hcarllee asks: Hi Saundra, I am enjoying watching your amazing performance as GL's Carmen, her Machiavellian Machinations have me enthralled, what do you enjoy most about playing Carmen?
SANTIAGO: Well, what I enjoy most is that I like how I have a sense that Carmen can do anything she likes. She can get away with anything and I have fun with that notion, that Carmen can do that in most cases, or at least try to get away with everything! LOL!

txcwgl99 asks: Will Carmen ever let Michelle and Danny be together?
SANTIAGO: Nope!!! I don't think that would be interesting, if she became peaceful with the situation between Danny and Michelle. You know, we have to remember that she's under the impression that Michelle killed her first-born, and I don't think a woman who is as passionate as Carmen would forget something like that. I think that one way or the other, she's going to get her revenge on Michelle. It may take ten years, it may take a long time, but she's eventually going to have it, if she has her way!

brooklynblackman asks: how did you find out about the role and what made you audition for a soap after success in primetime and Broadway?
SANTIAGO: Yes, it's very interesting. I live in New York City, in Manhattan, and I pretty much had said to myself, I really don't want to go out to L.A. anymore, and my aim was just to get a long-standing job in Manhattan, whether it be a soap or even a show like Law & Order or The Sopranos, which I've recurred on. I was really going strongly after this kind of role to say set in Manhattan. And [Casting Director] Glenn Daniels, who I believe has known of my work for many years and we respect each other's work, brought me in on a hunch or a curiosity... I don't think he knew I would accept or go for the job, and to his surprise, I did! And I'm glad he did because I'm very happy with this part and with this job on Guiding Light. It's very fun and it is very new for me to do a soap, but it's challenging and I get to stay home! LOL!

gyngger13 asks: I haven't been watching... What is going on with Ben and Carmen... do you like working with him?
SANTIAGO: I love working with Hunt Block. Besides being a wonderful actor, he's a very funny guy, you know? He's very intense and very amusing and we sure have a good time spending hours learning lines and figuring things out together. That's my answer to that! As far as what is going to happen, I wish I could tell you, but they keep these secrets from us as well! I know that for the moment, we're hot and heavy and we remain hot and heavy for a little bit. He might even move into my house! And we'll see what happens... But honestly, I only know three weeks at a time. I guess I don't know the right people! A lot of people here, they know what's going to happen, but I guess I don't have an in with the right people.

myshare120 asks: How long will it be before you and Ben do the wild thing?
SANTIAGO: Haven't we already done the wild thing?!? I think we did the wild thing on my desk! We do it a couple more times! LOL!

dpc2002 asks: how is Joie Lenz (Michelle) in real life? Is she great to work with?
SANTIAGO: Oh yes. She's a sweetheart! I bet all of you are saying, "She's just saying all these things because she has to," but it's really true. I work with the most wonderful and the sweetest actors. Paul Anthony, I absolutely adore. Joie is very good. She's so good with her lines; she's very young and she's very hip to everything. She's very talented, she sings, you know. Paul... I can't say enough about Paul Anthony [Stewart, Danny]. I treat him like he was my son. Then there's Paula [Garces, Pilar]; I have to mention her too because she'd get jealous. It's like they are both my children. We had such wonderful scenes today at the studio. It's easy to do good work when you get along like that. It's refreshing and it's just so much easier.

GdgLight1 asks: Saundra, Carmen sure gets around. I didn't see that Prince Edmund connection coming. Could you give us the 411 on that situation, pretty please?
SANTIAGO: I didn't either! I loved it though; I like working with him and I think David Andrew Macdonald's a wonderful actor. When we first did the scene, I think I overdid it a bit. I flirted with him wildly, and they told me to pull back! :-) And I guess that was that; we haven't done any more scenes together, but who knows? You never know what's down the line. And I felt like we had a lot of chemistry, Edmund and I. He's a wonderful actor.

