By Christine Champagne

Texas-native Krista Allen grew up watching Days of Our Lives, so it was a dream come true when the actress joined the show last August in the role of Billie. It was also a daunting task to replace Lisa Rinna, who was beloved in the part. However, Allen has quickly made the role her own. Here, the actress talks about her upcoming film Liar, Liar, her impending motherhood and, of course, the Billie/Bo/Hope saga.

Q: You play Jim Carrey's sexy neighbor in the film Liar, Liar. What was it like to work with him?

A: He was really fun and totally normal, except for when he got into his character and made those damn faces that he makes. He's just such a funny guy. So, it was really a lot of fun to work on the movie.

Q: You landed the movie before you got Days. Why did you decide to the take the role on Days as opposed to pursuing a film career full-time?

A: To have a steady job. At the time [I got the movie] I had only been here [in L.A.] a year and a half. It was like, 'Wow, my luck's going to run out sometime, and soaps are a great place to start.'

Q: Have you adjusted to being a soap star?

A: I don't consider myself a soap star. I look at people like Deidre Hall [who plays Marlena on Days] and Susan Lucci [who plays Erica on All My Children]. Those are soap stars. And Drake Hogestyn [who plays John on Days], he's a soap star. People like that.

Q: You and your husband, film producer Justin Moritt, expect your first child in July. Did you plan the pregnancy?

A: No. No [she laughs]. I got married in September and it was at the end of October or early November, and I found out I was pregnant. I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'Oh my God. What happened?'

Q: Did you sense you were pregnant?

A: No, I didn't know because I'd never been pregnant before. I told my sister-in-law, Jessica, because she was pregnant, that I was really emotional and having these weird cravings. I wanted caviar every night, and Jess was like, 'You might be pregnant.' Sure enough, I went to the store and got a test, and I was pregnant.

Q: Days isn't going to write your pregnancy into Billie's story line. Will you be hiding behind plants and carrying big pocketbooks for the next few months?

A: Well, right now, they have me in really baggy dresses. I'm starting to show. I've already gained almost twelve or thirteen pounds, and it's really amazing. I just started with a trainer because I'm getting so scared.

Q: Even though you're pregnant, you're worried about gaining weight?

A: I think with any woman in general you just don't want to gain weight. Nobody wants to be too overweight. I guess you can handle 10 pounds or 15 pounds, but once you get 20 pounds overweight it's like, 'I don't feel good about myself right now.' Especially being in this vain business. It's kind of hard. But the reward is so much greater. It's such a beautiful thing to have a child and be pregnant. Right now, I'm feeling the bubble thing where I'll be sitting here and all of a sudden I'll feel this little bubble in my tummy, and I know it's the baby. Every time I go into the doctor and hear the heartbeat I cry because this is my dream.

Q: It's been a big year for you, expecting your first child and being cast on Days. What kind of response have you gotten from the show's fans?

A: I've had a great response. It's been really welcoming and really supportive. I'm just so grateful to them because they could have made it really hard for me. I haven't gotten one hate letter, and that's very surprising. My grandmother and my mom were stoked that I got Billie, but also at the same time they loved Billie and said, 'You'd better do a good job, Krista.' I've seen Bo and Hope all my life, too. Everybody knows who Bo and Hope are, and to step into that and even just work with these people, it's a little intimidating. It took me a while to be able to relax, and now it's gotten a lot better. I feel good about it, and I've definitely made the role my own because I figured if I tried to be the old Billie I was going to flop really bad.

Q: Aren't you torn about who Bo should be with since you were a Bo and Hope fan?

A: But see, you just hit it on the head. I'm Billie now [she laughs].

Q: I can't believe how civil Billie and Hope are to each other when they're fighting over the same guy.

A: I know. Those times I've tried to keep secrets from him, then I go to Hope and say, 'Oh, but Hope, I have to tell you' and she's like, 'It's okay Billie. At least you were honest.' You're just like 'Hit me already. Just do something.'

Q: Maybe they'll duke it out someday?

A: I hope so. That would be a blast.

Q: One final question: do you think Billie has a chance with Bo?

A: I don't think she does. Bo is completely and totally in love with Hope. Billie's just really scared right now because she can't go through this again. She's afraid to get Bo. She's actually afraid to get him because she's afraid if she does, she's just going to lose him again.

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