However, having said that, there are challenges to all mediums.

DePaiva: So you've done it all. Let's talk about your films. What is your favorite role that you have done?
Smith: I played this woman who was not necessarily bipolar, but haunted. It was a short [film], but it was six days of going to a really painful place because this woman was completely and utterly in agony. She loved her child, she couldn't show it, she was exhausted, she smoked nonstop, she was constantly going over conversations in her head, she was preoccupied, she was trying to do everything the right way and she just couldn't do anything right during this time. It was cathartic and it was deep and I think that was my favorite because it was so consuming.

Buzzworthy Radio is an Internet radio talk show... that will welcome a pair of One Life to Live actress over the next week.

Kassie DePaiva is on the program tonight at 10:30. Wanna chat with the star? Just call 646 - 595 - 4228 to chat with DePaiva.

Then, next Thursday night, January 17, Hillary B. Smith (pictured) will be on the show at 10:30. Call the same number to speak with her live!

Appearances By: Hillary B. Smith (Nora)

Kassie DePaiva may star on One Life to Live, but you can't blame the actress for following All My Children these days, as well.

Her son, JQ, has a recurring role on the soap opera.

“I was so proud of my son on so many different levels. America doesn't know how hard he's struggled and worked to have that speech. But I know,” DePaiva told The Orlando Sentinel of her deaf child. “I know what he's overcome. I think it's just a really positive, inspirational story that they're telling.

It's great that [All My Children] used a child with cochlear implants so a mama who just made a choice to implant her child or a parent, they can see that there's hope.”

DePaiva is also impressed with One Life to Live costar Kristen Alderson, who plays her onscreen daughter, Starr Manning.

“I love her, and I think she has just developed into a beautiful young woman,” DePaiva said. “So many people who go through the doors at an early age in entertainment really can be bratty or entitled. She is so not.

Kassie DePaiva recently turned the tables on Soap Opera Digest.

The One Life to Live star was attending Super Soap Weekend in Disney World when she decided to become the questionnaire and ask the publication a few questions...

Kassie DePaiva: What was your expectation of Super Soap?
Soap Opera Digest: A lot of screaming fans and beautiful stars waving and answering questions.

DePaiva: Now, kicking it off today, has it met those expectations or has it exceeded them?
Digest: I think we're still moving toward that! I've really just started the day and I haven't seen a motorcade yet.

DePaiva: Have you witnessed any autograph sessions?
Digest: Yes, I saw Kathy Brier [Marcie, One Life to Live]; she looked great and was very friendly and waving a lot to screaming fans.

DePaiva: Now, if you had to be a soap fan, whose line would you stand in?
Digest: Oh, my goodness, it would be yours, Kassie!'

DePaiva: (laughing): Oh, stop. For real.
Digest: Michael Easton [John, One Life to Live].

DePaiva: Were you an ABC soap opera watcher?
Digest: Absolutely, all the way. I ran home from kindergarten, no joke, to watch Erika Slezak do Niki/Viki.

To read the full interview, click here.

Attention, One Life to Live fans:

You have a chance to receive an autographed CD from Kassie DePaiva on November 9.

The actress will be appearing at The Writer’s Stop at the Disney-MGM Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The event takes place between 1-2:30 p.m and access to the CD signing will be included in regular theme park admission.

Kassie DePaiva will be guest hosting on The View this Wednesday.

The One Life to Live star will be the first celebrity to fill in for Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who is taking time off for maternity leave.

As previously reported, Kassie DePaiva will be hosting the show Crotchet Today on on PBS.

Here are the affiliates that will be showing this One Life to Live star on her new, part-time role:

WPTO (Dayton, OH) - Fridays at 2:00pm
KET (Kentucky) - Tuesdays at 11:30am
OPB (Oregon) - Saturdays at 12:30pm
RMPBS (Rocky Mountain) - Saturdays at 8:00am
MPTV (Milwaukee, WI) - Saturdays at 12:30pm
WEIU (Charleston, IL) - Saturdays at 10:00am
WSRE (Pensacola, FL) - Tuesdays at 1:30pm
WBCC (Cocao, FL) - Fridays at 1:00pm
PBS 45/49 (Kent, OH) - Saturdays at 7:00am
MPT (Maryland) - Saturdays at 8:00am
KWBU (Waco, TX) - Sundays at 5:00pm
WTVS (Detroit, MI) - Saturdays at 6:30am
KAWE (Lakeland, MN) - Sundays at 12:30pm

All My Children isn't the only place you can find Kassie DePaiva. She also hosts the PBS show Crochet Today.

Moreover, this actress is a also designer.

After learning the craft of crochet, DePaiba began to make hats as gifts for her fellow One Life To Live cast mates, until the show’s costume designer suggested she offer the hats for purchase, then turn around and donate the profits to charity.

Thanks to the support of the League of Hard of Hearing in New York City, Kassie's son JQ was able to learn how to speak with his cochlear implant, after having been born with a profound hearing loss.

Therefore, the actress wanted to give back to a place that meant so much to her family.

She did so by starting the line of Happy Hats, from which she donates all the profits to the charity that helped JQ and continues to help others in his situation.

This popular line of unique crochet hats are designed and crocheted by DePaiva personally. Check them out here.