SODhost: Priscilla Garita (Gabi, Sunset Beach) is here! Welcome, Priscilla!
PRISCILLA GARITA: Hi! I really don't know how to introduce myself, this is my first time doing a chat on the phone. I did a chat once before at our Sunset Beach Pre-Emmy Party, for about 5 minutes. This is interesting for me... odd.

KaraLee_319 asks: Hi Priscilla! What is the best part about being on Sunset Beach?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Hmmm... the best parthas to be the people that I work with.

TheJavaWeb asks: What was it like working with Nick Stabile [ex-Mark] and do you miss working with him?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Aw... I miss Nick so much! Working with him was a real pleasure. We just had fun all the time. I miss working with him & rehearsing with him & hanging out with him... He's just a really cool person. He was so giving, always willing to try new ideas during a scene, always making me laugh... That's not too hard to do, though, LOL. He always made me feel good, you know? Just a great guy, a good friend. Put me in my place a couple of times, LOL.

Ambbie asks: Hi, do you plan to do other projects besides Sunset Beach?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Well, if I had the opportunity to, definitely. I don't have anything planned right now, but I am definitely looking for projects to work on while doing the show. My next thrill would be to do a film... that would be exciting.

Beachpie asks: Who is the biggest jokester on the set?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Hmmm....Eddie Cibrian [Cole] is a big joker... Tim Adams [Casey] is always joking around, making me laugh. And you know who's funny... I'm not working with her, but in hair & makeup [I see] Jessica Tuck [Diane] who is not on contract. She would come in with a joke everyday! She made people laugh.

KaraLee_319 asks: What do you think will happen to Ricardo and Gabi?
PRISCILLA GARITA: I can't foretell the future... I don't know! I wish I did. Taking it one day at a time right now. Hopefully it's all good stuff!

SunsetBeachLover asks: Did U prefer being 'evil'?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Absolutely! It's exciting, you get to do things you're not allowed to do in everyday life. Since it was something that is not like my personality in real life, it was fun to explore how to be all those evil things. And also, it made the people who know me kind of question what was going on, LOL!

Beachpie asks: Do you miss working with Laura Harring [Paula] and Leigh Taylor-Young [Elaine]?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Oh, I do! I have spoken with Leigh a couple of times, she was just a good spirit. Her presence on the show, just knowing her & meeting her was a real honor. I had my first scenes on the show with her. My mom knew her from Peyton Place, I think. To work with such a well-established actress was just such a learning experience. And Laura I miss. You know, it's strange to have someone you call your sister, even if it was a half-sister, because in real-life it means so much. We didn't have much time to explore that. I missed the opportunity to explore that on the show, but I am happy to have had that little taste of that, where I could have not had it at all.

Garfield_25541 asks: are you happy with your character being changed from bad girl to good girl
PRISCILLA GARITA: Hmmm... the transition has been fun, but I am exploring a different part of the character with turning good, because making that transition from bad to good is... how do I want to phrase this?... I'm tapping into a vulnerability in the goodness, which I hadn't experienced before when I was bad. So I guess it's the vulnerability that I am enjoying.

KaraLee_319 asks: Will Paula return to the show?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Not that I am aware of, but you never know these days. There are other fortune tellers called producers and writers... you'd have to ask them! lol

Jason2628 asks: hi Priscilla, I watch SB regularly, do they let you choose what you want to wear?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Sometimes, if I'm not happy with the outfit in fitting in with what my day is, I'll ask them to change it. Or sometimes I'll mix & match a skirt & shirt, to fit the mood of the character that day. But usually they're good about doing stuff that is well related.

TheOtherSpice asks: Who would you like to see Gabi with: Antonio or Ricardo?
PRISCILLA GARITA: LOL! At this stage right now... I can't think about a relationship, it's too heavy right now. It's a lot to deal with... men are a big responsibility. I don't know. But they're both fun! I could toss a coin & be happy if I had heads or tails! They're both cute! It's not hard to look at either of those guys & come to work!