trys2btru_f asks: Saundra, what role did you play on Miami Vice? Was it great working with Don Johnson?
SANTIAGO: Yes, it was! Again, it really was! I know you all are thinking I'm just saying these things but it's so true! These people become like your family. Sometimes you have disagreements, but you work it out. I learned a lot from Don because he'd been in the business for a while before Vice, a big name, and I played the character by the name of Gina Alabrese. She started out to be his love interest, Don Johnson's love interest on the show, Sonny Crockett's love interest. And I always thought we had great chemistry together, but for some reason the producers or the people behind NBC, whomever, felt that the character of Crockett shouldn't be with anyone long term. He was with several women but they all got killed! Anytime any of our characters had a lover on the show, they got killed! But it was a lot of fun; it was the 80s and it was a lot of fun. I miss all those guys and I miss the show, and I am pleasantly surprised when people recognize me from it. Today I was at Grand Central Station buying some candles and someone recognized me! That gives me a great thrill. And there happened to be some police officers there too and they told me that I had been their idol, because I had been a female cop! And I informed them that I was now on Guiding Light playing someone who is on the other side of the law! LOL!

kavluk04 asks: What your daily beauty regimen?
SANTIAGO: Lately I've been very good, because I like to have my little cocktail at the end of the day, but I am trying to cut down on that. And I do believe that has a lot to do with staying young. Now I basically drink one glass of white wine a night, if I get to that one. And I don't do anything strict; I hardly wear moisturizer because I don't need it half the time, especially in the summer. I go to the dermatologist once in a blue moon to fix a few things, nothing serious, but I try to keep my face clean. I love this product called Moisturelle. It is the best cleanser! I don't use any of these expensive products. I've tried them all and they are all a waste of money, because I never got the results from them. But this basic thing called Moisturelle, I take my makeup off with that, because we wear heavy, heavy makeup on the show. I try to wear as little makeup as possible in my real life, because that clogs the pores and creates all the mess, so I just try to go back to the basics. Less is more. I work out. I'm doing this thing called Pilates now. I'm sure everyone has heard of that. I hate it with a passion, but everyone who does it swears by the results. So I am going to continue with it until I see the results. Generally, I hate working out. It's the most boring thing. I belong to a gym but they never see me there! I like to take long walks through Manhattan. I take long bike rides. I think walking is just wonderful for you, especially at my age. I don't wear a helmet when I bike, which I should, so I have to be careful about that. I do on occasion do yoga with my spouse, because the breathing is very good for you. And I guess that's it! I'm getting a lot of sun these days so I do moisturize my body, a lot of oils, because I'm tanning. But that's basically it!

Sara_GL7 asks: Do you have any other family members in the acting business?
SANTIAGO: No, but I have a cousin named Cookie who lives in Puerto Rico and is a famous manager for big singing stars in South America and Spain and all over the Americas! I can't think of her clients now, but they're pretty big names -- if you are Latin, you would know who they are! But that's as close as you get in my family. My father is probably a frustrated actor, but that's about it!

Lancelot_765 asks: Don't you think soap operas have limited scope in dealing with real life issues?
SANTIAGO: Well, I wonder about that, because I remember when I was young and I watched the soaps intensely -- I used to watch One Life to Live. I loved Jenny, who was a nun and she fell in love, naturally, with one of the other characters, and every male actor who played that character has become a star! Tommy Jones, Tom Berenger. Anyway, I got sucked into it with that storyline. And I always believed all the situations -- I got carried away with it! Now being on the inside I see there are some limitations because it's all a fantasy and if they kept it too realistic it wouldn't be too different from picking up a newspaper and reading all these terrible stories, so I think they have to make it a little fun and unrealistic for the audience to have fun with. I would certainly like to see some serious situations like dealing with breast cancer... but I'm not sure the fans want to see that. I think they want to see these wonderful romances and chemistry between couples and mysteries and everything that Guiding Light is doing right now! I think they're into that, into the fun part about it as opposed to the day-to-day realistic situations of life.

