To be sure, ALL MY CHILDREN's Josh Duhamel (Leo) has his share of fans, in fact, some of them can be found just down the hall from his dressing room.

"When I watched all the screen tests [for the role of Leo], Josh was my first choice, without a doubt," his TV half brother, Vincent Irizarry (David), reports. "He kept it very natural and real."

"Josh is such a fine actor," raves 11-year AMC vet Cady McCain (Dixie). "I think he's great."

"He takes his own lead, and he has his own tempo," observes Marj Dusay (Vanessa). "And he's got the eye on this humor, too!"

For bringing his uptapped talent to AMC in November 1999--immediately after completing his very first acting job, in a yet-to-be-released film--Duhamel quickly was rewarded with front-burner storylines and on-screen romances with a bevy of beauties. Perhaps his most unexpected AMC role, though, was yet to come.

Helping Out A Friend

As AMC's buzz-filled gay storyline--with newcomer Eden Riegel (Biance) at its center--began to "out" itself over recent months, Duhamel was thrilled to see the oft-scheming Leo serve as the compassionate advisor to the troubled teen.

"With the magnitude of it being Erica's daughter, there has been a lot of attention on this storyline," he acknowledges. "So, for me to be the guy that Bianca confides in, the one who offers a shoulder to cry on, that was a huge compliment--from the producers, the writers, everyone.

"I don't mind playing the supporting role in something like this," he continues. "Eden has done a wonderful job. I'll ride her coattails all the way through this if she'll let me."

Asked why Leo has proven to be such a receptive sounding board on this sensitive subject, Duhamel has his opinions already formed. "Leo grew up in Europe," he explains, "so I tried to play it as if he has had 10 friends who had come out to him before. I didn't want it to be like this huge shock to him. 'Oh my God! You're gay! What are we going to do?!'

"Leo understood what a big deal this was for Bianca, a 16-year-old, so he just made her understand, 'It's okay, you're not abnormal. You're not a freak. This is just who you are."'

In the Company of Men

Now that Bianca has bigger fish to fry--namely, her mother's reaction--look for Leo to break away from AMC's younger set and instead play with the grown-ups. "I'm going to be mixing it up a bit more with David Canary (Adam) and Cameron Mathison (Ryan)," Duhamel reveals. "I like that I'm going to be hanging out with people who are a little bit older."

Alas, surrounded by the resident Machiavellian businessman and a con man-turned-adulterer/scapegoat, don't be surprised if the kindly Leo who counseled Bianca begins to be overrun by the edgy player we first met in November 1999.

"There were reasons why this character became so popular," Duhamel asserts. "They need to keep taking risks with him. If he does things that piss the audience off, that's fine with me, because they know he has two different sides to him.

"I don't think that, over the course of a year, Leo would have been completely reformed," he adds. "I don't want him to be some yes-man who gets pulled around by his ear by the women in his life. Instead of putting out other people's fires, mabye he needs to start a few of his own!"

Friends and Family

Josh Duhamel dishes on his most frequent scene-sharers! Leo's portrayer offers his take on the vets and newcomers with whom he works.

Susan Lucci (Erica): "For somebody who is as legendary as she is, it's not within her responsibility to help young actors, but she's been so sweet and supportive of me since I arrived. She has even, in her own subtle way, 'kicked me in the butt' to make sure I stay prepared every single day. I have nothing but respect and admiration for her."

Vincent Irizarry (David) and Marj Dusay (Vanessa): "I think my best work has been with those two. I can really let it rip with Vincent, and I know he's going to come back as strong, if not stronger. Marj hasn't been around much the last few months--I don't know why--but when she is, the woman is amazing. She has such an incredible sense of comedic timing. I can't see anybody playing Vanessa better. I'm so glad she's my TV 'Mommie Dearest.'"

Eden Riegal (Bianca) and Laura Allen (Laura) : "Eden makes me feel like the 19-year-old, she's just so smart. For somebody who grew up in New York City and went to Harvard, it's amazing how down-to-earth she is. Usually those people are so scholarly.

"When you're in a scene with Laura, there is so much concentration because she's so mysterious. She doesn't let a lot out, which I think is great attribute for actors. Don't give them everything--hold a lot in, keep the audience guessing."

FYI Born: November 14 in Minot, ND Just joshing? Nope! Fans catching Duhamel with co-stars at comedy club appearances should not expect the next Jerry Seinfeld. "I don't do stand-up like Walt Willey (Jackson). We go out, answer questions, have some drinks, and just be idiots, basically. I suppose I have a few knock-knock jokes I could tell." Fans, the fam and fun: Duhamel attended this past ABC Super Soap Weekend with his mother, Bonny; sisters Ashlee, McKenzee and Kassidy; and their grandmother. "They had the time of their lives. The littlest one, Kassidy [age 7], was pretty scared at the Tower of Terror. It just drops--she wasn't expecting that!" And the Emmy goes to...:"Why, is that a possibility?" a modest Duhamel wonders when asked if he'd like a Emmy nod. "I really think Rebecca Budig (Greenlee) should be considered. She hits every single beat she is suppose to."