Susan Flannery returns to TV; opens up about her B&B future

The Bold and the Beautiful's Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie Forrester) opens up about how she feels to be making a big return to television.

Heads up, The Bold and the Beautiful fans. Fan favorite actress Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie Forrester) is headed back to television.

The Emmy-winning actress retired from her long-held daytime gig back in 2012, but that doesn't mean she has washed her hands of the entertainment business altogether. In fact, she's the director of tonight's (February 21) episode of Freeform's hit series The Fosters (which stars One Life to Live alum Sherri Saum [ex-Keri Reynolds]). And believe it or not, she was extremely nervous to take the gig, even though the show's executive producer, Joanna Johnson (ex-Caroline Spencer, B&B), has been begging her to come on board for quite some time.

"I also directed Guiding Light and Crystal Chappell's internet show, Venice, [in addition to directing B&B]. I just didn't want to screw it up," she tells TV Insider of her hesitation. "I said to Joanna: I don't want to embarrass you and have them throw it in your face! I don't want to disappoint you."

As most of her fans would guess, Flannery did a spectacular job and may even return for more.

"I had a great time and would be happy to do more," she enthuses.

But what about B&B? Could the actress see herself returning to the show she called home for 25 years, perhaps as Ghost Stephanie, considering her character died when she decided to retire?

"No, and I told them that when I left," she declares. "I'm very happy with my decision. No regrets. You know, part of my choosing to leave had to do with the travel. I was coming down from L.A. from Santa Barbara and living in a hotel three nights a week. What made the final year workable was that sweet Rebecca Budig [Hayden Barnes, General Hospital; ex-Greenlee Smyth, All My Children], who is a really close friend, insisted that I stay at her house up in the Hollywood hills. Plus, everything changed in life. There comes a point where you just know it's time to get off the stage."

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For more from Flannery on how she's been spending her retirement, whether or not she cares enough to tune in to B&B, and if fans will ever see act again, check out TV Insider's full interview here.

What do you think about Flannery's decision to firmly stand behind her retirement from B&B? How much does it kill you to know that you'll likely never see Stephanie Forrester in action again? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.

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