| Kim Zimmer is back to her old tricks. The daytime diva took meaty material --- pulling the plug on Richard's life support --- and made it sparkle, delivering a powerhouse performance that has earned the three-time Emmy winner another nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress. Zimmer's the first to admit that it wasn't easy to snag a spot in the lead actress category, which offered some stiff competition in the prenom process. She's honored to be on the board once again with four contenders she's close to or has worked with in the past. Whoever's standing at the podium on May 16, Zimmer will be cheering for her success. TV Guide Online - Where were you when you learned of your nomination? Kim - I was up in the mountains. It was cocktail hour around 5pm. My daughter's studying abroad in Australia, so I check my messages all the time. There was a message from our publicist that said, "Congratulations, Kim," and I'm thinking, "What's that about?" I had totally forgotten it was the day. I had been at 13,000 ft for seven days at Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico. I had forgotten they were being announced. We try to get to the mountain first thing in the morning, so I hadn't even thought about it. TV Guide Online - Were you surprised and excited over the news? Kim - It's really exciting this year because I know all the women I'm in the category with and I adore them all. The only one I haven't worked with is Susan Flannery (Stephanie, B&B), but we're great old gals, and we get along. She called and left me a message, as did Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R) . We did a low-budget feature together in 1990. Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R) and I worked together on Santa Barbara, Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH) and I have known each other forever. We were in Chicago together and had the same agent, and we did live industrial shows together. So I don't care who I lose to; there's not a clunker in the bunch. TV Guide Online - There were so many good contenders this year... Kim - That's why I feel so fortunate to have been nominated. There were just so many actresses that were not included who should have been. It's a tough new process, though I do like it. We have a lot of new names on the [nomination] panel. It's nice that you got to see everybody's work because you can't see it all on-air during the year. It was nice to nominate people based on that. TV Guide Online - A lot of people felt that Guiding Light earned several nominations in 2002 because of block voting, but you scored just as many this year. Kim - It's now about the performance, and we have multiple nominations in categories, which is really nice. The new system has helped the half-hour shows have a better chance at nominations, and they did better as well. I think it works. TV Guide Online - What scene earned you a spot in the top five for lead actress? Kim - The actual day I turned Richard's life-support machine off. I had some scenes in the chapel. It was difficult to pick because I had a series of about four shows that dealt with [his death] back-to-back. I could have chosen any one of those four. Needless to say, I'm using two of those for my final submission. It tells a story with a beginning, a middle and an end. TV Guide Online - How did pulling the plug helped you snag a nod? Kim - It was one of the more real stories that I've done in a while. I've had a lot of far-out stories in the last few years, and this is one of those stories that I, Kim, like to do. It touched a big percentage of the cast. It was an umbrella story; my action of turning off the support created story for a number of people. And that's what Guiding Light does really well. One action somersaults into repercussions for others, and that's why this story worked for me. It was really well written, and it's the most heart-wrenching story I've done in a while. TV Guide Online - What's the deal with Reva's psychic powers? Kim - When Reva was living in Amish country she was a healer. Her mother Sarah had second sight; she could see things and hear voices. When we did the time travel story, we touched on that Reva had the gift as well. I keep recalling this show The Profiler that I loved to watch. If they used it to that extent, it would be great. I would hate for it to become a gimmick. TV Guide Online - How would you like to see this trait played out? Kim - I'd like to see Reva use it for a function, like with Frank who is the chief of the police department or with Rick, the medical examiner. If we rip off CSI, I could get with that. Have Springfield have a serial killer, and we're trying to nail him. I read books like that all the time; I would like it to go that way. TV Guide Online - Do you have any psychic abilities of your own? Kim - I can tell my husband where he put something before he even tells me what it is. Now we've been together 27 years, so it could be just a lot of familiarity. I've never pursued any psychic abilities, but I think the energy's in me, and I could if I really wanted to. TV Guide Online - Back to the Emmys. Where do you keep your three awards? Kim - They are on top of a breakfront in my living room. TV Guide Online - Do you have space, if need be, for a fourth? Kim - I think I could find some. TV Guide Online - Do you have a speech prepared? Kim - I never plan a speech. When I watch myself accepting awards, I always think, "Why didn't I plan one, because I look like an idiot up there." (Chuckles) If they call my name, and I look out and see all those women out there, there will be plenty for me to say. It will be nothing about winning, it will be all about what I've done in the past with my fellow contenders. TV Guide Online - And what will you be wearing? Kim - Unless a designer comes to me with an outfit like they did last year, I usually wind up the day before buying something off the rack. It's something I don't think about until the last minute. |