Christina Chambers (Dana/Maria) may have spent the early part of her career playing Shakespeare, but she still loves the challenges she's facing on Sunset Beach. "Everyone is wonderful," she says. "They're really generous and gracious in helping a stage actress get into the world of TV."

One aspect that's particularly intrigued her has been developing a character beyond the standard length of a play, even it it has to be done with less rehearsal. "One the one hand, you say, 'Oh, if we just do it a few more times, I know I'd get every moment.'" Chambers explains. "But on the other hand, it's great that your living a life continuously rather than spending three months perfecting two hours of a person's life."

So how does this actress, who's character was supposed to have been married to Ben over five years ago, explain that she doesn't look old enough to buy a pack of cigerettes in most states?

"Bless you for saying that," she replies. "I know I look young, but you should see my night routine. I've got creams and lotins and everything. I am in real life about a good six or seven years older than Meg. I think what they're doing is waiting to give Maria her look."

Ah, so we should expect to be seeing a diva with the proper helping of eyeliner and mascara? "That's just it," Chambers says with a wink. "Thank god, I'll have mascara on, then you'll look at me and say, 'Oh, maybe she's in high school. Maybe she's not in junior high.'"

Unlike many actors, Chambers wasn't nervous on her first SUN day. Of course that might have something to do with the fact that she was alone her first day of taping. "It was just me in my nightie having nightmares, so it was pretty simple," she shrugs. "And the first day I worked with somebody else was with Susan Ward (Meg) who was great - so easy to work with."

Her onscreen relationship with Ward is sure to be less than easy once Meg discovers that "Dana" is really Ben's presumed-dead wife Maria. "Therein lies the rub," Chambers cracks. "I'm assuming they'll probably make me the bad guy. Because Meg is just so nice - I'm sure she'll be gracious in the end. But it will be because Meg's the only person who's befriended this poor little waif in the hospital."

Far from the poor little waif herself, Chambers was raised in Virginia with two brothers and one sister, all of whom have the initials CC - Charles, Cathy, Christina, Carlton. Only Carlton has also expressed interest in the arts - pursing his masters as an opera singer at Juiliard in New York City.

Her mother and father, both "math and science types," have always been supportive of Chambers' career path. "Luckily, I was blessed with parents who were like, 'We'll pay for you to go to college and get a degree in acting,'" she says with sincere gratitude.

"My mom said that the first play I did, she thought I was playing a cobra, I looked so nervous and scared." Chambers admits. "Mom was like, 'Oh, we're not going to have to worry about her wanting to be an actress.' I looked like I was just about to pee my pants, I looked so afraid!"

Chambers, who pursued drama at Catholic University in Washington DC, also had the opportunity to study with the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford on Avon in England. She was especially thrilled to meet one of her favorite actors, Sir Ian McKellen. "I just shook his hand after a show," she admits sheepishly. "We say him do Richard III, and I was like, 'Hi, I'm with the program.' He's amazing."

After college, Chambers toured with several Shakespeare companies, including a one-month stint at the prestigous Folger Theater in Washington, DC. "It was my dream come true," she sighs. "Growing up, I'd say, 'I would love to play the Folger.' And I got to do it."

She also enjoyed showing people that Shakespeare isn't an inaccessible as many believe. "We did it the way Shakespeare did it," she explains. "We didn't turn the lights off. We had it open, we talked to the people, we would mingle, we would keep it real. People said to me, 'I understand now.' That was the best feeling. People would tell me, 'I thought I would be too dumb.'"

It was when she returned from touring that she met her fiance, Brian Logue. Soon she was doing a lot of commercials and a lot of small "under-five" parts. One commercial was for Playtex Gentle Glide, recalls Chambers, blushing slightly, and it changed her life. "They're great because tampon commercials are only one person most of the time, and it's the best exposure you could ever ask for," she explains. Indeed, she was so good that she caught the eye of Kevin Costner, who brought her in to read for his film The Postman.

While she didn't get the job, the experience - four callbacks - remains emblazoned in her mind. "The very first time, I told myself, 'I'm not going to be intimidated,'" she says. "I think he saw me the way I guess a lot of people see me: a lot younger than I am. He kept saying, 'That was real nice, kiddo." And I'm like, 'Darling, stop calling me kiddo,'" Chambers recalls with a laugh. "It's funny how a small tampoon commercial can launch your career."

Chambers next caught the eye of NBC Daytime VP Annamaria Kostura. "She pretty much said, 'So how would you feel about moving to LA?'" Chambers says. "I was like, 'No problem!'"