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GH's Anthony Geary lights up and delivers some plain talk about Luke, Laura -- and the 'date rape' that began daytime's most controversial love story.
In an exclusive, noholds-barred interview with writer Vernon Scott in last weeks's Soap Opera News, "General Hospital" superstar Anthony Geary talked candidly about his career and personal life. In this concluding installment, Geary discusses his legendary character Luke Spencer's on-camera relationship with his beloved Laura, the controversial storyline rape that began their love story -- and his deep affection for Genie Francis, the actress who plays Laura so well.
SON: Do you miss the crazy, action-based storylines or do you prefer reality-based storylines?
A.G: Luke saved the world from being frozen back in '83, when the writers were on strike. Maybe it was written by one of the guards at the front gate. No, really, I prefer a mixture of reality-based stories. But remember, it's called Soap Opera, not Soap Reality. I like the grander emotions.
SON: Whom are you closest to on the show?
A.G: Genie Francis.
SON: If you could play another character on the show, who would it be -- and why?
A.G: I wouldn't want to play any other character unless I played my son, for obvious reasons: I'd have another 30 years of my career.
SON: The chemistry between you and Jonathan Jackson, who plays you onscreen son Lucky, is wonderful. Offscreen, are you a mentor to him or is it more like a father/son relationship?
A.G: Jonathan was nominated for an Emmy [for Outstanding Younger Actor] this year. He turned 15 on May 11. It's not a father/son relationship by any means. I might say I'm his mentor, but he is also my peer.
SON: Describe your fantasy storyline.
A.G: Oh, boy. I'd like to skip this one.
SON: Your scenes with Jacklyn Zeman, who plays your sister Bobbie, are always memorable. Where does that connection come from?
A.G: Histoy. In 1978, I did my first scene on the show with Jackie. I came on to be Tonto to her Lone Ranger. I was to ring doorbells and run whenever she wanted me to. Or poke into culverts for snakes for her. Jackie never had a brother, and we connected very deeply. And I do think of her in a very sibling sort of way. It's a nice relationship.
SON: When did you first feel the onscreen chemistry between yourself and Genie Francis?
A.G: The first day. When I was introduced -- make that when Luke was introduced to Laura -- she was the girlfriend of this boy Scott, whom Luke's sister was interested in. I always thought of Genie as an angel, somewhat like Luke thinks of her. You've got to cross-pollinate these parallel existences. Sometimes they happen naturally, and sometimes you have to encourage them for the longevity of the show. She was 15 years old, this porcelain beauty, and I had no idea we were headed for any kind of an on-show romance.
SON: How do you feel having to justify the fact that the remarkable romance you created was jumpstarted with a rape?
A.G: I don't have to justify it. I believed it from the beginning. I don't have a problem with it starting with a rape. That's obviously a question from a politically correct point of view. I'm not saddled with that point of view. I thought it was obviously dramatically perfect. After Luke became successful, my mail went through the roof because they allowed Luke to realize, "Oh! What have I done?" The mail was positive because Luke empathized with Laura's position. They approved of his semsitivity. Luke is also popular with men. The rape put our show on the map. It certainly got our ratings going. I had no problem with it.
SON: Your character made a 180-degree change. In reality, do you think a person can change that much?
A.G: I don't know what that question means. To me, Luke is the same man he always was. Maybe a little older -- and he has life experience. Given experience, one tempers one's behavior. I don't like to pander to the audience. There's too much of that in our business.
SON: What's the secret of Luke and Laura's everlasting love?
A.G: Trust.
SON: What's you most memorable scene with Laura?
A.G: When Laura was kidnapped and gone for a year and Luke was getting on with his life. He became mayor of the town and the sort of man she had always wanted him to be. He was lonely and the ultimate in Port Charles respectability. The night of his inauguration, he's all alone in the mayor's mansion and walks out onto the balcony. I shudder just remembering the moment. It was a wonderful scene of a man who had reached a dream and finds it empty. Suddenly, Laura was on the lawn below, and he saw her and thought he was dreaming. He puts down his glass of champagne and the moment their eyes met, he felt, "Oh my God, my God! She's alive, she's alive!" It was very touching because Genie and I were both fully in character. Even after we rehearsed it, we stayed in character. We are profoundly close. Nothing means more to me on the set than to make Genie laugh when she look troubled or to have her just touch my arm and say, "I know, honey." It's a marriage of creativity that's 20 years old, so much unspoken material and love between us. I adore her. I adore her. I am so glad we never fell in love in real life because it could never be this good. I couldn't be unfaitful to Laura with Genie -- not that I ever had the opportunity, you understand. She is a very special woman. I once told Jonathan Jackson, "Date an actress, never marry one." That will take him farther than any acting lesson I could ever impart.
SON: How does it feel to go from being part of a hot young couple to being an established couple? Can you give some real-life couples any tips for keeping the fires burning after a few years of marriage?
A.G: No, I can't, having never done that in real life. The writers are responsible for the highly romanticized relationship. No tips.
SON: What do you think will happen to Luke now that Genie Francis is off the show for a while?
A.G: Genie is on maternity leave, expecting her second child any day now. Luke has stashed Laura in Switzerland with her mother, who is recovering from a long incarceration. Laura could easily hang out in Switzerland for several months. So Luke will be with other activities in town. I've supported every story in Port Charles because Luke is so well-connected. Also, I'm taking 10 weeks off this summer, partially to relieve the writers of storylines with a solo Luke, and because I have a new apartment to furnish in Europe.
SON: Who else on the show would you like to have an onscreen relationship with?
A.G: No one else. Luke is a one-woman man.
SON: Is there an actor or actress on another soap that you'd like to work with?
A.G: A lot of them, because some of the best acting in the Western world is done on soaps. I believe that.