Appearing in Noel Coward's "Hay Fever" is a sentimental journey for Barbara Babcock, in more ways than one.

The Emmy-winning actress has been fond of the play since college, when as a freshman she was cast in it.

"I was too young for it, but I loved the role," she said.

Fast-forward to the 21st century. When she suggested the play as a possibility to Pacific Repertory Theatre last year, artistic director Stephen Moorer agreed to look into it, and voila, it's opening this weekend at the Golden Bough Theatre.

Babcock portrays Judith Bliss, a flamboyant retired actress who is perpetually "on," and who is faced with a houseful of guests and few places to put them in this perenially popular comedy.

"It's a wonderfully theatrical role and it runs the gamut of emotions," said Babcock. "I'd been doing dramas in L.A. and it's nice to do something light."

"Hay Fever" also features Pacific Rep resident actor Michael Jacobs and guest artists Summer Serafin and Rowan Brooks, as members of the Bliss family; others in the cast are Travis Brazil, Katie O'Bryon, Steven Slack, Julie Hughett and Cindy Womack.

Babcock and the Golden Bough go way back as well -- to the 1920s, when her actress mother starred in plays there, including its debut, "Nurserymaid of Heaven."

And it was a production of "Romeo and Juliet" there that brought her father and mother together.

Her father spied the pretty ingenue on stage, and declared to his friend, "That's the woman I'm going to marry."

Many years later, and after a long and illustrious career, Babcock has returned to the place where you might say it all began for her.

She now lives on the Monterey Peninsula, a refreshing change from smoggy Los Angeles. She still travels down south when an intriguing film or stage role presents itself.

But as far as being down there on a full-time basis --as she would have to for a television series -- it seems unlikely.

"It would have to be an awfully good series to get me down there, unless it were a wonderfully challenging role," said Babcock. "I'd much rather do theater."

Babcock is best remembered for the role that won her the Emmy, that of Grace Gardner on "Hill Street Blues," the 1980s series that broke the mold as far as TV cop shows are concerned, weaving together long-running story lines and complex ensemble acting.

The character of Gardner also was a first -- a smart, sexy, independent female cop --who also happened to be middle-aged.

"Actors long for that kind of series," Babcock said of her time on "Hill Street," which went on to win multiple awards and a huge following during its seven years on the air. "I'm very grateful for the experience."

But Babcock's been involved with plenty of other iconic series as well. She had memorable supporting roles on "L.A. Law," "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," and "Dallas," and is also remembered fondly for her guest stints on the original "Star Trek," "Taxi," "Mannix," "Chicago Hope," "Cheers" and "The Golden Girls," among others.

She also was part of the cast for the critically acclaimed "Pasadena," a twisted nighttime soap opera that debuted on Fox in 2001 but never quite found an audience.

Her movie roles have also been numerous and diverse, with most fans recalling her as the baseball team owner in "Bang The Drum Slowly." More recently, she played the wife of Clint Eastwood's character in 2000's "Space Cowboys."

The reason for her longevity in the business, Babcock said, is that she insisted on being a character actress from the get-go -- a strategy that paid off for her.

"They wanted to groom me as the next Grace Kelly, and I really got up in arms about it," Babcock recalls of her early career. "I wanted to be a character actor. Leading lady roles tend to end at around age 40."

She continues to have plenty of work, even at age 65, and far off from the Hollywood scene.

One role that she didn't get -- one she would have dearly loved -- was on the television series "Living Free," a spinoff from the film "Born Free," about reintroducing lions to the wild.

Babcock has long had a deep and abiding interest in wildlife, and saw the series as a way to marry her two loves.

But it never came to be. Producers felt she looked too fragile for the role, something Babcock said was frustrating because she had already worked with animals during scientific research expeditions in the wild.

Despite that disappointment, she has continued her involvement in research projects whenever she has time, and has worked with scientists studying elephants, gorillas and other creatures.

"It's been an avocation for 30 years, and has been an extraordinary outlet for me," said Babcock.GO!