Soap Opera Weekly: Did you have a happy New Year?
Kassie DePaiva: I had the greatest time. It's always good to take a break from the show and get in touch with my family. I went skiing for eight out of 10 days. I have a house up in the Catskills right near Belleayre Mountain [N.Y.]. It's fun. My cousin comes up every year with his girls, and Dreama, Jim's (James DePaiva, ex-Max, OLTL) daughter, is here with us for two weeks, so it's just great.

Weekly: You sound very relaxed.
DePaiva: Oh, I am!

Weekly: What about Blair these days? Is she nervous about Todd's trial and its outcome?
DePaiva: I think Blair is nervous about everything in her life right now, because it's all falling apart in front of her eyes. When she believes in something, she believes in it whole-heartedly, and she puts a lot of faith in Todd and their relationship — sometimes blindly, because that's just who she is.

Weekly: What about Spencer? He is fascinating.
DePaiva: Oh, it's just a great role. Paul Satterfield is doing a great job. He's got to be charming and smarmy at the same time.

Weekly: Most of the town is anti-Spencer. Does Blair see the good in him, or she does she only want to see the good?
DePaiva: It's going to be a tricky beat, because once everything comes out — that he's been manipulating her — what's the difference between Todd and Spencer? Not much — except maybe about six to eight inches in height. I wish I could see where all the pieces fall. It's going to be good, and it's going to be interesting. I think Dena (Higley, head writer) puts a lot of thought into what she does, so it's not just, "Oh, throw this up [in the air] and see what happens!"

Weekly: The show in general has been incredible lately.
DePaiva: I hope that you like it! Dena is so great for the show, because she covers everybody. It's not just Todd all the time, like it used to be. She really gives everybody on the canvas an opportunity to shine, and I think it's great.