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“General Hospital” icons Genie Francis and Maurice Benard are digging deeper than ever as they open up about the emotional backbone of their latest storyline.
In an upcoming two-part episode of Benard’s “State of Mind” mental health podcast, the longtime co-stars revealed why their current arc feels so charged — and how Francis tapped into real-life pain to deliver one of the most powerful performances of her nearly five-decade soap opera career.
“I love working with you. It’s obvious. And I love the story we’re in,” Benard, 62, told Francis during their chat, as shown in The Post’s exclusive first look. “I’ve even been watching mobster documentaries. Since you and I have been hooking up, it’s fun to go to work. It’s great to go to work.”
Francis, who first began playing Laura Spencer on “General Hospital” in 1977, said that the pair’s latest storyline was one that she personally fought for.
“I love this story that they have given us,” she shared. “They asked me one day, ABC asked me what I wanted, and I said I want a story with Maurice Benard.”
“And from that, they put together a brilliant story that I’m loving so much,” Francis, 63, continued. “There are all kinds of love stories – they’re not all romantic. But you have really close relationships with people, and there’s a chemistry there with us, so I wanted them to write that.”
Benard, who has played the manic depressive mob kingpin Sonny Corinthos since joining “General Hospital” in 1993, admitted that he was stunned by the emotional intensity his co-star brought to one scene in particular.
“You were so filled up and on fire that I was like almost scared,” he recalled.
Francis went on to reveal that she was drawing from something much deeper for the moment in question.
“We went with the life of the scene,” she began. “I’ve talked to you about my stuff, and I realized that my way into that scene was about trauma.”
“I’ve had trauma in my life. I’ve relived trauma in my life, and I know what happens,” the “Young and the Restless” actress continued, explaining that she leaned on experiences from her childhood. “I tried to tell you in that scene about my trauma, and you heard me.”
“I’ve told you about my other stuff, like my depression, and you were right there with me supporting me,” Francis added. “It was Genie and Maurice. It was the most exciting scene I’ve ever done in my life.”
Benard, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 22, launched his mental health podcast in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown.
He later shared a touching message about mental health in September 2023, shortly after fellow “General Hospital” star Billy Miller died by suicide following a “long, hard, valiant battle” with bipolar depression.
“If you’re feeling in any kind of way, like life is not worth living for don’t think twice to talk to someone take it from the most fragile person in the world you can get through it,” Benard shared at the time. “And life has a way of rewarding you.”
The actor, meanwhile, predicted that the TV industry might finally be ready to recognize Francis’ talents during their upcoming chat on his “State of Mind” series.
“Usually when I predict things, a lot of times they do come true,” he shared. “And I’d love to see you win an Emmy from what I’ve seen in two weeks.”
“Not that it’s the end all,” Benard clarified, “because it’s not.”
Despite being a central figure in one of the most famous storylines in soap opera history, Francis said she’s never been recognized in the prestigious award show’s top category.
“I have never been nominated for Best Actress, never once,” she lamented. “I won once as Best Supporting Actress for a short six-week visit, but as far as Best Actress, it’s been a close-out for 49 years.”
Francis, who was only 14 when she joined “General Hospital” nearly 50 years ago, added that being a teenage actress competing against adult veterans was crushing at the time.
“When I was a kid, how do you compare an 18-year-old girl to a 40-year-old woman who are in the same category?” she asked.
“That was a very hard thing for me when Tony [Geary] was nominated when [he] was a kid and I was not,” Francis added. “I was embarrassed.”
Anthony Geary, 78, joined “General Hospital” as Luke Spencer in 1978. He was nominated for his first Daytime Emmy Award in 1981 and won his first a year later.
“Then they added the category Best Younger Actress after that with me,” Francis concluded.
Benard’s “State of Mind” two-part episode with Genie Francis drops Nov. 16 and Nov. 23 on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.