About
"It's fun to do a soap because there's always a tomorrow, and because you get to grow with a character over the years."
In the one-and-a-half-hour solo portion of her interview, Genie Francis talks about her father, actor Ivor Francis, and how he taught her respect for the craft of acting. She talks about her first role on television, as a guest actor on Family. She describes the role for which she is most known, "Laura Vining Spencer" on General Hospital. She speaks frankly about the circumstances of her leaving and returning to play "Laura" several times over the years, including her month-long 2006 appearance that led her to a Daytime Emmy nomination (and eventual win) for Best Supporting Actress. She describes "Laura" and relates a number of the storylines she was featured in over the span of three decades playing the role. She talks about her first on-screen and real-life kiss with Kin Shriner's "Scotty," her work with Anthony Geary who played "Luke," and her impressions of Jonathan Jackson who played her son "Lucky" in the 1990s. She talks about her work as an actress outside of General Hospital in the theater and on television in such projects as the television movie (and later series) Bare Essence and the miniseries North and South. She also speaks about her late 1980s work on Days of Our Lives as "Diana Colville," a character that she felt was ill-defined, and her early 1990s work on All My Children as "Ceara Connor,” which she found to be a much more well-defined part. Beth Cochran conducted the interview on June 14, 2007 in Beverly Hills, CA.
In the half-hour joint portion of their interview, Anthony Geary and Genie Francis discuss acting together as "Luke" and "Laura" on General Hospital. They also talk about the fan reaction to their appearance at ABC's Super Soap Weekend in 2006. Barrie Nedler conducted the interview on June 14, 2007 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Genie Francis on joining the cast General Hospital; on her character Laura; on some of the storylines
Genie Francis on taping her first on-screen kiss (with Kin Shriner) on General Hospital
Genie Francis on the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital
Genie Francis on joining the cast of All My Children in 1990
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the fan reactions to their General Hospital characters
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early years and desire to become an actress
On joining the cast of General Hospital; on her character Laura; on some of the key storylines
On the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital
Chapter 2
On leaving General Hospital
On her acting process
On starring in the TV movie and then short-lived series Bare Essence (where she met future-husband Jonathan Frakes)
On returning to General Hospital in 1993 and the storylines Laura was in
On her theater work; on the miniseries North and South
On joining the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1987
On joining the cast of All My Children in 1990
Chapter 3
On being forced to leave All My Children to make way for her return to General Hospital
On returning to General Hospital and some of the new storylines she had; on appearing on Roseanne
On her work after leaving General Hospital; on her return to the series in 2006
Chapter 4
On her theatre work; on current projects; on daytime television and her Emmy nominations; how she would like to be remembered
Chapter 5
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY GEARY AND GENIE FRANCIS: Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their working relationship on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the beginning of the "Luke and Laura" storyline phenomenon on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their favorite storylines on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their favorite General Hospital storylines and their final thoughts on working together
Shows
All My Children
Genie Francis on joining the cast of All My Children in 1990
Genie Francis on being forced to leave All My Children to make way for her return to General Hospital
Bare Essence
Genie Francis on starring in the TV movie and then short-lived series Bare Essence
Days of Our Lives
Genie Francis on joining the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1987
Family
Genie Francis on her first professional acting job -- a guest role on Family
General Hospital
Genie Francis on joining the cast General Hospital; on her character Laura; on some of the storylines
Genie Francis on taping her first on-screen kiss (with Kin Shriner) on General Hospital
Genie Francis on the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital
Genie Francis on leaving General Hospital
Genie Francis on being forced to leave All My Children to make way for her return to General Hospital
Genie Francis on returning to General Hospital and some of the new storylines she had; on leaving the series in 2002
Genie Francis on her work after leaving General Hospital; on her return to the series in 2006
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their working relationship on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the beginning of the "Luke and Laura" storyline phenomenon on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their favorite storylines on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the fan reactions to their General Hospital characters
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the remarriage of "Luke and Laura" for their 25th anniversary on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their favorite General Hospital storylines and their final thoughts on working together
North and South
Genie Francis on appearing in the miniseries North and South
Roseanne
Genie Francis briefly on her and Anthony Geary's guest appearance on Roseanne
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the beginning of the "Luke and Laura" storyline phenomenon on General Hospital
We Celebrated
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital
Professions
Actress
Genie Francis on being an adolescent TV performer
Genres
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Genie Francis on taping her first on-screen kiss (with Kin Shriner) on General Hospital
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital
People
Denise Alexander
Genie Francis on working with General Hospital co-star Denise Alexander
Kirstie Alley
Genie Francis on appearing in the miniseries North and South
Jonathan Frakes
Genie Francis on starring in the TV movie and then short-lived series Bare Essence
Genie Francis on appearing in the miniseries North and South
Ivor Francis
Genie Francis on her early years and desire to become an actress
Anthony Geary
Genie Francis on the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital
Douglas Marland
Genie Francis on some of the General Hospital storylines created by Douglas Marland
Gloria Monty
Genie Francis on working with General Hospital producer Gloria Monty
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the beginning of the "Luke and Laura" storyline phenomenon on General Hospital
Tristan Rogers
Genie Francis on the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital
Kin Shriner
Genie Francis on working with General Hospital co-star Kin Shriner
Genie Francis on taping her first on-screen kiss (with Kin Shriner) on General Hospital
Elizabeth Taylor
Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital
