Laura To Return To "General Hospital"

LOS ANGELES — Genie Francis is checking back into "General Hospital."

The 46-year-old actress again will reprise her role as Laura on the ABC daytime soap opera beginning Aug. 26.

The character's 1981 fairy-tale wedding to Luke (played by Anthony Geary) was watched by 30 million viewers and landed the couple on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Francis began playing Laura in 1976.

"This is a short visit," Francis told The Associated Press on Friday. "It's a mother-daughter story. Years ago when I started playing the character as a 14-year-old girl, it was a mother-daughter story, only I was the daughter. So it's kinda cool this is full circle. It's nice to come back for visits. `General Hospital' is my home."

Laura was last seen slipping in and out of a catatonic state in 2007. The upcoming appearance will feature Laura in a story line with daughter Lulu. Francis, who now runs a home-furnishing shop in Belfast, Maine, said she was told that Laura wouldn't be killed off during her latest guest stint.

"I would stay on, but `General Hospital' honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment," said Francis. "They want little short doses during sweeps periods. It's not entirely up to me. I'm thrilled and delighted my audience stands behind me. If they didn't, you can be sure I wouldn't get to come back for these visits."

Francis won a supporting actress Daytime Emmy in 2007 for previously reprising the role.

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On the Net:

http://abc.go.com/daytime/generalhospital/

Comments

[DrJimmy]

Laura who??
general what???

[auramac]

What happened to Luke?

[happycat]

Luke will be back soon. Tony Geary goes away on vacation for a few months a year. He has a great contract. Obviously GH doesn't want to lose him again.

[nodonjuan]

And we care because?..­..........­....

[brooklyncitizen]

Are people still watching soaps?

[Gasparilla]

I prefer All My Children.

[happycat]

I have been watching AMC on and off since I was a kid. It is still fun to watch, although at times lately the writing has been terrible.

[hudsuckerproxy]

A short visit is better than no visit, but Genie Francis deserves a long-term contract. Under the stewardship of Bob Guza and Brian Frons, GH has been a trainwreck. Hopefully Laura's abbreviated storyline won't suck as much as the rest of the show. If it does, I know (based on her previous appearances) that GF will transcend the crappy material.

[thankulord13]

You ain't lyin! Right now the show to watch is One Life to Live!

[caseyblab]

I thought maybe Laura Bush had a new gig after she and the Georgster leave Washington.

[batmanindy]

I am a 46 year old man. I scheduled my college courses around GH during the Ice Machine era and the Luke Laura era.

I LOVE LAURA!!!!

Thanks for the memories Genie.

[lornejl]

I don't know who she is , but I hope she feels better soon.

[Quotidien]

She's only 46 years old??

Gosh, it seems like she's been on that show for 60 years.

[ohmercy]

I admit it, GH is my secret guilty pleasure now and then.
Though I didn't even discover soaps till the early 90's (in my early 40's) when I got hit with CFIDS and FIBRO.
Before that I used to laugh at my friends for watching.
they do become addictive.
All those months of lying on a couch not knowing what the hell was wrong with me GH (and the other ABC soaps) really helped.

I don't watch everyday for years on end but every so often I still like to tune in to GH for a week or two.
Its like visiting a town you used to live in in a way.
(Of course half the town has either moved away or completely reconfigured their partnerships-- and who are all those new young people???)lol

If you repeat this I'll deny it and call you a liar.
I don't get cable now so I haven't tuned in for awhile but I'm glad to see "Laura" popping in for awhile. Wish I could tune in for a visit.

Again, tell anyone I'll come after you.

[johnnygoodwud]

wow, the last time i saw her she was alot heavier. lookin' good.

[loril]

Well, I'll admit this brings back memories for me. I came home from high school in time to watch GH every afternoon (early to mid 80s) and I was able to watch it on school breaks during the height of the late 70s Luke and Laura craze. In the days before entire networks devoted to teen viewers, soaps were quite popular with young females. My friends and I would discuss the storylines in depth at lunch and on the school bus!

Cheesy? Yes. But seeing the photo of "Laura" in her high 80s bridal regalia certainly brought a smile to my face and reminded me of younger days. I have not watched a soap opera since college, however. And I am a stay-at-home mom right now. So, I believe I have overcome this particular addiction.

[mabinog]

k

[ChiGuy]

When I was in college, I saw the whole Luke/Laura rape/roman­ce/wedding bit.
Much later, when my mother was hospitalized and bed-ridden at home, I saw the whole Laura as cosmetics company exec bit.
Now, I hear that she's being brought out of a catatonic state for a SECOND time? Please.

Time to close the story line once and for all.

[Eric8869]

She's been brought back more than Jason Voorhees - geez!