Following is the complete text of McClain's letter.

Dear Wonderful and Supportive fans of All My Children,

Thank you so much for all of your care and interest in AMC and my character of Dixie over the years. I cannot tell you how much it has meant to me. I have always felt the AMC audience was filled with intelligent, deep feeling people who deserved to be given the very best I had to offer, and I tried every day to never give less than 100%. I have worked hard to be a team player. I have felt that my employers showed wonderful confidence in me by giving me great storylines, both humorous and dramatic, and I have worked hard to earn their trust and deliver for them. I have been proud to work on AMC for as long as I have, and to have had your attention and support. Which is why I am writing this letter, so you can know from the horse's mouth why am going to be on ATWT for a while.

I have nothing bad to say about AMC, or any one I have worked for or with there. It has never been anything but good feelings all around. I believe in the show as much as I ever have.

Personally, after Sept 11th, I started to reevaluate my life, as many of us have. I realized I was tired, creatively and physically, and I needed...something. A break, a change, something different to wake up my insides. It is hard work being an actor; it takes a lot of constant revitalization to give as much energy as we do. Originally, I had no real "plan." I just wanted to leave contract status and "keep the door open," as we say, so that Dixie could come back here and there. I still feel that way. She is pregnant, in Europe, and with a delicate physical condition, so...anything could happen in any amount of time. The powers that be were kind enough to leave me with this exit, and I am so very grateful to them. I never have taken their kindnesses for granted, nor do I intend to. It is just too important to me for that.

When I was approached a few weeks after I shot my last day at AMC with the idea of coming to ATWT for a little stint to try out an old character that they were working on, I felt very flattered and interested to join the cast and try something new. I don't think you know this, but I have been a huge fan of ATWT. I know almost the characters, and who they've been involved with. I even feel a little star struck around certain actors who shall remain nameless!

I had no intention of hurting anyone's feelings, or giving anyone the idea I wasn't perfectly happy or satisfied with the AMC world. I just needed a change, something to shake up my creative insides, and it was a long standing dream of mine as a fan, what can I say, I hope you all can understand that.

I hope you all keep watching AMC. It's a great show, with lots of wonderful actors. Mickey Knight has been brilliantly supportive about my trying new things, as have they all. He and I did a movie together in December, and hopefully it will be out soon. It's called "The Retreat," and is a rather poignant little film, I think. I will make sure to let you all know when it comes out.

After AMC is over, try switching to ATWT. You can always catch One Life to Live and General Hospital at night on Soap Net! You may find you like ATWT as much as I do. The new character that I am playing is a lot different from Dixie, and might take a little getting used to, but soon I hope you'll see just how much fun and interesting she is. I am doing everything I can think of to make it the best work I can do, and it is a very talented group over there as well. I am thrilled and grateful to have the support of you in the daytime world, and very happy to work in this medium.

Thank you for your caring, and I hope this letter will clear up any misunderstandings that might be out there. I have not spoken to anyone during my negotiations, nor would I ever consider manipulating situations to my "advantage," so all that stuff in the press has been just gossip. I don't know who those "sources" were, but trust me, they really jumped the gun. Please believe me, I have nothing but good feelings for AMC, and excitement for this new role at ATWT.

All my best to each and every one of you,
Love,
Cady McClain