General Hospital star Alexa Havins is the anchor for the stand-alone episode to honor beloved legend Anthony Geary, who died in December. The actress was thrilled to play such a pivotal role, but she was also placed in a different position than the rest of her cast.
Key Takeaways
- Alexa Havins didn’t know Anthony Geary.
- The actress felt “insane pressure” to get the Luke and Lulu history right.
- Havins was moved by watching this Geary moment.
The Nerves Were Real
When Havins (Lulu) found out Lulu would be the center of the tribute episode to Geary (Luke), she was filled with fear because she had never worked with him, didn’t know him, and she wasn’t the Lulu who had a history with Luke.
“I was so nervous and scared because I’m not the Lulu that worked with him and has all that beautiful history with him,” she shared with Soap Opera Digest.
The actress admitted she was filled with “fear” and put “insane pressure” on herself to do justice to the script, Geary, and her fellow cast members. Lucky for Havins, her husband, All My Children alum Justin Bruening (Jamie), talked her down.
Once Bruening helped her focus, Havins poured her heart and soul into bringing Lulu’s grief to life, while the cast and crew around her were channeling their own grief over losing Geary. Maurice Benard (Sonny), Jane Elliot (Tracy), Genie Francis (Laura), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), and Laura Wright (Carly) are also in the episode.
It’s only been a couple of months since Geary died, so the raw emotions of cast members like Francis, Elliot, and Benard are genuine as they are still mourning their friend. Seeing the heartbreak and grief her GH family was going through while filming the episode inspired Havins in her performance as Lulu.
The grief of her colleagues was also a driving force for Havins to make sure she played Lulu right, especially in scenes with people who knew Geary best. Havins recalled asking Elliot if they could do another take and telling the soap legend, “I just want to honor your friend.”
A Deeper Appreciation For Anthony Geary
During filming, Havins was backstage watching Geary’s final episode as Luke, where he just walked off into the mist on the pier. That moment had an impact on Havins that she never expected.
“I was just so moved by his brilliance, his simplicity, his delivery. And that’s me not knowing this gentleman,” the actress spilled.
In the end, Havins is proud of the episode and the care that went into planning this tribute to Geary. It was handled carefully, considering Geary’s death was unexpected. Havins is thrilled with how it turned out, admitting it’s a “tip of the hat” to the beloved actor and character.
