Nurse Jackie

After putting herself on the daytime map with a 1976-77 run as ONE LIFE TO LIVE's troubled Lana McClain, Jacklyn Zeman was tapped to move across the country to play Bobbie Spencer, who arrived in Port Charles 45 years ago this month. Zeman chatted with Digest about the milestone.

- Mara Levinsky

Soap Opera Digest: Let's start at the beginning. I've always thought it was so special that you landed on GH given that you grew up watching the ABC soap lineup, GH included.

Jacklyn Zeman: It is! And I feel like that's part of why for all these years, this has been more than just a job to me. When I say "my GH family and friends," I really mean family because my co-workers have become my family. These people made baby blankets for my daughters when they were born! We have so much history. And same with the fans; when I go to events, I see a lot of the same people over and over again and we've grown together over these 45 years. It's very sentimental to me and I just feel a lot of gratitude that it's lasted as long as it has. It means a lot to me.

Digest: Can you try to put me in your head the day you first set foot in the studio?