Soap Hub December Powerhouse Performer for GH: Maura West

Daytime Emmy-winner Maura West is like an holiday advent character — she gives a gift every day that she’s onscreen in the month of December on General Hospital. She began the month gobsmacked over a mystery note she received related to Austin’s murder.

Maura West: Powerhouse Performance

Ava filled in her bestie Nina (Cynthia Watros) on the events that led up to Austin’s (Roger Howarth) killing. Characters recapping can often sound boring but not when West’s Ava does it. She added emotions like fear and frustration as she told Nina about her interactions with Austin and his blackmailing cousin Mason (Nathanyael Grey) and how they both led her to believe that she’d killed off Nikolas (Adam Huss) when she hadn’t.

Nobody calls a situation like it is the way Ava Jerome does. Nina observed that Ava truly did mean something to Austin and pointed that fact out to her pal. “Something maybe,” acknowledged Ava, who then shot Nina a look and snarked, “but not enough.”

Instead of having gratitude towards Austin, Ava recounted to Nina her last encounter with the dead doctor and how it wasn’t exactly friendly. Optimistic Nina lamented that the cameras not working at the gallery wouldn’t look good for Ava. She agreed. “Even dead that man is making trouble for me!” Ava was exasperated as she held her expensive crystal glass in that way that soap opera divas do.

Speaking of diva moves, Ava, after Nina had left, took the note and photo of poor dead Austin and placed them in the fireplace at Wyndemere. She knew that destroying the message wouldn’t make her problems go up in smoke — but the look on her face revealed that it still felt good to toss the missive into the flames.

West’s sensational performances continued into December as she decided to confront Cyrus (Jeff Kober, which she did here). “Austin Gatlin-Holt is dead,” she announced, “Why’d you kill him?” Decked out in a silk blouse and a fancy fur coat, Ava’s sophisticated look served as a contrast to Cyrus’s humble blue-collar outfit as he performed his cleaning duties.

Cyrus claimed to have no knowledge of Austin’s death, calling Ava a callous woman. “At least I’m not the one who killed him,” Ava taunted the ex-con. She came to see Cyrus with a plan, ready to present to him everything she knew about his criminal ways. Ava accused Cyrus of repaying Austin for helping him win his freedom by taking his life. West expertly plays Ava as a predator. She knows how to mask any insecurities she may be feeling as she goes on the attack as she did in her encounter with Cyrus.

Later in the month, West reminded us that Ava can show her vulnerable side, too. In scenes with Laura Wright’s Carly, Ava played guarded as Sonny’s ex-wife tried to talk to her about why the police would want to speak with her regarding Austin’s murder. Carly and Ava may never be pals but they have found a way to peacefully co-exist for the sake of their daughters.

Carly’s persistence finally broke down Ava’s defenses. She conceded that if she needed help, she’d reach out to the one man who could fix it — which would be, of course, Sonny (Maurice Benard). Later, Ava, wielding a nearly scene-stealing ring on her finger, did open up to Sonny after attempting to keep her walls from breaking down. Sonny pointed out to Ava that he — not her — could be her mystery stalker’s real target.

“Well, Sonny, as much as I’d love to blame you for my current situation, I do have enemies of my own,” Ava shared with a slight chuckle. Ava may have enemies of her own but West has a legion of fans, who are captivated by her portrayal of Ava Jerome, one of the greatest female characters on daytime drama ever created. Brava to Maura West for playing Ava as a woman who is resourceful, biting, strong, and savvy, but also vulnerable.

General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. For an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.

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