LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- Q&A by Lynda Hirsch on Creators.com

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LYNDA HIRSCH ON SOAPS -- Q&A

Q: I love the actress who plays Caroline Brady on "Days of Our Lives." Her advice is spot on. I bet she is a great mother in real life. Tell me about her off-screen family. — Roberts, Nashville, Tenn.

Actually, Peggy McCay, 78, has no children in real life. The powerhouse actress has said, "I have had lots of children on television. I did a pretty good job with those kids. So I didn't need to try it out in real life." Born in Manhattan, McCay's first soap role was as Vanessa on "Love of Life." She played the show's heroine from 1951 to 1955. As the central character of that show, the actress worked everyday. "It was live. I really treated it like doing a play a day."

McCay decided to head to Hollywood after she left "Love of Life." After making four movies, McCay signed on for the television series "Room for One More." She played the mother of a large brood. Many of the children were adopted, hence the title "Room for One More." Her other soap roles include Iris Fairchild on "General Hospital" and a featured role in the 1960s soap "The Young Marrieds."

McCay became a contract player on "Days" in 1985. When nominated for a Daytime Emmy, McCay took a very interesting tactic: She sent videotapes of her work to all the academy voters.

It was considered daring. In fact, at the time, some thought she went over the line. They were wrong. Now "for your consideration" tapes are everywhere. McCay did not win an Emmy that year. In 1991, she won a primetime Emmy for her guest role on "The Trials of Rosie O'Neil."

As for playing Caroline Brady, McCay loves the role. "I really loved it when it was revealed she had an affair with Victor. Here was Salem's mother earth having to admit the son everyone (thought) was her husband's Shawn's was Victor's son. It was a great beat to play." McCay also likes the fact that she never knows what is coming. "Months will go by and no one mentions Caroline. Then all of a sudden, she is given all this great stuff." Ever the heartbreaker, Caroline is about to crush Victor when she decides she can have the life he had hoped to have with her. Her decision may take Victor to even a darker side.

As for Caroline giving advice, McCay does not consider her a meddler. "Caroline has her opinions. She shares them. She never pushes them. I also like the fact that she has always been a working woman. She really is the Brady Pub. I also love the story where the Pub went green. It is something I would do in real life."

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.