gemani_99 asks: Do you feel that you character is better suited to Alan Spaulding or Ben Warren?
SANTIAGO: LOL! Well, you know, I am perfectly happy with Ben Warren, and I think Carmen is too. I understand some fans have wondered about me and Alan. I love Alan as a person, and we've chatted here and there, but we've never had scenes together, so I wonder why the audience feels that so intensely! And maybe it's because I'm not as versed or familiar with his character as the fans are. Maybe because they know him so well, they see something that could spark something in Carmen. But anything is possible! I can have more than one lover! I think Carmen should have a few! :-)

txcwgl99 asks: People love to hate Carmen, I admire your work, keep up the good work!
SANTIAGO: Thank you so much! I love that you love to hate me! I think it's wonderful; in fact, I thought they were softening up Carmen a bit too much and I said something about it! I said, she can't be too nice! You've got to leave the fans something to hate! So I think that's the best compliment that Carmen can have. :-)

Geronimo84 asks: Saundra, what's it like working with some of the best actors on daytime? Long term vets, such as Robert Newman (Josh), Kim Zimmer (Reva), Jerry Ver Dorn (Ross), and, Grant Aleksander (Phillip)?
SANTIAGO: Well I'm very impressed with their professionalism and artistry, because I am now realizing how hard it is to do soap operas! I mean, it's just about the hardest acting work I've ever had, and you have to be really good to keep up the pace and keep the interest of the fans in the character. So the fact that they've been doing it all this time is very impressive, and that they continue to create the work that they do on a daily basis is very admirable! I hope I can live up to that, if I stay that long! You never know; they could get rid of you. But as long as I'm there I hope to deliver quality performances daily, because it's my work, it's my job! I love acting and it's a fascinating medium! But I tell you, I work hard! We work very hard. Learning the scripts from one day to the next, it's so fast. Being able to deliver emotions instantly... And they change situations on your character so often, which isn't easy for an actor. So I give all soap opera actors tremendous credit. And I'm in awe. :-)

southpark_chic1 asks: Is Ben a good kisser??
SANTIAGO: Yes! LOL! :-) Yes he is! Why do you think we're having such a good time??? :-) I can't go on about it or else my fiance will get upset! :-) Funny, my fiance saw a couple of kissing scenes one day and I chased him out of the house! I said, get out of here, go to the gym! But at the gym, they had Guiding Light on! So he saw them kissing there! But now he's getting used to it. :-)

DrSara1999 asks: Do you think the Santos family represents true organized crime?
SANTIAGO: Nah, I don't think so! LOL! I think we're fairly nice, a nice mob family. If we were really doing the things you read about in the papers that mob families do, I don't think it would be fun showing all of that on a soap opera! I think what Paul Rauch is concentrating more on is the family, the love that this woman has for her children and yes, she's the head of this business, but I think that the emphasis is on relationships within the family. But no, I don't think we.... sometimes we do try to be realistic, but I don't think we really are. I don't know mob families personally, though, so...

kavluk04 asks: Rumors have surfaced that your husband is still alive. What do you think?
SANTIAGO: Really?!? Well, you know, that would be fantastic. I think that would be very interesting. I have it all planned out in my head, but whether it comes out this way is another thing. I am just going to come out and say it and I hope Paul Rauch reads this: I ran into A Martinez at the Emmys. A and I did a musical called Bandido at the Mark Paper Forum in Los Angeles. And it was a very intense chemistry that we had together. First of all, he's just the greatest actor and the nicest, nicest human being you could ever meet and want to know. He's so lovely, so kind, and so happily married with these beautiful children, beautiful wife! I was in awe of him and I had such a great time working with him. So when I saw him at the Emmys I asked him what he'd think of coming to GL and playing my husband, who perhaps comes back from the witness protection program or something! Now, they told me it would never happen, but I can keep dreaming! I can just see it: I'm in the arms of Ben and she sees A Martinez and she just faints! And she stays passed out for like five days or something! Oh, I would love it. I can just think of the potential scenes between A and Paul Anthony and me and Paula... A was very open to it! He was definitely open to my idea, although, you know, his kids go to school in L.A. and I think it would be really hard to uproot him. But if they made him a deal that he couldn't refuse, who knows! I said to him, "You could play a bad guy, which you haven't really been known for!" He plays bad really well: he's sexy, he's tense... He can do anything! It would be interesting to see him play bad.

