Robert Newman

His wife is battling breast cancer, but he doesn't know it. He is falling in love with his wife's half sister, and they both have been trying to fight it. His brother has chosen to keep a huge secret from him. Sooner or later, it all has to come out.

And my, oh, my - is this ever gonna be a doozy!

Longtime viewers of Guiding Light know that strife is par for the course for their beloved supercouple Josh Lewis (Robert Newman) and Reva Shayne Lewis (Kim Zimmer). With Reva out of town, secretly fighting her breast cancer, and Josh at home feeling betrayed and rejected, things were bound to get out of hand.

"Right now Josh is feeling really betrayed," Robert Newman explains. "It is ironic, since he's betraying Reva by having feelings for her sister, Cassie (Nicole Forester). In his defense, he has no idea about her cancer - he thinks Reva's having an affair with Billy (Josh's brother, played by Jordan Clarke). She left him in the middle of the biggest thing he's done (fulfilling his late father's dream of building a veteran's hospital in Tulsa). For once, Josh has made the choice not to pursue her - he's done it a thousand times. He's thinking: 'She knows my phone number. I haven't changed it every other day like she has. If she wants to tell me what's going on, she knows where I am.'"

Incredibly complicated

In the meantime, "Josh has turned to someone for comfort. His friendship with Cassie has turned to something different."

Fighting and bickering might be a familiar scene for Josh and Reva, and that's just how Robert likes it. "Fighting is what I love about relationships. Josh and Reva are so incredibly complicated. When they are really fighting for or against each other, that is when they really thrive. I also enjoy the family dynamic and the choices they make and their ripple effect."

But for now, Josh is feeling abandoned and betrayed. "He's been abandoned by the two people he's closest to (his wife and his brother). All of this could end with one phone call by either of them, but neither wants to make it."

So now, Josh is seeking comfort in the arms of Cassie. And Robert couldn't be more excited. "Nicole (Cassie) is absolutely wonderful - I am thrilled to pieces with her. Laura Wright (ex-Cassie) left, and the next day we had a new Cassie. We got really lucky with Nicole. She is just the nicest person in the world. Plus she puts up with me and my ad-libbing."

Favourite moment

After 25 years on GL, Robert has a lot of fond memories of life in Springfield. Robert's favourite moment is H.B.'s (played by the late Larry Gates) funeral. "Larry had died a few months earlier, and Jordan and I hadn't had the opportunity to mourn his death together. I miss him terribly. I miss and fondly remember a lot of moments with Larry Gates."

Robert's real life isn't nearly as tumultuous and angst-ridden, and that's how he likes to keep it. "Golf is my escape. It's four hours where I turn off my cellphone and focus on something I am pretty darn good at. But most important is my time with my family, with my wife and children - just hanging out or having a cookout. Last night we went to a movie."

And what movie did Robert and his family see? "Talladega Nights. I love Will Farrell. I love that he is willing to look like an ass. Larry Gates taught me that too." And with a smile in his voice, Robert says, "So now, I try not to be afraid to look like an ass."