Book 'er, Dano: She plays killer jailbird on 'GL'

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From the Daily News:

Book 'er, Dano: She plays killer jailbird on 'GL'

By CAROLYN HINSEY

Linda Dano comes roaring back to daytime today, playing Harley's new cellmate on "Guiding Light." "She murdered someone," says Dano of her character, a former aspiring actress named Lena. "Probably a man - someone she trusted who, when she got to Hollywood, was going to make her into a big star. I'm playing her a little off-center, like Gloria Swanson. I think she did it."

Harley, who's played by Beth Ehlers, didn't do it. But she's in jail for murdering her exhusband, Phillip, because she can't remember what happened the night of his murder.

"Lena likes Harley," says Dano. "She thinks she's sweet. And I think Harley likes Lena, because Lena reminds Harley of her mother [Nadine], who abandoned them for a career. That's their connection. They're already becoming good friends."

Harley will need a friend when the women of Cellblock 8 go all Ida Lupino on her. And later, when she finds out that the warden is her ex-husband, Mallet.

(That role was created by Mark Derwin, but Harley's ex is now being played by Robert Bogue.)

"Lena knows something is going on, but she doesn't know what," says Dano. "Harley hasn't said who [Mallet] is, although he is hanging around a lot. She mostly talks to Lena about the night Phillip was killed, trying to put the pieces together."

Since Dano is best-known for her Emmy-winning turn as "Another World's" flamboyant Felicia Gallant, it's been hard for her to adjust to the wardrobe of a convicted felon.

"I put on these outfits and go, 'Wow' - and not in a good way," she says. "It's very scary - Linda Dano unadorned. I tried to convince them that if this woman wanted so desperately to be an actress she would be all made up, waiting for the moment when they let her out of jail because she thinks they are all waiting for her in Hollywood."

No go.

"The only thing I am wearing is a watch," she sighs. "The other day, [we shot] a little fantasy between Harley and Gus of her imagining him carrying her off. I said, 'It's a fantasy! Why couldn't Lena have earrings in a fantasy?' They looked at me like, 'Ha ha.'"

Dano's "GL" stint wraps up in late May, then the actress heads to the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pa., where she opens as the title character in "Mame" on June 8.

"Live theater," she says. "God help me."

Comings and goings: Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) returns to "General Hospital" on May 4. The actor has been in Canada filming the Steven Spielberg miniseries "Into the West." ... Cady McClain brings Rosanna back to "As the World Turns" on April 29.

Don't touch that dial: It's a rough week for the freshly widowed Maria Grey starting Monday on "All My Children" (ABC, 1 p.m.) when she admits her love for the disinterested Zach, and then gets overserved at a ceremony honoring her late husband.

(Hinsey is the editor of Soap Opera Weekly.)