In the abstract, at least, Tognoni seems prepared for parenthood, as well. "You know the crazy thing?" she says in animated fashion. I don't know if God has a family in store for me. I know it's what I want. It's something I hold so dear, I can't wait to have the family and kids, but I know the stability starts with me. I noticed that from last year to this year, on my birthday, a little switch went on. You get to an age whereby everything I do for myself is now becoming something I'm doing for my kids that aren't even born yet. It's weird to explain. I just want to be such a good parent, I want to be available to my kids, and the only way to do that is to be a whole person and bringing something to the table when I have those kids." All this, mind you, from a young woman whose own parents divorced when she turned 18.

"I would say what happened in our family only added to my desire to have my own family," Tognoni insists. "And not to do it better. I think my parents did an amazing job with my brother and myself. My mom and dad taught us some wonderful, down-to-earth values. They are on great terms (her father is remarried; her mother is single), which shows you what good people they are. Sure, it was devastating. When kids deal with divorce I think there's a huge danger of the child looking elsewhere for stability. I was lucky that i never got into anything that wasn't good."

The direction of our conversation begs the topic of relationships, specifically the one with OLTL co-star Don Jeffcoat (Joey) that recently ended. "Based on my experience, I don't like to talk about my personal life," she explains. "I understand people want to know who actors are behind the mask. Why not? It's intriguing. But as Harrison Ford said, 'I have no interest in sharing my life with the world. What's mine is mine.' I think I've come to that point. It's really already so hard when you're in the public eye to be constantly asked about what's going on in your personal life. It can be overwhelming. If you value the person and relationship, you won't talk about it. It's just something that I keep separate."

She does conceded that she and Jeffcoat are still "very good friends. There are no problems working with each other. In fact, a lot of people didn't even realize we weren't dating anymore. I understand Donny, and he understands me. He is such a compassionate person, one of the most compassionate people I've ever met. He's a good man. I honor that. I honor people who have values and who want to do right. I think he's great. He's a gentleman."

What does she envision next for herself? "I think there's a series out there for me — a half-hour comedy I can do. I'll know it when I see it. What I want now are auditions, to get out there and see what is being produced and written. I'd love to be part of a really funny show — who wouldn't? I love collaboration. I'd love to do some stage work this year. I booked an off-Broadway play earlier this year, but I had to let it go because it conflicted with my daytime job. I had a taste of rehearsals and table readings, and now I'd like to do more of it."

That doesn't mean she's ready to let go of her current, very steady job, however. One of the biggest decisions she had to make over the last year was whether to remain with OLTL or exercise the "out" option in her contract. "Quite simply, I wasn't ready to go yet," she explains. "Until I really feel like I'm ready to go on to the next journey, I'm going to stay. I don't know what I'm going to do unless I feel 100 percent about it. I don't want to wind up in the middle of a lot of regrets. That takes up too much of my time and energy."

Yet, despite the pride she takes in being a working actor, don't be surprised if, sometime in the years ahead, Gina Tognoni veers away from performing and turns toward something else. "What's wild is that as much as I love this career, and it's been such a blessing in my life, [I could] teach, paint, do something completely on the other side of the coin," she says. "I think that's part of my personality. I'd love to fulfill that someday."

This article appeared in the Oct. 31, 2000 issue of Soap Opera Weekly.