Talking with Daytime Emmy nominee Thaao Penghlis

It's been a banner year for "Days of Our Lives" actor Thaao Penghlis.

This past spring, he earned his first Daytime Emmy nomination. For almost two decades, off and on, he's played Tony DiMera, a thorn in the side of many Salem residents.

And the Australian-born actor, who has Greek parents, became an American citizen.

"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, considering how this country has embraced me," he says.

Penghlis decided to become a citizen while out of the country.

"I thought, 'I hate going back (to the United States) as a foreigner,' " he says, and then deadpans, "It was that (thought) and (the fact) every time I pass through (airport security) they're wondering, 'Where's this terrorist passing through (from)?' "

Penghlis may play vile every day on the screen, but in real life he has a disarming and sometimes self-deprecating sense of humor.

"I go to countries where terrorists reside, like Jordan," he says, "and no one goes with me. When you travel alone, (security) thinks something is wrong.

"They always pull my bags. They always go through them. They always pull me out of line. Even when I was getting my immigration papers, there were foreigners all around.

"Who did they pull out of line? Me."

As Penghlis tells this story, he isn't bitter or angry. He laughs it off as a quirk of life.

He was "shocked" to learn he was vying in the Outstanding Lead Actor category this year. The "35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards" will air live at 8 p.m. EDT Friday on ABC.

Strangely, Penghlis submitted for consideration his work as Tony's evil twin brother, a monstrous clown.

"It was dark. It was something I hadn't done before," he says. "I enjoy upsetting happy people."

And he wonders why his bags are always checked at the airport? Well, no, he doesn't.

"I remember the woman at the airport said to me, 'What kind of part do you play (on TV)?' I said, 'A part that likes to upset happy people.'

"And she said, 'You like to upset happy people?' And I said, 'When I get paid for it, I do.' "

(E-mail Terry Morrow of The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee at morrow2(at)knews.com.)