The first thing you notice about Sunset Beach's Susan Ward is how much cuter she is in person than on the screen. And that's saying a mouthful, since her alter-ego, the hapless Meg from Kansas – who can even smile while she's crying – is pretty foxy already.

But the major difference between Ward and the once and former Mrs. Ben Evans, is a sense of humor. Sitting with Ward, even on a day when she's doing two episodes back to back, is a study in nice. And fun. Meg is pretty put-upon, as usual, but Ward is laughing all the way to stardom.

SON: So you think Meg's first problem was moving Maria into the house?
Ward: Was that dumb or what? "Hi, can my ex-wife live with us? We just got married." Sure. [Laughs]

SON: But Dr. Estrada recommended it …
S.W. Exactly! Who'd listen to Dr. Estrada? She has given us some of the worst advice I've ever heard. I mean, that was so dumb. Live with your ex and her memories might return. Remember, this wasn't Meg's idea!

SON: But this is typical Meg. Being selfless …
S.W. She wants everyone to be happy, even if it's at her own expense. You can't get more selfless than Meg. Moving out of Ben's house is another example of that. She's back at Surf Central, but it wasn't for her. It was for Ben and Maria.

SON: Did she also do it to p**s off Sara?
S.W. Probably a little. She knows Sara like Casey and she blames Sara for Maria's accident. So right now, everything Meg is doing is probably the correct thing, but for all the wrong reasons. Meg really wants Ben to give Maria the boot, but he won't. And she's too nice to do it. I would – I can't believe she won't. That's dumb.

SON: You're pretty smart and hip. Is it hard to play Meg when she's a few IQ points shorter …
S.W. It can be tough at times. I want to knock some sense into her. But that's the way she's written.

SON: Could you ever imagine your real-life ex saying, "Can I move my ex-wife in so she can get her memory back?
S.W. I'd let him – then I'd probably push her off the balcony. [Laughs] I wouldn't be like Meg. But that's acting. Learning to say the lines you sometimes have trouble justifying. I may not agree with everything Meg says or does, but I commit to it.

SON: Now that she's moved back to Surf Central, does she want Casey?
S.W. He's probably her best friend. I don't think her motivation is anything but friendship.

SON: Is she blind?
S.W. [Laughs] She needs a good friend right now. Who knows what will happen. He's holding her hand and making her feel OK.

SON: But he's a babe, too.
S.W. No doubt. This could be her rebound babe! [Laughs] Rebound! He's a lifeguard and a babe. And he's letting me sleep in his bedroom.

SON: Poor Meg. Caught between Ben and Casey
S.W. Yeah, that's tough. [Laughs] Who has problems like this? Personally, I'd have walked away from the Ben situation a long time ago. It's bad, no matter how it turns out.

SON: You don't strike me as the clingy, stand-by-your-man type.
S.W. [She smiles] That depends. We've all had bad breakups. At this point in my life, I get over things a lot better than when I was younger. I'm a stronger person. I realize a lot more things about myself.

SON: So you're now more the move-on type?
S.W. I have more confidence now. Years ago, I didn't.

SON: Did playing Meg teach you that?
S.W. No way! [Laughs] Meg needs a drink – and to go to the Bahamas and find a man.

SON: There has been moments where Meg has stood her ground. The fight with Annie, for example.
S.W. I love stuff like that. I want to fight more. Maria accidentally fell down the stairs. I wanted Meg to do it intentionally. Meg is spineless. I'm the sucker on the show. Sometimes I want her to show a little more fight. She's trusting and naοve. She believes everything anyone tells her. Even Tim.

SON: Many people believe that playing someone like Meg can only make you stronger as you recognize what it must feel like to be trampled on.
S.W. That's probably true. When I can take a step back from Meg and ask myself what her thinking is, it lets me see how I'd do things differently. I hadn't thought about it much before now. But someday I'm sure I'll figure out how playing Meg has affected me.

SON: Meg is a mess romantically. Are you doing better?
S.W. Much better. My boyfriend Joe and I went to Iowa for the holidays. We even took the cats.

SON: Sounds very domestic. Getting engaged?
S.W. Not yet. We've been together three years. When the time is right, the time is right. Joe is the reason I'm even on Sunset Beach. When this show came up, I was offered two other things. One in New Orleans and one in New York. And I didn't want to leave L.A. and I didn't want to leave Joe.

SON: So he gets the credit …
S.W. Or on a busy day like this, I say the blame. [Laughs] Just kidding. I love this job. Although I do wish Meg could be a bitch sometimes.

SON: The real shame is that she doesn't have your sense of humor.
S.W. Thanks. I'm flattered that they want her a certain way: nice, the victim. But sometimes I think a little diversity wouldn't hurt.

SON: Maybe she can hit her head and develop amnesia and forget she's so nice.
S.W. Never happen! They won't let me be mean. I had a great scene the other day where I got to really yell at Sara. [She pauses] But they kept saying, "Remember, you have to be nice." [Laughs]