Since departing GH last year, Marisa Ramirez's career has taken a MIRACulous turn. The actress is starring as ex-cop Evelyn Santos in her first prime-time series, MIRACLES, and is loving the "night" life. "It's been a little overwhelming, but in a good way," she shares of being on the supernatural thriller. "The show has been so much fun."

Ramirez didn't fear moving on to prime-time; in fact, she welcomed the change of pace, both on-screen and off. "The hours are a lot longer, but I like that," she explains. "I also like the fact that it's episodic, rather than a continuing story. On GH, I felt like it was never-ending. Here, there's closure."

However, the actress didn't feel closure when it came to leaving the soap. She admits that she was upset to learn that Gia had been recast (with Andrea Pearson). "I really, honestly wish they didn't do that," she sighs. "I wish they had let me go for a few months to finish the 13 episodes [of MIRACLES] and then brought me back to kill me, put me in a coma ... anything. I think it's so strange for the viewers and can kind of piss them off when suddenly, a different person shows up. And [Pearson] doesn't even look anything like me."

Still, Ramirez does her best to keep in touch with the rest of the cast. "I talk to Coltin [Scott, soon-to-be ex-Nikolas]," she shares. Of his being replaced by Nik's original portrayer, Tyler Christopher, she admits, "I can't imagine anyone else playing Nikolas. [Coltin] made the role his own." Still, "I'm happy for Coltin," she explains. "I'm glad he's pursuing other projects, especially his music."

Though she left her on-screen prince behind, Ramirez found love off-screen with new hubby Nathan Lavezoli, whom she wed last September. "In all honesty, I don't have much time to see him," she laughs. "But other than that, married life has been really good."

In fact, "One time, we were watching [MIRACLES] together and at the end, he had tears in his eyes!" she reveals. "It made him cry. He was just so touched because it's a show that I'm working on."

This article originally appeared in the April 22, 2003 issue of Soap Opera Digest.