yach9999 asks: What inspired you to be an actress?
SANTIAGO: Wow. Well, I can trace back to as young as when I was 6 years old, going to Catholic school and they were doing these little performances on stage and I remember some students either pretending or singing the music of West Side Story, and I remember the one song "Maria," which I thought was the most beautiful song I'd ever heard, and I remember pretending to be the character Maria, in my room, running around on my bed. You know how kids are. I can trace it back to then. But because I was Catholic and my mom didn't want me to go there, my feelings and my desire didn't really blossom until I got to college, until I asked to do a play even though I was a psychology major. I was asked to do a play and I caught what you call the acting bug! I switched majors.... but I've been inspired over the years constantly in this business by many actors, actresses and by theater. My first love is theater, and every time I go see a play, as recently as seeing Judi Dench on Broadway... I was sitting there in the third row and I was like a kid, watching this incredible actress play this magnificent role and do it so well. I was just in awe of that! And that's what keeps you going, when you see greatness like that.

megamojo11 asks: Saundra, did you find being Latina has had an advantage or disadvantage for you in show business?
SANTIAGO: That's a tricky question, because when I first came to NY in the early '80s, even though my name was Saundra Santiago and I didn't change it, for some reason they were casting me as Italian. And I would get sent in for many more diverse roles because of that. Then, when I became somewhat of a name, if you want to say it like that, word gets around, where you come from, where your roots are from, and I think just by the fact that people have found out that I'm Latin, they tend to stereotype you more. Which is unfortunate, because if I had changed my name, I probably wouldn't have come across this problem. But I have come across it on occasion. Now there are Latin roles that I've loved playing; I have nothing against playing Latin roles. But it would be nice being called in for a role named, say, Brodie. Now, I don't look like a Brodie, but I could be Black/Irish! But you get used to it and I think in the end my work holds up for itself and I think most of the casting people in NY, anyway, recognize my work for just what it is and not the fact that I'm a Latina actress.

csmyers73 asks: If Michelle had Danny's child would Carmen be willing to let the past die?
SANTIAGO: Hmmmm... That's a tricky question. As a true evil character, she'd probably take the baby away from Michelle and Danny somehow! I mean, if she's truly evil, she would still want Michelle to be away from Danny. Somehow she would manage to separate them and raise her grandchild herself, with Danny still by herself. But if they soften her up and change the character and give her another side, I think maybe a child could soften this woman up. Maybe if it was even her own! But I think a child would be very good for this family. We need another heir! Especially male heirs, in this kind of family.

edydon asks: I think you're really stunning looking, I saw on the net you're engaged to some musician. How's that going?
SANTIAGO: Aw, it's going very well, thank you! I don't like to talk about him too much because I'm very private about that, but thank you for asking. He's my knight in shining armor, as they say. A lovely human being and I don't know what I'd do without him.

Mad_Martha_2 asks: are you ever going to do any singing on the show?
SANTIAGO: I would love to do that! In fact, I cornered a writer the other day and I said to him, to Michael Conforti, "By the way, if you ever want Carmen to go legit, why doesn't Carmen open a nightclub? I could be the headliner, the host, and I'd sing every night." That would be interesting! And then we find out later that she never really went legit, that it's all a front! :-)

brooklynblackman asks: there's been some backlash from Hispanics with the portrayal of them as bad people. What is your reaction to that?
SANTIAGO: That was a concern of mine as well, but you have to look at the fact that this is a soap opera. The stories are not realistic, these are not things that happen in real life, as we were talking about before. And I think we concentrate on this family and the love and the family unit, and I think the Hispanic audience should zero in on that. I am certainly trying my best to make this family a loving family, and how we care about each other. I had a scene today that we shot in the studio with me and Paula, who plays Pilar, about her not rushing into making love, because she's young and has so much time in front of her, and to wait and find out what she really wants before she makes a commitment to have relations with a man, which I think is kind of old-fashioned but still is a very good value for a mother to uphold in her family and yes, we are the mob, but I don't think the mob has that much to do with the Santos family, believe it or not! And who knows: we might go legit and be a completely upstanding family in Springfield! But there's always a thin line and I try to balance it well. I have turned down auditions for drug addicts, prostitutes, really ugly roles that are going to do absolutely nothing for the Hispanic culture. I have consciously turned them down and said, No, I won't come in for that, it's meaningless. Or to play someone who doesn't speak English after all this time. My mother was born in Puerto Rico, raised in NY, and spoke perfect English, as did my father, who was raised in Cuba, so I don't like when we have to use accents all the time, either. That bothers me.

