Melinda Sward (Pretty Crane, 'Passions').

Viewers of Passions had been teased about the coming of Pretty Crane for months. When she finally showed her scarred face in Harmony, she was ready for revenge. And her sister Fancy was in the crosshairs from the get-go. Now, Pretty is in an alliance with her grandfather, the evil Alistair, to bring Fancy down once and for all. And what better way than by implanting a chip in Fancy's brain so Alistair can control her behaviour?

Melinda Sward came to Harmony full steam ahead and hasn't looked back since. "Pretty is so much fun to play," Melinda says. "Playing her comes pretty easily to me - not that I am anything like her at all. But everyone on the show is so easy to work off of, and everyone gives me such good advice that being on the show has been such a great experience."

Exact revenge

For those who might not know, Pretty returned to Harmony to exact revenge on her sister, Fancy. Pretty blames Fancy for scarring her many years ago - Fancy claims it was an accident; Pretty says it was on purpose. Who better to help Pretty get her revenge than Grandpa Alistair? Pretty will do almost anything to get into her grandfather's good graces; for years she felt like the ugly duckling, and now that Alistair has a use for her, she feels needed and wanted.

But don't think that Pretty is being duped by Alistair. "Pretty has a bruised ego, that's for sure," Melinda explains. "But she's smart. She knows what she's doing. She's like: 'I can use you (Alistair) as much as you use me. If I can't get your approval, I'll figure out a way to get back at you.'"

Lust for revenge

A few months ago, Father Lonigan was able to convince Pretty, even if it was only momentarily, to go easy on her sister. Now that Pretty's rage against Fancy is even greater, will her lust for revenge ever be satiated? "I think that deep down, she'd love to have Fancy be her sister again and have the relationship they used to have."

Like most soaps, it's doubtful that we'll see such a turnaround anytime soon, and that is OK by Melinda, as she tells me: "I love the direction we are going in now with the character. It is so much fun to play. It's fun to be bad. I mean, Pretty is capable of anything at this point. Her scarring goes much deeper than just her face."

But Melinda doesn't want Pretty to be in constant torment. "I would like to see her softer side. Maybe she'll get some incredible surgery on her face to fix her scar. Then she can have a happier life, get involved in a relationship - have all her doubts about herself erased away. But then you know something would have to come along to wreck all that. She can't be too happy for too long!"

Of course not. This is, after all, a soap!

- Cindy Elavsky