Meganguest_18a043073 asks: What is the biggest difference between you and Gabi?
PRISCILLA GARITA: I guess the aggressiveness of Gabi is something I wish Priscilla had. Aggressiveness in getting what I want, or in speaking my mind... her strength. Although I guess I do have some strengths, Priscilla does... just never enough!

SuPa_fLy84 asks: r u married
PRISCILLA GARITA: No. No, thanks! LOL Not at this point in my life!

Beachpie asks: Does Gabi still work at the Deep?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Part-time, I do. Well, you haven't seen me work, but I've been working, darnit!

Holly153 asks: I think that you are such a good actress!!! How did you first get into acting?
PRISCILLA GARITA: That would be when I was in high school, I was attending a modeling school & they had a class which was in front of the camera, so it wasn't just modeling, it was trying your face in front of the camera. And I really enjoyed that part. I just felt like I was using more intellect & communicating. It was my first connection to what the business was like: people behind the camera, in front of the camera. Then I took another class outside of that school, more for acting... actually commercial & soap acting.

KaraLee_319 asks: Who do you see as a mentor or role model?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Actress-wise, people like Meryl Streep, Katharine Hepburn, haven't seen all of Natalie Wood's movies but she is someone my interest is peaked in. Who else? Jodie Foster, love her. I love Jennifer Jason Leigh's work. Sally Field. You see, now you got me going! There are a lot of great female actresses that we can look up to & aspire to do their kind of work

Angelaguest_5a042832 asks: Who is your best friend on the show?
PRISCILLA GARITA: As Priscilla, Sherri [Saum, Vanessa] has been probably my closest friend on the show. you know, girl-to-girl. We're girls when we're together, really girls.

NotRoebuck asks: Priscilla Burbank Poetry Lady says hi. - Love the new direction of your character. Do you see yourself as a Paula replacement on the force?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Well, I don't think I'm a Paula replacement... I could definitely see myself working on the police force... We're totally 2 different people. Being a detective would be cool. Ricardo & Gabi would be a good team, which I have mentioned, probably in the script out loud.

TheJavaWeb asks: Where are you originally from?
PRISCILLA GARITA: I was born in Yonkers, New York, but I grew up in Connecticut. Then I moved back to New York for about 5 or 6 years. And I lived in Costa Rica for about six months. and now I'm here.

Kellyguest_2da0524 asks: What do you think about watching yourself on TV?
PRISCILLA GARITA: It's tough to not feel uncomfortable or be overly critical, but it's really helpful to watch the performance to get a sense of if I'm headed in the right direction or I'm really expressing what Gabi is feeling.

TheJavaWeb asks: Priscilla is a cute name, were you named after someone?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Guess!

Kimberly_Wimberly_Bimberly asks: Priscilla Presley?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Ding, ding, ding! You're right! My Mom & Dad named all their children after artists of some kind -- actors, I believe one was a ballet dancer -- or someone special in the family.

KaraLee_319 asks: What is your favorite storyline from Sunset Beach so far?
PRISCILLA GARITA: I guess Terror Island, that was the most exciting, I thought. It seemed like we were really living it.

Jensenacklesbabe asks: Do you think Gabi is over Mark's death?
PRISCILLA GARITA: No, that's all too soon. It's only been 5 months, going on my 6th month of losing my best friend... I don't think I'm over it yet.

Rcaden asks: Your Terror Island scenes with Nick Stabile were heart-breaking. Is that kind of on-screen chemistry hard work to pull off?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Sure, it can be, but the fact that Nick & I had such a good relationship didn't make it hard, made it kind of easy. I don't want to make [it sound like] it was nothing... very natural.

KaraLee_319 asks: What do you think is the ultimate flaw in your character, Gabi?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Anger & fear have to be the traits that are my deadliest.

Meganguest_18a043073 asks: Do you reply to the letters that you receive from your fans?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Yes, I try and send an 8 x 10 and a cover letter, but I can't really respond on an individual basis because I am lucky enough to get a lot of letters from fans, it requires a lot of time.

