Soap Hub Performer of the Week for GH: Finola Hughes

Many Port Charles characters had the motive to make sure Peter August never lived to harm another soul. Anna Devane could have saved Peter after he got clubbed over the head by Felicia Scorpio but she chose not to. For her chilling, heartbreaking performance in Peter’s final moments, Soap Hub bestows Performer of the Week honors to Finola Hughes, who plays Anna.

Finola Hughes — Performer of the Week

Anna’s connection to Peter (Wes Ramsey) over the years was intense and remained so up until his death. At one point, she thought Peter was her son, and then, she cruised down denial for a while by making excuses for the sociopath. When she finally realized he was not only no good but also irredeemable, Anna realized she was the one who had to make sure he’d never harm anyone again.

Soap villains don’t die easy so, when Peter moaned after taking a big fall after Felicia struck him from behind, we expected Peter might make it — just as his late father Cesar Faison (Anders Hove) had cheated death so many times. Anna’s heart was breaking for all the pain that had been caused but she responded to the situation with a steely resolve.

“I’ll take care of it,” Anna matter-of-factly said when Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) pointed out that Peter needed an ambulance. Oh, she took care of it all right. When she returned, Anna instructed Drew to take Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms) and Felicia (Kristina Wagner) up to the road and direct the paramedics whom she sent for down to where Peter was.

Anna recounted to Peter that she tried to protect him when she believed he could change. But that time was long gone. “I do try to find the good in people even though some people, they don’t have any good in them,” Anna told Peter. “You’re so like your father. Obsessed. Entitled. Convinced that you can just take whatever you want.”

Peter heard something in Anna’s voice that told him his time on earth was coming to an end. Anna told Peter as long as he was alive then, Maxie and Louise would never truly feel safe. Anna confirmed to the killer his theory that she hadn’t called for help. Not only that, she did contact the WSB (World Security Bureau) and told them not to approach yet. Anna prevented anyone from coming to Peter’s aid. He called her a killer. “Depends on your perspective,” Anna (Finola Hughes) stoically replied.

Despite her desire to rid the world of Peter August, Anna said, ‘No one deserves to die alone. Not even you.‘ She told him that she hoped he’d find peace. Then, Anna took the dying killer’s hand as he breathed his last breath. After Peter died, Anna showed further compassion by closing his opened eyes. Only then, could she allow herself to break down. “Goodbye, Peter,” Anna said as she walked away from Peter’s lifeless body.

Finola Hughes’s acting challenges continued as Anna returned to Port Charles and shared her ordeal with the man who arguably knows her better than anyone — her ex, Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers). “I did what I had to do,” Anna told Robert. We suspect in the coming weeks and months the emotional impact of what Anna went through with Peter will continue to play out and we have no doubt that Hughes will continue to bring humanity to her beloved character.

Honorable mention: The selection of Performer of the Week for GH is often hotly debated at Soap Hub. The show offers us numerous choices each week. While Finola Hughes is Soap Hub’s Performer of the Week for GH this week, we’d be remiss not to honor the fine work done by Amanda Setton as Brook Lynn tearfully said goodbye once again to baby Bailey and Laura Wright whose Carly sat across from her soon-to-be-ex-husband Sonny (Maurice Benard) during a meeting about their crumbling marriage. Carly was mostly silent as lawyers dissected her marital union and talked about assets but Carly’s eyes betrayed the depth of the pain she was feeling over losing the man she loves.

General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Port Charles, check out all the latest that’s been posted on GH spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.