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She burst onto the Springfield scene in 1983, left in 1990 and returned
in 1995. She's been good, she's been bad, she'd been dead, she's been
cloned -- and, through it all, she has always been one of a kind. As she
rounds the corner to her twentieth year as Reva Shayne, we thought we'd
take the opportunity to (re) introduce you to the one, the only, the three-time
Emmy winner, Kim Zimmer.
B.R. -- Before Reva:
I hate when people call soaps a training ground because they're not. I
started in theater, and I actually think live theater, regional theater,
summer stock, is the best training an actor can get. Not only do you work
your butt off if you're in a company of actors, but you develop a respect
for the business. I think there's a lack of that in today's kids. They're
handed these jobs on silver platters and have never had to find out what
it's like in the real world of acting, where you appreciate a job more.
I think theater is the training ground. I think daytime gives kids a great
sense of confidence, because what we do, we do fast. You do learn how
to conserve your time and use it wisely. In that respect it's a great
training ground.
And Now, Reva…
Reva, when she first came on, was just a spitfire. She knew what she wanted
and nothing would keep her from getting it. Over the years, she's kind
of evolved into a woman who maybe thinks a little more before she acts.
And I'm ready for it to go back the other way! The old Reva made all kinds
of mistakes, though they were all for good reasons. For instance, marrying
HB -- that was rubbing Josh's nose in it a little bit too much, even though
HB offered me the sun, the moon and the stars as a partner -- that was
probably a mistake. And it was probably a mistake to get in a car and
drive off a bridge. That was a really big mistake. ('Cause things haven't
really been the same since.) But these days, Reva never -- except for
leaving her kids -- makes mistakes. She doesn't make the kinds of mistakes
that have consequences anymore. She thinks too much. So now I'd like for
her to evolve back to taking risks and making mistakes that have repercussions,
because she's got more to learn.
Reel Mother
At least Reva has started being more contentious of being a good mother.
But I have real problems with the way Reva just leaves her children and
doesn't really explain to our audience who's taking care of them. There
have been several times when I've left, and we don't know who's taking
care of those kids. I mean, Marah is older and she lives in a dorm, but
Shayne -- God only knows who takes care of Shayne!
Real Mother:
Kim the mother is much better than Reva the mother. I'm devoted to my
children and get great joy from them. You know, it's funny. As you get
older, the ages (of my real-life vs. TV kids) get closer and closer. (Ed.
note: Two of Kim's pregnancies were written in as pregnancies for Reva.
Her older son, Max, is Marah, and Jake is Shayne.) My son is 15 and Marah
is 19, so that's a little weird. And Jake (age 12), he's my baby, but
Billy (Kay), who plays Shayne, is so mature for his age that it's really
disconcerting. I really baby Jake, but I don't baby Billy Kay. I give
complete credit to the casting directors, because these kids, when they
come in here -- you either have it or you don't -- and these kids have
it! Ashley (Peldon; ex-Marah) had it, just like Hayden (Panettiere; ex-Lizzie).
Hayden had it. Kimberly (J. Brown; ex-Marah) grew into it. I wasn't here
when she first started, I kind of reaped the benefits later, after Robert
(Newman; Josh) broke her in. But Kimberly had been on Broadway before
she even came here.
Reva Days:
I've had the good fortune to have worked with so many wonderful actors.
I would have to say any scene that had anything to do with Larry Gates
(HB) and Robert, were fabulous. Those were the highlights. Anything to
do with Reva and the Lewis boys. The favorite scenes are too numerous
to mention, I can't remember one. Maybe rowing up in the rowboat for Josh
and Reva's first wedding. That was a wonderful location shoot. I know
that everybody else liked the fountain scene, but that was not my favorite.
I have never felt so vulnerable in my life as I did when shooting that
scene. It was the first time in my acting career that I was so removed
from acting, it didn't feel like acting. It was so raw, I felt like I
was really there, doing that. That's why I said I felt so vulnerable,
because I had exposed so much raw emotion that I totally forgot I was
playing a part. Now, I've seen it so many times, I hate it. It's like
"Oh, my God, could we have this over with!"
Forward Reva:
I'm going to start pursuing my club work more, because there are a lot
more clubs that are looking for performers. I need to start singing more.
I don't have a pretty voice. I have a big voice. I entertain. I perform.
I'm like Liza Minnelli. She doesn't have a great voice, but she's a great
performer. I like to pattern myself on her; I do a lot of her stuff. They're
story songs. Those are the kind of songs I relate to, because you can
act them. I'm doing (the musical) Dirty Blonde in Montclair, New
Jersey, this summer, in July. I try to do a play every summer -- to keep
my chops going.
Me Vs. Her:
Reva's matured more than Kim has. Kim hasn't matured yet. Kim still has
a lot more to go. I keep waiting for Kim to grow up a little. I still
go into clothing stores and go into the young, hip stuff, and I keep thinking,
"God, I really shouldn't be wearing this stuff anymore. And then
I think… Oh, why the hell not?" 
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