CBS.com: How does it feel to be back in daytime?
PAUL ANTHONY STEWART: I'm really thrilled and excited to be part of this group and I'm having a great time. Everybody gets along, which is nice. It's a very comfortable place to work.

CBS.com: What was it like to play the transition from this dysfunctional relationship to love?
PAS: I think it sort of snuck up on us and maybe that's what the viewers are responding to as well. But Joie [Lenz, Michelle] and I enjoy working with each other, and I guess something clicked. Something about the stars being in the right alignment and the two characters coming together at the right time - or the wrong time? [Laughs] Who knows what the configuration really was? I don't really think about the big picture - I just go in every day and see what's on my plate for that day and give it my all. And lo and behold, here we are, eight months later. It's sort of, I guess, how I live my life. I just try to live it day by day and wherever I am is where I am. I wasn't so much conscious of the unfolding of the relationship as much as I was trying to be as present in the daily screen relationship every day I was at work.

CBS.com: Were you surprised how well the romance of Michelle and Danny was received?
PAS: Well, yeah, I'm always surprised because we work in a bubble really. I go to work in the morning, and stand in front of the cameras, and do my thing and go home, and don't really have any idea of how what I'm doing affects the viewers. So, I'm always surprised by what I hear. Pleasantly surprised. I'm really glad to hear that people are enjoying it.

CBS.com: Are you online?
PAS: I bit the bullet and I got a computer, so I'm starting to surf around. I don't like to do it a lot because I just don't have time. Suddenly I'll find three hours has gone by and I'm staring at the computer. I'm just starting to check in and see. I saw all these sites for Mannyacs [fans of Danny and Michelle... Manny] - it's very flattering and really impressive. But at the same time it's [weird] to see all these pictures of me everywhere that are so easily accessible. So, I'm sort of taking it slowly.

CBS.com: Do you think Michelle and Danny can have a future together?
PAS: It's so hard for me to say; that's really up to the writers. I know that Danny loves Michelle with all of his heart and maybe that's what makes the pairing so appealing - that despite everything working against the two of them being together, their love for each other prevails and keeps them together. So, I guess as long as that love remains strong, I would hope that they are able to stay together, no matter what is thrown their way.

CBS.com: Do you think Danny could ever break free of his family?
PAS: [Sighs] That's a tough one. As an actor, I enjoy playing the conflict inherent in that storyline, the fact that Danny feels bound by loyalty and a sense of family, even though his family leaves a lot to be desired. I really enjoy that struggle while I'm at work. And I think it makes for interesting storyline. So, as an actor, I guess I would prefer that Danny remain involved with his family because I think it makes for more interesting story than if he were just able to walk away.

CBS.com: Are you a fan of The Sopranos or The Godfather movies?
PAS: I love The Godfather movies! I've never seen The Sopranos; I hear it's terrific. I don't have HBO.

CBS.com: Did you ever watch The Godfather films and wish you had the opportunity to play a character like Michael Corleone?
PAS: Well, I think because I'm an actor, I see great stories and great parts and I'll always itch to play them. And that's what really attracts me in my work - great storyline and interesting characters. And as long as those two factors are there, I'll be there, doing it with the best that I can give.

CBS.com: There is such a dichotomy inherent in Danny: he's a nice guy who also happens to be a mobster who can order a hit in a split second.
PAS: Yeah, one of the things I love about the character is that he's so full of passion. Whatever he believes in, he believes very strongly. He has a great capacity for emotion, he has as much capacity for great love as he does for revenge, and hate, and anger. I think he just feels everything on a very large scale. Again, that's something I just love to play around with.

CBS.com: The same could be said about his mother.
PAS: Yes. It's a very emotional family. [Laughs]

CBS.com: Danny could write his own Mommie Dearest book about Carmen! Do you think this relationship can be salvaged?
PAS: Well, as long as Carmen wants Michelle out of Danny's life, there's going to be conflict and trouble. And as long as Danny tries to remain honorable, and his mother does not, there'll be conflict. So, it really just depends on how the writers decide to take the storyline. I'd love to see Danny's father actually come back from the dead. [Laughs] Maybe we'll find out that he actually was in a witness protection program. That would add a lot of madness to the Santos household! [Laughs] As long as they're all living together under one roof, it's guaranteed fireworks.

CBS.com: You and Saundra Santiago [Carmen] always have such intense scenes. What is it like working with her?
PAS: Exhausting! [Laughs] I love working with Saundra; she's the complete opposite of Carmen and we really enjoy working with each other. But the demands of the scenes I'd say definitely can take their toll on us emotionally. I've walked home from work pretty drained on occasion. But that's why I love what I do.

CBS.com: Fans like Danny's relationship with Ray. Would you like to see that explored further?
PAS: Oh, yeah. Great idea! On the occasions I've worked with Jamie [Passer, Ray] we really get along, and it seems like we were able to forge a pretty instant relationship on camera and that's really what it's about.

CBS.com: I recall a scene you guys had together where it was hinted that Ray became a priest to escape the Santos family.
PAS: Right. Exactly. It's all about relationships and the choices that people make, and I think that's what keeps viewers interested in looking at characters and the different choices they've made and therefore how they relate with one another makes for good drama.

