“It was devastating for all of us,” admits the actress — who spent the better part of four years in Utah while shooting the family-friendly saga, but has now returned to Los Angeles to join the ranks of the dysfunctional Walker clan on ABC’s BROTHERS & SISTERS— of EVERWOOD’s cancellation. “Right up until the 7th HEAVEN series finale, we all really believed we were coming back.”

Perhaps VanCamp took a bit of comfort upon hearing the collective groan issued by millions of fans when Dawn Ostroff, president of the fledgling CW network, announced that 7th HEAVEN would be moving to the new network, but EVERWOOD’s four-year run would perish along with the WB network.

Ironically, VanCamp very nearly passed on EVERWOOD when first it was offered. “I was in Vancouver shooting GLORY DAYS [a short-lived WB series] and was really homesick,” she shares. “A part of me wanted to go back to Montreal to be with my friends.” Thankfully, EVERWOOD creator Greg Berlanti — having seen the pilot episode of GLORY DAYS — knew that VanCamp was the only girl he wanted for the role of Amy Abbott. When DAYS came to a most unglorious end (”It was not good,” admits VanCamp), the actress promptly took a life-changing plane ride to Park City, Utah in order to breath life into EVERWOOD’s young heroine.

Over the next four years, the writers — never ones to shy from controversial topics — threw one hot story after another VanCamp’s way. “The writer’s delivered such wonderful stories, tackling issues that shows on the WB rarely touched upon,” she reflects. And which twist of Amy‘s fate was her alter ego’s favorite? “I know it upset a lot of our audience, but my favourite storyline was when Amy was dealing with depression [following Colin's death]. I pushed myself so much, and I really grew as an actress.”

If critical favorite EVERWOOD (which was never a true ratings hit) provided VanCamp with an education, it is one she now puts to great use as part of the all-star BROTHERS & SISTERS ensemble, where her role as love child Rebecca has her regularly sharing scenes with some of her professions heaviest hitters. “I really wasn’t looking to do television,” VanCamp confesses. “I assumed I’d never find anything as good as EVERWOOD. But Greg approached me with this, and I’d have been pretty dumb to pass up an opportunity to work with the likes of Calista Fliockhart and Sally Field!”

Although the two characters share a face, VanCamp insists that, “Rebecca is so different from Amy. She’s got an edge, a chip on her solider, she’s one tough chick. Rebecca is a lot more confident and sexual, but underneath it all, she’s just a sad little girl who feels cheated out of a childhood.”

Recent episodes have seen Rebecca forging a tenuous-at-best relationship with her late father’s family, but VanCamp coyly warns that fans shouldn’t expect the character to be neatly or easily folded into the clan. “Rebecca’s just begun to stir up trouble, and something happens that will further jeopardize her relationship with the family.”

So while VanCamp will never look back upon her first major roll with regret, she’s perfectly happy to have moved on. “Ultimately, EVERWOOD ended at the right time. It was definitely tragic, but we wrapped up everything so nicely and gave the audience the ending they wanted.” And in the end, that’s really all we really ask of our favorite shows.

Last night’s episode of BROTHERS & SISTERS was the reality check this TV Addict needed. Cleary we’re no longer in EVERWOOD. Could Rebecca (brilliantly portrayed by EVERWOOD’s Emily VanCamp) be more different from our beloved Amy Abbott? Is anyone else a little curious as to what really went down between Joe and Rebecca?

At the risk of being attacked by woman’s rights activists everywhere, I’m just going to come out and say it. I think Rebecca is lying about Joe kissing her. While I don’t deny the kiss happened, I believe Rebecca initiated the kiss and has concocted this entire story to create a family crisis (did she not learn anything from the recent Duke Lacrosse scandal?). After-all, Joe himself said it best when he told Rebecca that the Walker family really comes together in a crisis (see: Paige’s diabetes). Rebecca sees the ‘Joe’ situation as an easy way into the hearts of her fellow brothers and sisters.

[Naturally, if my theory is wrong, I was on 'Team Rebecca' the entire time]

On a lighter note, how much did you love Walker Family Game Night. Was it not great to spend an evening away from an alcohol fueled dinner table? That said there definitely were enough drinks to go around and Rebecca losing the game for ‘Team Walker’ ensured the night, like most evenings on the show, ended badly. Again, I’m going to have to question Rebecca’s motives with this as well. Did anyone else notice her smirk after losing the game? I’m pretty sure that was payback for Kitty’s rudeness earlier in the episode.

Frankly, it’s a wonder Rebecca still shows up at the Walker house. Has an episode gone by when she hasn’t walked into the room unexpectedly to hear one of her new brothers and/or sisters talking poorly about her? Like it’s her fault she is William’s secret love child.

Finally, since you know you want to be on ‘Team Walker’, I took the liberty of designing a new t-shirt. Now you too can be part of television’s most dysfunctional family (family issues and alcohol dependancy not included!). You can check out the latest addition to theTVaddict Swag Shop by clicking here (or click the tshirt above).

BROTHERS & SISTERS returns to ABC tonight with an all new episode at 10PM (est). Tonight Nora finally decides it’s time to meet ‘the other Walker’ for herself, inviting her late husband’s illegitimate daughter Rebecca (Emily VanCamp) to a classic Walker dinner. And by ‘classic’ we of course are referring to the fact that almost every Walker family dinner ends in either tears or family members storming off from the table in anger. Here’s hoping someone warns Rebecca before it’s too late!

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Emily VanCamp about her newest role and while the article isn’t completely ready, I thought I’d offer up a preview of what Emily had to say with regards to joining one of the most talented ensemble casts on television.

On her character Rebecca:
Emily VanCamp: Rebecca’s got an edge, a chip on her shoulder, having been brought up by a tough, independent single mom. But underneath her façade she’s just a sad little girl. Rebecca’s just discovered that she is apart of this big new family, but on the inside she feels cheated. She never got to grow up with all these people, and isn’t sure how to react to her new situation.

On Rebecca’s relationship with her new family:
It’s interesting, as the story starts to unfold, Rebecca begins to form a different relationship with each brother and sister. She becomes really tight with Justin, Kitty won’t open up and Sarah acts weird and standoffish. As we move along, Rebecca starts to stir up trouble and something comes up that will jeopardize her relationship with the family. From her perspective, she’s trying to get to know this new family, but really doesn’t know them. In reality, I have no idea how I’d approach a situation like that.

On her first day on the set:
When I first meet people, I’m kind of shy to begin with so I was absolutely terrified to go to work. That and the character I’m playing [Rebecca] is a lot more sexual and confident than both myself and the characters I’ve been used to playing. I was really scared and nervous. But that’s where the whole ‘acting thing’ comes in to play.

On working with the legendary Sally Field:
I had my first scene with Sally last week and I didn’t say two words. But it went great and Sally was so kind.

BROTHERS & SISTERS airs on ABC tonight at 10PM. Be sure to check back soon for the entire interview.