Not knowing that she was really Natasha, the illegitimate daughter of Mikkos Cassadine and famous opera singer Kristen Bergman, Alexis grew up as an orphan, thinking that she owned everything to the royal family that took her in. "Alexis is like a dog who's gotten the scraps at the able when she should have been entitled to the feast with everyone else," explains her portrayer, Nancy Lee Grahn. "I can equate that to times in my own life when I wasn't getting what I thought I deserved. I know how frustrating that is!'

And while Grahn has come to terms with her demons, explaining that she has "peeled off the layers and broken down my hard outer shell in order to become free at this point in my life," Alexis has a long way to go before she catches up. Just as she was starting to accept the truth about her identity, Alexis discovered that she'd been robbed of her share of the family fortune because Stefan deceived her into believing that Nikolas was the rightful heir. "I see her as this incredibly sad woman. She is so smart, but her brains get in her way because they mask her heart," her portrayer ventures. "She's not thinking about consquences or even entertaining the possibilty that perhaps Stefan is being genuine with her about this issue. Right now she's just angry - she's taking her marbles and going home!"

Grahn likens Alexis' predicament to that of another famous royal, Queen Elizabeth 1. "Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, was practically a saint. She was a good, solid woman who happened to be married to King Henry VIII, a tyrant who cut people's heads off when they did not agree with his beliefs," she observes, noting that she recently saw the movie, Elizabeth. "And like Alexis, Elizabeth grew up to be a woman of principle - unless you pushed her too far. Then she became her father's daughter."

TAKING CHANCES

Obtaining her rightful portion of the Cassadine financial empire requires skills Alexis' legal training did not provide her with - the kind of expertise that Jax has in spades. Fortunately for Alexis, the Aussie tycoon owes her a favor! Her enlisting Jax's help means that Grahn will be working closely with his charismatic portrayer, Ingo Rademacher - an opportunity that's not lost on the actress. "I love working with Ingo," she laughs, "Who wouldn't?"

However, that closeness could be just the thing to drive a wedge between Alexis and Ned, Jax's sometime friend but more often rival. Grahn agrees that the demise of Ned and Alexis' relationship is a distinct possibilty. "Ned and Alexis are basically just good friends who have sex. There's never been any emotional connection or talk about love between them," she muses. "So utnil they face the question of commitment, anything could happen."

In the meantime, Grahn says she's just grateful that headwriter Bob Guza has the confidence in her not only to carry off a pivotal storyline, but to do so by pairing her with the despondent, surviving half of the supercouple that was Jax and Brenda. "I 'm looking forward to playing a true love story for Alexis," she confesses. "I don't know whom it can be with, but I know it's got to be something a little quirky and different. I never want to play anything basic and simple."

A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE

Since giving birth to daughter Kate last February, the actress has been content for her character to languish on the backburner while she focused her energies on motherhood. But now that her year-old tot is becoming more independent, Grahn is prepared to welcome this new, exciting storyline with open arms. "Motherhood slowed me down a bit as an actress, but now I'm getting my libido back in all kinds of ways!" she chuckles. "Not just in terms of my work and what I do, but also about politics. I'm feeling things deeply now that aren't just about Kate, and I think that's a good thing for both of us."

Besides her acting career - which lately has included recurring appearances on the primetime hit 7th Heaven - Grahn is passionate about a host of issues ranging from child abuse to the political crisis of President Clinton, to whose campagin she devoted herself. "When Kate grows up, I'll teach her that the president is just a man with a very important job and that it's improper to ask people about their private sexual lives and then judge them on it," she offers. "But more importantly, I'll teach her how important it is to exercise her privilege to vote because that's saying her opinion matters, and it's the most powerful way to support her beliefs."

The changing role of women in our society is not lost on Grahn, either. Like her character, who only now is realizing that she can be every bit as formidable as her brother, Stefan, Grahn is thrilled to see that women are becoming a political force to be reckoned with. "I think it's wonderful that people are making a big deal about the fab five - the group of women just elected to government office in Arizona - but in reality, it's a situation that should be second nature," she observes. "I look forward to the time when nobody will bat an eyelash over the thought of a woman president. I'm certain it will happen!!"

On My Own

More important, Grahn is thrilled that her daughter is a testament to the outcome of the changing perception of women in society. "I have a baby on my own without guilty, without shame, and with pure, unadulterated joy," she marvels. "It was a totally glorious experience for me, and it was perfectly fine, You couldn't have said that 50 years ago!"

Kate's mommy says that she'd like nothing more than for her daughter to learn the following lessons along the long and winding road of her life: "I'd have her skip the 20 years it took me to get really comfortable with myself; have faith; and have a great appreciation for her life and for all the people in it; and to not resist contrast [the things he may not like] because I believe that's what brings clarity," Grahn suggests. "And I'd want her to know that if everything were the same of perfect, it wouldn't make for a very exciting life."

And what of her own accomplishments? "My mother would describe me as her difficult child - I certainly took my own path!" she laughs. "But I also think she would say that it was all worth it because I believe the more contrast you reach for, the harder you fall. But when you get ther, the higher you've climbed."

Like her headstrong character, Grahn's definitely made her own way.

Wally Kurth (Ned)

"Wally's so cute - he's just kissable, and he's very funny! We make each other laugh because we know each other so well. But the best thing about him is that he's very sweet and protective of me. He's always asking how my daughter, Kate, is and if I need anything. He's a good friend."

Ingo Rademacher (Jax)

"I really enjoy working with Ingo because he's very focused with me. He's committed, and he likes what we do. And the thing with Ingo is that you want him to like what he's doing. He enjoys acting and he's a good actor. But more important, I think he likes being challenged."

Anthony Geary (Luke) "I dig him in a big way because he's such a little devil! Plus he brings out something so different in Alexis. He just 'gets it' as an actor. His ad-libbing drives some people crazy, but I love it. When I work with Tony, I know it;s going to be a satisfying, E-ticket ride. He keeps me on my toes!!

"Stephen Nichols (Stefan)

"Stephen's been in my life for a long time - he's like my big brother. We say things to each other that we don't with anyone else. Sometimes he's so serious and I'm not. But I always know how to make him laugh. I nicknamed him 'Stuffy' because he plays such a serious character."

Tyler Christopher (Nikolas)

"Tyler's a sweet little angel boy. I feel protective of him because he really does seem like he is my nephew. He's a gentle little lamb, but he's very smart, and he takes his craft very seriously, which is nice to see. Whenever I see him, he gives me a nice kiss. He's just a love!!"