RAGGEDANDY1998 asks: Is Gabi falling for Father Antonio?
PRISCILLA GARITA: LOL How could you not? He's an honest man, a good honest man!

Jason2628 asks: Priscilla have you ever had the chance to meet Aaron Spelling?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Briefly at a celebration we had for Sunset. He was there & I quickly introduced myself. I didn't have the opportunity to attend the session, there was a cast meeting in Aaron's office when the show first began. Since my character didn't start for another month, I hadn't been flown out yet. So I was still a mystery, as everyone was to me.

_JEN_1998 asks: Priscilla- Why did Mark leave?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Well, first of all, Mark was killed by a horrible man. I can tell you that, if I knew I could have fixed it. It was a shock & disappointment to me, as I'm sure it was to you.

___Mine___ asks: now with being a star comes star power, so what benificial ways have you used your star power?(charity work etc.)
PRISCILLA GARITA: I have attended functions, which have been nice, that I have either been invited to or been made aware of by our publicist at Sunset. That's a real perk, it adds dimension to the work, to be able to help people. As for as star power, that sounds like a funny term, but the perks of being an actress that is working is the accessibility to functions like fundraisers... being invited, more opportunities.

KaraLee_319 asks: What would you like to see happen with Gabi?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Well, I think she has had a lot of intense life experiences in the last 6-8 months, & I'd like to see some revelation or a growth spurt of some sort, some awareness on a deeper level of what life is about.

Aprilrogers asks: Do you watch any soaps in your spare time??
PRISCILLA GARITA: I flick on Another World every so often, I know a couple of people on there and I like to touch base with them, even by watching. Days I was never familiar with... but when I get to I watch AW & definitely our show, and sometimes catch the last 1/2 hour of Days.

Beachpie asks: What did you think of the whole Terror Island Storyline? You did great during that time and still are.
PRISCILLA GARITA: Like I said before, I had a blast working with all the cast & crew. It was exhausting, the hours were long, and because of the text, there was a lot of drama, it was very physically draining. Being together for so many hours lent a reality to it, and I think it made us all closer. I had a great time working.

Hawke_088 asks: What is your favorite color(s)?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Purple, I guess. It used to be blue growing up, then I changed to lilac... I don't really have a real favorite, favorite now, but I do like colors.

GUIDO9821 asks: Are you aware of the fact that the show is to be seen in many countries all over the world?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Yes! I know that we have great international support, & that's a plus in all our favor.

RAGGEDANDY1998 asks: How close are Gabi and Cole on the show?
PRISCILLA GARITA: We're not strangers, we're not very close family, but we're friends & we have a connection that we're both aware of. I think we're honoring that connection & helping each other out, in our recent scenes together. (Connection: Paula is our half-sister, but we're not siblings.)

GabiNo1Fan asks: usually, how many hours per day, days per week, etc. do you usually work? how often do you get breaks to travel and visit friends or relatives or just sleep?
PRISCILLA GARITA: Well, for me, with Gabi, since she's not at the frontburner in storylines, I have a nice, lax schedule. I might work 2-3 days on average, my days are not long, I work 4-8 hours. the woman who schedules our hours is wonderful about getting me in at a reasonable hour & getting stuff done. Visiting family I have been fortunate, but things always come up, I am always pressed for time. I was fortunate, recently I was able to take 4 days to go see a friend who wasn't really doing well. It was last minute but I didn't really need to ask for any days off.

Aderkeler asks: is it true that SB is going to go off the air in September, please say this is not true because I love the show and the stories are great, and the acting is wonderful, especially yours *s*
PRISCILLA GARITA: Well, that's news to me, I haven't heard that one yet! I hope it's not true, & let's not start that rumor! We're just getting somewhere.

Dustie_Moon asks: What's in store for Gabi this summer?
PRISCILLA GARITA: ADVENTURE!

SODhost: Thanks, Priscilla! And thank you all for joining us!
PRISCILLA GARITA: Thanks for making my first experience online so easy. Keep cheering us on, keep watching, keep chatting with us, keep spreading the name. Your support is definitely embraced.