She's sexy, sassy, beautiful and "the woman you love to hate." She's Erica Kane Martin Brent Cudahy Chandler Montgomery Montgomery Marick Marick. TV Guide calls her "unequivocally the most famous soap opera character in the history of daytime TV." Soap Opera Digest says her "character is larger than life." Susan Lucci, the actress who has made this scheming temptress a household name, claims, "Erica is probably the best part ever written for a woman."

During her years with AMC, Lucci has seen Erica grow from troubled teen to international beauty, progressing over the years from high-fashion model to philanthropist to magazine publisher. She's had eight marriages to seven different men. She's been kidnapped, survived a plane crash, stared down a grizzly bear, posed as a nun, driven a race car and attempted a daring helicopter rescue of one of her lovers from prison. But she always rises, Phoenix-like, from her own ashes.

With an Emmy award and countless Emmy nominations as Lead Actress and countless other awards -- such as a 1992 People's Choice Award, the 1993 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, the 1994 Crystal Apple Award, the 1985 People magazine poll as Best Soap Actress, the 1988 Soap Opera Digest Editor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Daytime Television, the 1989 Canadian TV Guide People's Choice Award for Best Soap Actress, and the Italian-American Welfare League's "Woman of the Year" -- it is understandable that Susan Lucci as Erica Kane is as popular as the show itself. Soap Opera Digest has chosen Susan Lucci as the most beautiful woman on television many times. Further proving the point, in June, 1991, Ms. Lucci was one of a select group of individuals (including General Norman Schwarzkopf) to be honored with a prestigious American Academy of Achievement Award. She is also listed in the "Who's Who in America" directory. Most recently, in 1993, she was honored with the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress.

If there's one thing Susan and Erica have in common, it's their dedication to pursuing a career. In addition to her leading role on "All My Children," in the 1993-94 season, Susan starred in the prime-time television film, "French Silk," for ABC; "Between Love and Hate," also for ABC, in the 1992-93 season; during 1991-92, she starred in ABC's "The Woman Who Sinned"; and in "Double Edge." Before that, she starred in the final season of the prime-time serial, "Dallas"; hosted "Saturday Night Live," and starred in the ABC television film, "The Bride in Black," which was the highest rated movie on ABC during the 1990-91 season. She also appeared in a critically acclaimed humorous television commercial for the sugar substitute, Sweet One; a television spot for Wendy's, and has done a series of commercials for Ford.

Ms. Lucci's other made-for-television movies include "Lady Mobster," "Mafia Princess," "Invitation to Hell," "Anastasia" and "Haunted By Her Past." The versatile actress also served as co-host with Tony Danza on the ABC Television Network special, "99 Ways to Attract the Right Man," and appeared in the prime-time television extravaganzas, "Night of 100 Stars II and III." She also appeared in the feature film, "Young Doctors in Love." Outside of acting, Susan is also well-rounded in her interests and activities, which include tennis, skiing and traveling. In December 1995, Susan starred as Elizabeth Scrooge, the female contemporary counterpart of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Lifetime original movie "Ebbie."

In addition to her work on-screen, Ms. Lucci has been busy off-camera as well. In 1991, the famed actress met with quick success when she launched the Susan Lucci Collection of beauty products, marketed through a home shopping cable channel.

When "All My Children" premiered on January 5, 1970, Susan Lucci was a student at New York's Marymount College. Now she has a son and a daughter, and although she is just as glamorous as her alter ego, the similarities end there. While she has graced the cover of most major magazines, studied acting in esteemed director Harold Clurman's midnight classes, and was the subject of a segment on ABC's newsmagazine show, "20/20" -- in the affluent suburb of New York City where she lives, Susan is quite content being Mrs. Helmut Huber.