ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH KIM JOHNSTON ULRICH   Since this is not your first soap role, how is working on Passions different from working on As the World Turns ? I was playing the femme fatale on ATWT and now I’m the matriarch. Actually, the characters are frighteningly similar in many aspects. Diana McCall, who I played on ATWT, was a bit of a wild woman, but also rich. She started out being this mysterious bad girl, and then--I guess because I was playing her--she started also being funny. Ivy has the same over-the-top thing going but there’s also the dark side to her. What is it like having a family and being on a soap? This business in general is difficult on having a family. Everybody works so many hours. For a family, this kind of a job is probably one of the best you can have. I generally work 2-3 days a week. So even if the hours are long, I know I have a day or two off. The hardest part is getting home at night when I’m really tired and knowing I have to do an hour’s worth of homework with my son, who is in second grade! Does your son understand that his mom is on TV? He’s old enough to get it. Sometimes I’ll be watching the show on tape, and he always wants to see Timmy. He loves Timmy! Once, when we were watching the show with someone and he saw Ben Masters (Julian) on the screen, he explained that he was Mommy’s husband but that he likes someone else better than Mommy! What would be your dream storyline for Ivy? I had a fantasy where I thought it would be fun for Ivy and Tabitha to cross paths. And have Tabitha kind of shiver and say, “Oooh. Takes one to know one.” I also wouldn’t mind having more of the Crane kids come on. Like have the daughters come in and be real spoiled, nasty little girls! What’s it like working with Ben? Ben is a hoot and a half. I love the stuff he comes up with and the stuff he does behind my back that I don’t see until the air show. He’s very professional and really knows his lines. We play off each other really well. He goes one way, and I think—okay, I can go there too. He goes into his Julian Crane voice and the next thing I know I’m in my Ivy Crane voice. What’s been your favorite scene to tape so far? The gun one was fun—when Ivy caught Julian with the maid. The dinner party with the Bennetts and Russells was also fun because there were a lot of different levels going on. There were her underlying feelings for Sam and she was trying to dislike Grace as much as possible, but it’s hard to because she’s so nice. . How are you and Ivy similar and different? We both like to arrange flowers--that might be the only similarity! Also, we both love our children. I can understand her all-consuming love for Ethan but that’s pretty much where it ends. I’d love to have her budget, though! What’s it like being part of a new show? There’s a camaraderie that’s built that way. We’ve all started at square one, and no one is further ahead in the game. You’re all rooting for each other because you want the show to be successful. I want this show to go on for thirty years! And I don’t want to go anywhere. I already told Lisa Hesser (Passions’ Executive Producer) that they’re going to have to drag me kicking and screaming off this show. I’ll stay here forever! If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Loyal, funny (at least, I’d like to be described as funny!), and non-judgmental. If you weren’t an actor what would you be? Had I not been an actor, I would have liked to be an interior designer. I love houses and colors and fabrics. That’s actually what I was going to school for when I got sidetracked. I love working on my own house and helping friends. What else do you like to do in your spare time? I garden. I have roses and a vegetable garden. I do a lot of painting of furniture. And my husband and I go to a ton of movies. We’ll see almost anything. Our record was five movies in one day. What’s your favorite TV Show? I love the X Files. This is embarrassing, but I love Buffy. I wanted to do a Buffy episode so badly. I like Xena: Princess Warrior—it’s nice to have a woman role model who isn’t a size 2 who can kick butt! Of the new shows this year, I like Once and Again—it’s well written and well acted. If you had one wish what would it be? That I could go back about ten years and know what I know now—as long as it didn’t alter certain aspects of my life now, like having my son. What do you consider your greatest achievement in your life? My son. And that I’ve been married for almost 19 years.