"I'm back," laughs Gareis. "I always look forward to coming back and causing trouble. As soon as I walked into Nick and Sharon's living room, everything came flying back. It seems like I never left." According to Gareis, a lot has changed for her homewrecker character since her last trek to town. "She's a different Grace," the actress shares. "This is the first time we see a Grace who is a little more into her own life and not envious of her friend's life. She's a little more settled and truly in love with a new man."

Gareis admits that she was shocked by the plot twist that Grace's new man was none other than Sharon's abusive tormenter, Cameron. "I do catch the show every once in awhile, and I caught an episode with Cameron and Sharon, and I just couldn't believe how rotten he was," she giggles. "He was threatening her, and it was brutal. Then, I get a script and Grace is actually with this horrible guy, but she thinks he's a wonderful man. I guess he only showed one side to Grace."

Another juicy irony is that despite the fact that Grace and Sharon are no longer best friends since Grace seduced Sharon's husband, Nicholas (in 1997), Gareis and Sharon Case (Sharon) are great pals. "We really are," Gareis confirms. "And it's funny, because we've been out and about on certain occasions and people would see us together and laugh because they realize we're really good friends. But we play such good enemies!"

In between Genoa City jaunts, Gareis has been keeping busy. "I have a movie coming out on February 27 called What Boys Like. I'm the lead girl, but it's told from the guy's point of view. It's a fun project." And the actress also made a splash in her frequently run commercial for Michelob. "It was great to show off my swimming talents," she states. "Because a lot of times when you're doing stunts or athletics, a stunt person is doing it. But I swam competitively from 5 to 21. A lot of my old swim coaches have called me," she adds with a laugh. "It was a one-day job in Canada, and it has been shown more than anything else I've ever done. It's crazy!"

In between gigs, Gareis has managed to keep in touch with other soap pals besides Case. "Tamara [Clatterbuck, ex-Alice, Y&R; ex-Barb, DAYS; ex-Tammy, GH] and I talk all the time on the phone," she says. "She's wonderful. And I picked up your magazine and saw that Nick Scotti [ex-Tony, Y&R] has a new reality series [on the Style Network, called NEW YORK NICK]. His personality itself could sell a show. He's very funny. I always liked working with him. Overall, I've kept in touch with a lot of soap people. It's always fun to go back."