Eva LaRue and Maurice Benard shared plenty of scenes during her run as Natalia on General Hospital, but LaRue also witnessed something few people outside Benard’s family saw. During a candid conversation, the former GH co-stars looked back at a difficult period when Benard struggled with his mental health while continuing to work. LaRue remembered what she saw, how hard Benard fought to remain present, and how the experience changed the way she understood what someone in an emotional spiral might need.
Key Takeaways
- Eva LaRue witnessed Maurice Benard struggling with his mental health while they worked together on GH.
- LaRue praised Benard for staying professional and present even while he was having a difficult time.
- Benard said the experience felt “like drowning” and later leaned on Steve Burton and Jonathan Jackson for support.
- Benard used his real-life friendship with Burton to fuel emotional Sonny and Jason scenes on GH.
Eva LaRue Saw Maurice Benard Fighting to Stay Present
LaRue appeared on Benard’s State of Mind and recalled that the interview took place during the same week she saw him struggling at GH. They were working together frequently, including during a long day filming wedding scenes, and Benard (Sonny) told her he was having a difficult time. LaRue began asking questions because she genuinely wanted to understand what was happening to him.
What stayed with her was how Benard handled himself even while struggling. “I thought it was heroic because you were trying so hard to stay present, to stay professional, to stay kind,” LaRue told him, adding, “I don’t know how you managed to do all of those things.”
She remembered Benard politely excusing himself when he needed to walk away rather than simply disappearing or shutting everyone out.
Benard told LaRue that very few people outside his immediate family had seen him in that condition.
He described the experience in stark terms: “It is like drowning. That’s what it feels like.”
LaRue remembered him looking completely drained, yet somehow continuing to perform scenes and remember an enormous amount of dialogue.
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Benard Revealed What Was Behind His Emotional GH Scenes
Their conversation eventually turned to Benard’s later scenes with Steve Burton (Jason). Benard explained that after his earlier State of Mind interview with LaRue, his condition worsened, and he struggled badly with sleep. He reached out to Burton, who then contacted Jonathan Jackson (Lucky), and the two supported Benard during that period.
That history came rushing back when Benard later filmed emotional Sonny and Jason scenes with Burton.
“I let myself remember what he did for me in that moment,” Benard explained.
When Burton became emotional in the scene, Benard allowed himself to go there too, turning their real friendship into something viewers could feel onscreen.
LaRue had already noticed how powerful the scenes were before learning the story behind them. Benard also reflected on taking two weeks away from GH to recover before returning to an enormous stack of scripts.
The show even considered temporarily recasting Sonny if he could not return in time, but Benard came back. Sometimes the drama behind the camera carries just as much weight as anything Port Charles can invent.
