AS THE WORLD TURNS fans were thrilled when their favorite Aussie, Paul Leyden, made a brief return appearance as Simon Frasier. Soap Opera Weekly: caught up with Leyden on what brought him back to Oakdale and what he's been up to for the last year.

Soap Opera Weekly: Is it just like picking up where you left off?
Paul Leyden: The first day I felt like, "Oh, my God, it feels like my first day." All I had to do was act with a rabbit, so it wasn't too bad. It was like Easter!

Weekly: They are easing you back in....
Leyden: Yeah, they are easing me back in. It was all downhill from there, because I worked with the best actor on the show (laughs). Then I had to work with Terri (Colombino, Katie). It was awful. They spoiled me with the bunny! Snickers is so good. There is so much chemistry between me and Snickers!

Weekly: So what brought you back to ATWT?
Leyden: Chris (Goutman, executive producer) had mentioned bringing Simon back a couple of times. I saw him at the St. Jude's benefit [last October]. He said, "Would you be interested in coming back?" I said, "Absolutely!" The timing was good. The end of the year is always good — three weeks before Christmas — give me some money!

Weekly: Is Simon different?
Leyden: I don't really know the back story. I haven't watched the show much since I left. I didn't know what they had been talking about, and what Simon has actually done. Apparently, he is still on the run, even when he comes back, unfortunately. I think it would have been nicer if he wasn't in danger anymore. There would have been more of a conflict emotionally between Katie and Simon and then Mike, because there would have been more of a choice. Simon is still in danger, so it makes it a little bit more like, "Why does he come back if he is still in danger?" That has been the hard stuff to play. He is different because he has been on the run for so long. Because it is only three weeks [that I'm back], you can't explore that humor [between Simon and Katie] again. He is just passionate about getting her on his side and getting out.