Like Siobhan Ryan, Actress
Marg Helgenberger is...
Free-Spirited and Totally Relaxed
Soap Opera Stars, September 1985
by Jeffrey Pearlstein
Article Provided By Wanda and SabrinaWhen you imagine a television personality, you immediately picture fancy parties, glamorous clothing and luxurious limousine rides to the studio. But for Marg Helgenberger (Siobhan), the set of Ryan's Hope is "just a bus ride away. I ride the bus and subway to and from work just like everybody else, but I've worked out a system," she declares. "I try to ride the buses on the 'off hours' to avoid the school kids. It's hard for someone on television, especially a soap opera personality to retain their anonymity, and I wouldn't want to create a scene on a crowded bus or train," she laughs.
For the past two and a half years, Marg has portrayed the independent minded Siobhan Ryan Novak on Ryan's Hope. "It's a friendly atmosphere, the people have a good sense of humor, and we all get along very well," she says. Away from the set, Marg is as free spirited and just as "spunky" as the character she brings to life, and is a woman who is definitely headed in the right direction.
During a break from a hectic filming schedule, we gazed at the television in-between sentences, while Marg commented on her performance in the Ryan's Hope episode we were watching. She seemed pleased with her performance that day but noted, "I'm continually learning about my craft." Marg has been acting since her days in high school and college. When she graduated from Northwest University, she left Chicago and headed for the big city and her big break as Siobhan Ryan. "I like the excitement of living in New York City," she exclaims. "I like what it has to offer, the people, the fast paced atmosphere, but it can be expensive, noisy, and you can never get any privacy."
In her spare time, Marg "does the things that everyone else does. I like to spend time with my friends and go to various clubs. Sometimes I'll stay home and rent movies, or watch late night television like The David Letterman Show and Mary Tyler Moore, even though I've seen them all several times," she laughs.
While Marg is confident she'll remain with the show at least another year, she would one day like to expand her horizons in the entertainment industry. "In the future, I'd like to get away from television and go into feature films," she admits, "but if a well written sitcom comes my way, that's something I really want to do."
At this point in her life, Marg is feeling "free-spirited and totally relaxed" and the future that awaits her looks both bright and promising. Her secret formula to success: "To always be honest with yourself, to others and in your convictions."....Sound advice!
Siobhan is very close to her
two brothers, Frank (Geoffrey
Pierson and Pat (Malcolm
Groome). Pat has been trying
to help his sister analyze her
perplexing dreams about Max
Dubujak, whom Siobhan is
intent on bringing to justice.