"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." 

    About This Interview

    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.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Genie Francis

    Genie Francis on joining the cast General Hospital; on her character Laura; on some of the storylines

    13:51
    Thumbnail of Genie Francis

    Genie Francis on taping her first on-screen kiss (with Kin Shriner) on General Hospital

    00:26
    Thumbnail of Genie Francis

    Genie Francis on the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital

    10:22
    Thumbnail of Genie Francis

    Genie Francis on joining the cast of All My Children in 1990

    04:24
    Thumbnail of Anthony Geary

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the fan reactions to their General Hospital characters

    02:54
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her early years and desire to become an actress

    03:10

    On joining the cast of General Hospital; on her character Laura; on some of the key storylines

    13:51

    On the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital

    10:22

    Chapter 2

    On leaving General Hospital 

    03:07

    On her acting process

    02:53

    On starring in the TV movie and then short-lived series Bare Essence  (where she met future-husband Jonathan Frakes)

    04:04

    On returning to General Hospital in 1993 and the storylines Laura was in

    00:51

    On her theater work; on the miniseries North and South

    48:43

    On joining the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1987

    07:27

    On joining the cast of All My Children in 1990

    04:24

    Chapter 3

    On being forced to leave All My Children to make way for her return to General Hospital

    01:54

    On returning to General Hospital and some of the new storylines she had; on appearing on Roseanne

    14:55

    On her work after leaving General Hospital; on her return to the series in 2006

    09:43

    Chapter 4

    On her theatre work; on current projects; on daytime television and her Emmy nominations; how she would like to be remembered

    59:36

    Chapter 5

    START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY GEARY AND GENIE FRANCIS: Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their working relationship on General Hospital

    03:26

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the beginning of the "Luke and Laura" storyline phenomenon on General Hospital

    06:13

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their favorite storylines on General Hospital

    02:04

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital

    05:23

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their favorite General Hospital storylines and their final thoughts on working together

    03:30

    All My Children

    Genie Francis on joining the cast of All My Children in 1990

    04:24

    Genie Francis on being forced to leave All My Children to make way for her return to General Hospital

    01:54

    Bare Essence

    Genie Francis on starring in the TV movie and then short-lived series Bare Essence

    04:04

    Days of Our Lives

    Genie Francis on joining the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1987

    07:27

    Family

    Genie Francis on her first professional acting job -- a guest role on Family

    00:44

    General Hospital

    Genie Francis on joining the cast General Hospital; on her character Laura; on some of the storylines

    13:51

    Genie Francis on taping her first on-screen kiss (with Kin Shriner) on General Hospital

    00:26

    Genie Francis on the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital

    10:22

    Genie Francis on leaving General Hospital

    03:07

    Genie Francis on being forced to leave All My Children to make way for her return to General Hospital

    01:54

    Genie Francis on returning to General Hospital and some of the new storylines she had; on leaving the series in 2002

    14:55

    Genie Francis on her work after leaving General Hospital; on her return to the series in 2006

    09:43

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their working relationship on General Hospital

    03:04

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the beginning of the "Luke and Laura" storyline phenomenon on General Hospital

    06:13

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their favorite storylines on General Hospital

    02:04

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital

    05:23

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the fan reactions to their General Hospital characters

    02:54

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the remarriage of "Luke and Laura" for their 25th anniversary on General Hospital

    00:48

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on their favorite General Hospital storylines and their final thoughts on working together

    03:30

    North and South

    Genie Francis on appearing in the miniseries North and South

    03:45

    Roseanne

    Genie Francis briefly on her and Anthony Geary's guest appearance on Roseanne

    01:14

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the beginning of the "Luke and Laura" storyline phenomenon on General Hospital

    06:13

    We Celebrated

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital

    05:23

    Actress

    Genie Francis on being an adolescent TV performer

    01:19

    Daytime/Primetime Serials

    Genie Francis on taping her first on-screen kiss (with Kin Shriner) on General Hospital

    00:26

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital

    05:23

    Denise Alexander

    Genie Francis on working with General Hospital co-star Denise Alexander

    00:51

    Kirstie Alley

    Genie Francis on appearing in the miniseries North and South

    03:45

    Jonathan Frakes

    Genie Francis on starring in the TV movie and then short-lived series Bare Essence

    04:04

    Genie Francis on appearing in the miniseries North and South

    03:45

    Ivor Francis

    Genie Francis on her early years and desire to become an actress

    03:10

    Anthony Geary

    Genie Francis on the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital

    10:22

    Douglas Marland

    Genie Francis on some of the General Hospital storylines created by Douglas Marland

    02:51

    Gloria Monty

    Genie Francis on working with General Hospital producer Gloria Monty

    01:37

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the beginning of the "Luke and Laura" storyline phenomenon on General Hospital

    06:13

    Tristan Rogers

    Genie Francis on the evolution of the Luke and Laura storylines on General Hospital

    58:59

    Kin Shriner

    Genie Francis on working with General Hospital co-star Kin Shriner

    00:42

    Genie Francis on taping her first on-screen kiss (with Kin Shriner) on General Hospital

    00:26

    Elizabeth Taylor

    Anthony Geary and Genie Francis on the wedding of "Luke and Laura" on General Hospital

    05:23

    All Interviews

    Loading Interviews...