CBS.com: Danny also has an intense relationship with his sister.
PAS: Danny has an intense relationship with everyone! [Laughs] Nothing's easy! Danny needs to go to some like mountain therapy and go howl at the moon and romp around with the coyotes. It might release some of that anger. But, yeah, especially in a Catholic Spanish family, the relationship of an older brother to a younger sister - from what I understand - is very strong. It's very protective, and Pilar is a young woman wanting to spread her wings. Anyone who has siblings can relate on some level to that relationship, of an older sibling wanting the respect of the younger sibling yet each one of them is sort of struggling for their own identity under Carmen's strong hand.

CBS.com: Do you think Danny will ever lighten up?
PAS: I think so. I think actually you'll see Danny having a little fun in San Cristobel, until he's roped into someone else's drama. [Laughs] But, yeah, I think Danny has the capacity for happiness. He's just had a lot of unfortunate circumstances that have been set upon him in the past eight months. But there's been talk about what a sort of wild Romeo Danny was in his earlier days, and I think Danny's definitely performed some pranks and toilet papered some houses in his youth, and has the capacity for mischievousness. I like when my characters are well-rounded, and I think everybody has the capacity for everything if they open themselves up to it. I think you'll see Danny and Michelle have a little fun before the next crisis occurs.

CBS.com: Danny always tends to wear dark colors - lots of grays and blacks.
PAS: [Laughs] Not anymore! I think people are getting sick of it, so I hear that our new costume designer has received letters requesting that I wear something other than black for a change. So, for all of those viewers out there who have been waiting for blue or green, it's on the way, any day now!

CBS.com: I should hope in San Cristobel Danny isn't wearing such dark colors.
PAS: Yeah, his color palette lightens up a little bit in the islands.

CBS.com: Are you off to the Puerto Rico remote?
PAS: I am. I'm leaving on Sunday.

CBS.com: You must be excited.
PAS: Sure! Who wouldn't be excited to go do some work on a beach?

CBS.com: Have you ever been to Puerto Rico before?
PAS: I've only been to Puerto Rico as a way station to the Caribbean. I've never actually spent time in Puerto Rico.

CBS.com: How long will you be there?
PAS: I'll be there for six days.

CBS.com: Will that be all work, or will you have some leisure time?
PAS: If I'm lucky - assuming we aren't rained out and need to juggle the schedule - it looks like I might have a day or two for myself, which would be fantastic! You'll be able to find me sipping margaritas by the pool most likely. Either that, or getting my scuba diving license. I can't decide. See, I'm like Danny in that respect. I can't decide between two extremes: do nothing or try to do everything! [Laughs]

CBS.com: What do you do when you have free time?
PAS: Well, since it hasn't been that much lately, simply catch up! I go through my mail and just try to catch up on sleep and do a lot of nothing, because that provides the balance I need to go to work and be fully present and give it my all. So, I do a lot of nothing when I'm off at this point. A lot of lounging, R&R, go to the movies, read.

CBS.com: What was the last movie that you saw?
PAS: The last movie I saw was Austin Powers.

CBS.com: Did you like it?
PAS: I did. I guess a lot of people out there liked the first one better than the second, but I found the second one pretty entertaining, and I enjoyed it. There's so many [movies] that I haven't got around to that I really want to see.

CBS.com: I know that you sing. Is it for fun or have you performed?
PAS: Well, I've done a lot of musicals and I would like to again sometime when I have some downtime. I do it professionally, and I do it for myself as well, sort of in the privacy of my apartment just to stay in form.

CBS.com: I know that Saundra Santiago sings also. It would be great to see Danny and Carmen break out in song one day.
PAS: I know! It's not a bad idea. It might be kind of fun. I know that Saundra's doing an act in a month or two, so maybe I'll try to convince her to let me get up there and join her for a duet on one number. Some sort of mother/son wacky number! [Laughs]

CBS.com: Your theater background is extensive. Are you looking to perform on stage anytime soon?
PAS: Not in the immediate future. I think what I've got on my plate right now is enough. But I'll always love the theater, and at the right time in my life and the right opportunity, I would jump for it in a second. Absolutely. But at the moment, it looks like Danny Santos is filling my dance card.

CBS.com: You're originally from Pennsylvania - does your family still live there?
PAS: Some of my family does. My family's sort of all over the place now, but I've got some family in Philly. And I get there periodically.

CBS.com: If you could live anywhere, where would you like to live?
PAS: Let's see...I think I would live somewhere on the beach. I'm not sure which beach, which country, which island, but I love the water, I'm definitely a water person and I would definitely live on the water. I've always been very fond of the Northern California coastline, so that would be probably be top of my list. Definitely. If not my own private island somewhere. One can always dream!

CBS.com: Do you have a large family?
PAS: I have a small immediate family, but I have a large extended family. One side of my family is a large Italian family and the other side is much smaller. So, I have dual personalities! [Laughs]

CBS.com: Are you dating anyone?
PAS: Well, I'm currently seeing someone, but I don't discuss anything more than that to protect the innocent.