1. I was on the show for six months and they sent me to Amalfi (Italy)...with my future husband (Jon Hensley, Holden)! That's insane. That is clearly No. 1, because now the most ever we get [to do for] a remote is on the roof our Brooklyn studio (laughs). That was a fantasy that will never be repeated, at least not on this show. I was thrown into this whirlwind of fantasy and Versace and Dolce & Gabbana clothing; it was just ridiculous for this young kid. It's my first real gig, and that's what I jumped into. I don't remember any of it. I think my head was spinning the whole time. Terry Lester (ex-Royce Keller) whispered in my ear, "Remember every moment of this, because this will never happen to you again in daytime."

2. I always go back to the violence of the Diego/Emily story, which was a great experience for me. It was the first time that Emily was as naked and vulnerable as she has ever been, or at least that I was ever allowed to play. I was able to do it because of my comfort level with everybody that I work with — the crew and, obviously, Bronson (Picket, ex-Diego). Ellen Dolan (Margo) and I had great scenes back then. I remember being in gut-wrenching pain every week that I was at work, and it was such a ride. I was so grateful to have had that.

3. The spa storyline, just spending days with my girlfriends. Taking scenes out of I LOVE LUCY was great. It was light-hearted fun, and it was the first time we ever really got to bring that element of comedy, for us at least. When you have three fat, pregnant girls, there is not much you can do with us. It was so easy: We'd be in robes, our hair was in towels. I would jump out of the shower and go to work.

4. The story I'm doing now [with Paul], because I feel like it's a more mature story. I remember when Chris (Goutman, executive producer) pitched this story to me. He said, "You are going to be able to tap into places in yourself that you have never done before and really challenge yourself." I didn't understand it when he said it to me, but now that I'm in the middle of it, it's like, "Thank God!" I realize the more experiences you have, the more you have to draw upon. Just being a mother, I can't even fathom playing this without actually having a child. This story is about Emily betraying loyalties. It's deeper than anything I've gotten to play.

5. One of my favorite things at work is to be with Marie Masters, Susan) and have any kind of scene with her, because I feel like she brings out the absolute best in me. It's like being in an acting class and you make that breakthrough about something for the first time. Every time I'm with her I feel like that. And I liked us with Jessie (Dunphy, ex-Alison), too.