Lisa Rinna Returns to Days of Our Lives: "She's That Underdog, She's That Fighter, She's That Survivor"

On March 1, 2012, NBC held a press call with Lisa Rinna ahead of her return to Days of Our Lives as Billie Reed — a character she first played in 1992 and stayed with for three years before brief guest appearances through 2003. Her first new episode was set to air March 8th. Rinna spoke about what it's like coming back to a role after nearly 17 years, why the show now operates more like live theater than traditional daytime television, and why she'd love nothing more than to see Billie relapse — because as an actress, that's just juicy to play. Premier Guide Miami was among the outlets on the call.

She's that underdog, she's that fighter, she's that survivor. She messes up and you want to root for her and you want to help her. It gets under your skin.

Like riding a bike — but faster

Rinna was quick to say that slipping back into Billie felt natural, but the show itself had changed dramatically: "Coming back, it's like riding a bike. Once you've played a character and done that, it is like getting back on a bike and riding." But the format she returned to was not the one she left: "The whole format's changed and it's very much like live theater now. It's very fast and you have to get out there and you have to know your lines and you have to really be prepared because it really goes quickly. There's no retakes — they move." She embraced it: "I really enjoy doing live television and I like live theater and I like live anything. Not only do I love being able to be back acting, I get to do it in a way that sort of combines everything I've done over the last six or seven years."

Billie's spunk — and a possible relapse

Rinna was clear that Billie's fire hadn't dimmed: "She will absolutely have her spunk and her fire. She definitely didn't lose that, nor did I. I still have mine." But she was equally enthusiastic about the possibility of darker territory: "Maybe she slips up. Maybe she goes back — if there's some serious pain and she slips and all of a sudden she's an addict again. Oh, I would love that. That would be fantastic to play." She recalled one of Billie's most memorable moments from the original run: "My father gave her acid. She definitely took a big old acid trip and oh my gosh, I'll never forget that. That was so much fun. As an actress, that's just juicy to play all of that."

Why Patrick Muldoon is to blame for all of this

Rinna was candid about how the return came together: "It all just kind of came together. We both sort of assessed each other out at the same time. I ended up at a lunch with the producers and the next thing I knew I was coming on the show." But she credited one person above all: "It really started with Muldoon. It's all because of Muldoon. Let's put all the blame on Muldoon." Patrick Muldoon — who plays Austin Reed — had told her he was going back, and the idea took hold: "I thought, 'Oh, that could be fun. That could be an interesting thing.'"

On the cop uniform — and Harry Hamlin's ultimatum

One of the more memorable details of the call involved wardrobe — specifically, the cop uniform Billie wore in a previous stint. Rinna revealed it was her husband, Harry Hamlin, who had the stronger feelings about it: "It was really more Harry. He just hated the fact that they put me in that cop uniform. I actually didn't mind it — you didn't have to do wardrobe, you just get in that cop uniform and you don't put much makeup on. He was just furious about it, which is so funny." When she told him she was considering going back, he had one condition: "He goes, 'Only if they don't put you in that cop uniform. You have to go tell them if you get in that cop uniform you can't go back.' He's so funny." This time, Billie returns to run Countess Wilhelmina Cosmetics — a role Rinna noted felt right: "I have been a business woman over the past nine years running my store Belle Gray, so I had some experience there too."

On the young talent — and the state of soaps

Rinna was effusive about the cast she returned to, particularly the younger actors: "The actors that I am working with right now on this show are so talented. The young, the 20-year-olds — which is what we were 20 years ago when I was doing the show. Now looking at these young kids, they are so talented it blows my mind. I come home and I tell Harry, probably nightly, 'You cannot believe — let me tell you about this scene today.' These kids are unreal." She was more measured about the state of the genre: "Thank God they're still here. The reality world has certainly taken up a big space. But the shows that are left are great, very strong soap operas. What's changed is the budgets and the way they're run — they're very efficient now so that they can stay on the air. And they have to be." Days of Our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. Lisa Rinna's first episode aired March 8, 2012.

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