Interview: Jane Elliot On Playing The Gueen Of Mean

Is there a greater force of nature than Jane Elliot? The Emmy-winning suds sensation signed up to play General Hospital witch Tracy Quartermaine back in 1978 and she's still kicking ass and taking names. Need proof? "Jane really keeps me on my game," says six-time Emmy winner Tony Geary (Luke). "She will bust your balls if you show up less than 100 percent ready, and I like that! There's no one I'd rather work with, no one I'd rather take a note from. When she takes me aside, I listen." So do we! TV Guide Magazine spoke with Elliot — a brilliant, fearless actress who rarely gives interviews — to find out what it's like to play the soap world's most unapologetic hellion. Retirement, empty-nest syndrome, playing a nun opposite Elvis — we covered it all!

TV Guide Magazine: Why, as Tracy, do you never seem to worry about alienating the audience? Viewers love you because you don't care if we love you!Elliot: Somebody has to wear the black hat and give the audience someone to shake their fists at. They want someone to hate. And if that's what you want to pay me to do, I'm happy to do it! A show owes it to the audience to give them a place to vent. There is a profound contrast between the way I live my life and what I do when I go to work. I never get the two of us confused. I never wear