LIZA LEAVES PASSIONS
Liza Huber is making a career change. Huber, who originated the role of Gwen Hotchkiss on Passions in July '99, has left the show to pursue other interests. Her last tape date was Sept. 28. While reports have stated that Huber left show business to pursue a career in fashion, Huber clarifies that's not 100% true. "People ask you what you're interested in: [and you say] clothes, pets, horses and kittens. I have no idea what I'm going to do," she explains.
Making the decision to leave was not an easy one. "I had worked for this for years and years, and then I got [to Passions], and I wasn't as satisfied with having an acting career as I thought I would. When you work you should be happy." The consummate professional, Huber notified Passions's executives of her plans to exit early on. "I didn't just up and leave, I let them know quite sometime ago. I told them that I would ride out the storyline." But her final taping was unknown to many on the set up until her last day. "A lot people didn't know I was leaving. It was one of the days the entire cast was at work. Then all of a sudden, over the loudspeaker… And there was a cake, and a lot of people gave me gifts, it was just so nice. A lot of us exchanged phone numbers. Everyone understood my decision and was incredibly supportive."
Huber, the daughter of veteran soap actress Susan Lucci (Erica, AMC), has relocated back to her native New York. "All my furniture should be arriving any day, and I have to do all the unpacking. I'm thrilled." Huber credits her parents to helping her make the smooth transition. "I feel truly fortunate to move back in here with my parents," she says with a chuckle. "Being close to them, my parents could see I wasn't really happy being an actress. When I decided to leave quite a few months ago, I immediately sank back into my feet again and felt like myself again. And once I made the decision I didn't regret it at all, and my parents agreed with me." So what will Huber do with her new found freedom? She has decided to take it easy for a little while. "I've focused on acting for such a long time, I don't want jump into something for the sake of 'having a job,'" she explains. "I want to make sure it's the correct career choice this time. So I'm going to take some time off and let it come to me. It's already October. I'm just going to enjoy the holiday season with my family and think about it in January."