Susan Lucci Gives Thanks for Erica Kane

Susan Lucci loves her co-stars on All My Children.

But, as the actress admits to The New York Daily News, there's one person she loves on the show most of all.

"I love the part of Erica Kane," Lucci said. "I walk into the studio in the morning and I'm smiling, I'm happy. I work with great actors and I've got one of the best parts ever written for a woman, as far as I'm concerned."

The actress, 61, has managed to juggle her role as the larger-than-life Erica with many other ventures, including a series of well-received television movies. And she owes it all to her role on the long-running daytime drama.

"I love that the fans and the public have really responded to (Erica) so much that I also have had the chance to go on Broadway in Annie Get Your Gun and have a line of jewelry and lingerie and all of that on HSN," she said. "I enjoy it all. But it's all because of Erica Kane."

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.