dr_holiday_2000 asks: why do you think soap operas are so popular in a time when dramatic story lines are considered extremely uncool by the youth of America?
SANTIAGO: Are they considered uncool? I'm surprised. Well, because there are all these people who actually live at home, work from home, housewives, and what else is there on TV during the day? Game shows? I think they like to get carried away in the storylines. I think they like to be taken to another fantasy world, which is why soaps have remained so popular.

guess0.geo asks: Who do you most admire in your field?
SANTIAGO: Oh, so many people! Well, a dear friend of mine happens to be Richard Gere, the actor, and I say this because I know him so well, I know all his sides, and he's such a wonderful humanitarian and actor, and I look up to him, actually. And he's a wonderful, wonderful person. I love Meryl Streep still after all these years. I am always mesmerized watching her work. Some past actors that I've loved are Marlon Brando, and there was an actress, a European/Italian actress named Anna Magnani, she's my ultimate idol. And I'm sure you don't know who she is, but I have all her films! I think she was just incredible! In fact, Meryl Streep, when she played the role with Clint Eastwood in The Bridges of Madison County, she was basically emulating Anna Magnani, who would have been perfect in that role. Meryl Streep did a grand job with it, but Magnani is a great old actress. I did find out recently that Maeve Kinkead (Vanessa) is Meryl Streep's sister-in-law, but I haven't talked to her about it yet! I don't want to ask her personal questions, you know, because I respect her privacy, but I was excited to hear that.

megamojo11 asks: You are very articulate. What school did you study theatre at? I am a Northwestern student in theatre and opera?
SANTIAGO: That's an excellent school. I studied at the U of Miami for four years, got my BFA from there, and then I went to study at Southern Methodist U for my graduate degree, my MFA, and then I came directly to NY. But Northwestern, a couple of my teachers were from there, and Cloris Leachman, a whole group of people came out of there that were very famous. Paul Anthony went there for a summer program when he was in high school -- We're singing together at my cabaret show the weekend of the GL Fan Club Luncheon! Paul has agreed to do a duet with me! So that's something to look forward to!

Sara_GL7 asks: If you could be any other charater on GL who would you be?
SANTIAGO: Wow! Let's see... Naturally I would love to be Reva! LOL! I'd love to be Reva, period. She's a great character, and she has gotten to show all sides of her character, and I wouldn't mind that position!

cinemawiz asks: Do you watch any other soap operas besides your own?
SANTIAGO: No, but Patti D'Arbanville (Selena) is hooked on Sunset Beach! And she forces us all to see it! I think there's a storyline there with a Latin woman and there's a Carmen and a Gabi and a priest, and there's this guy on the show they're all crazy about at GL, I think he plays the priest... So we're all forced to watch Sunset Beach when Patti's in the room!

dpc2002 asks: are you planning on staying with Guiding Light for a while?
SANTIAGO: I am! I just hope they are! :-) I would love to stay with it for as long as I'm able to breathe, walk, and carry on a conversation! Because there's so much possibility for this character, this family... It would be great to grow old with Carmen! She's a great cranky old mob mama!

butterflyangel15_00 asks: Saundra, you are a great actress and I really admire you! You're like the best on the show since Cynthia Watros (ex-Annie).
SANTIAGO: Well I thank you so much for that! I'm sure you like other characters but I really appreciate, it's very flattering. It makes me feel so good; I'll be going into work with gangbusters tomorrow! Because you know, we don't really get to hear from the fans a lot. I hope that I can live up to your expectations!

SODhost: We'd like to thank Saundra Santiago for chatting with us tonight!

SANTIAGO: Thank you so much for having me! Good night all! Have a good dinner and hopefully we will do this again soon! Thank you for sharing in the conversation! :-)