Daily News from New York, New York • 274

fitminiiiiiiw i I he star-crossed Lily and Holden have faced myriad obstacles on "As the World Martha Byrne -St 1 Turns," from his amnesia to her husband's return from the dead. So you don't think a little thing like Holden's supposedly impregnating another woman is going to come between them, do you? "Molly isn't even pregnant," snaps Martha Byrne, who has played Lily on and off since 1985. "The audience knows she's faking it, and Lily and Holden have suspicions. They are getting closer to finding out the truth." As far as Byrne is concerned, even if Molly was pregnant she wouldn't be a threat to Lily and Holden's hard-won happiness. "Their relationship is intact," she says, adding that co-star Jon Hensley (Holden) agrees with her.

"Jon and I hope they'll deal with each other as adults now. Obstacles that come into their path should be things that married couples deal with. I don't think another man or woman is an issue for them at this point. The two of them have done that." Of course there's the little problem of Lily's needing to divorce the aforementioned husband, Damian, before she and Holden can officially wed again. "Damian was going to grant her a divorce," Byrne explains, "so I think that will be solved in one quick sentence.

I don't think HoldenLily fans want a big drawn-out thing." After she's officially wed, Byrne has another idea for her character: "a baby. That would be a really wonderful thing for them to go through together. I think the audience would like to see that" Byrne would like to see it, too, because she's happy to share the news that she and real-life husband Michael McMahon are expecting their first child in May. "I'm thrilled," she says. "We are overwhelmed with joy.

I had a trainer before I got pregnant, and I'm a health freak anyway, so I'm in the best shape I've ever been in. I don't desire even a sip of tea." Because art tends to imitate life on soaps especially when actresses get pregnant Byrne will probably get her wish for Lily. "I want to be pregnant as soon as possible on the show because I'm milliBhiomi (3323X30 CffiSJB already showing a little bit," she says, smiling. "I think I'm going to be pretty big, and that would just make life a lot easier." Not for Molly, though. WRITE ON Aaron Spelling's "Sunset Beach" isn't doing so hot in the ratings it's the lowest ranked of the 11 daytime soaps but veteran actor Sam Behrens (formerly of "General Hospital" and "Knots Land rens means making the story lines work from an acting standpoint.

His character, Gregory Richards, is a clever, rich tycoon being duped by his own wife in a very convoluted pregnancy story. Is he ever tempted to stick in his two cents about the writing? "Actors are not writers," Behrens argues. "Ninety percent of actors come up with stories because they think they'll look good in them not because they are good for the show." Many actors do it anyway. "Writers," Behrens continues, "have a certain reluctance about listening to actors, but producers will listen. They'll be polite at least.

They'll listen with one ear." Hinsey is executive editor of Soap Opera Digest. says that's to be expected. "Everything is new," he explains. "It's really a matter of doing things within the bounds of the story as we know it." Sam Behrens By that, Beh 14- NEW YORK VUE DAILY NEWS.