GH’s Avery Kristen Pohl Unlocks the Secrets of Esme’s Memory and More

General Hospital viewers finally got the answer as to whether or not Esme, played by Avery Kristen Pohl, had her memory back all along. Her recent revelation revealed that no, the young mother was not faking forgetting her wicked ways. Soap Hub chatted with the actress on a pre-Daytime Emmy Awards red carpet to ask the actress about Esme’s amnesia, Sprina, and the legendary actresses with whom she works.

Avery Kristen Pohl: Misty Watercolor Memories

Soap Hub went a little Inside the Actors Studio with Pohl and asked her not to reveal whether Esme had her memories back but to share her thoughts on whether or not she plays (or rather, played) that she did. “As the actress, I can’t say I fully get to make that decision,” Pohl responded, “just because it’s more of a writing choice. I don’t have any input on if she decides that she [had] her memories [all along].” (Read our recap of the episode in which Esme’s wicked ways came flooding back to her mind here.)

Also, Pohl weighed in on why Esme made the big decision to leave Laura and Kevin’s home and go out on her own with baby Ace. “It is a big responsibility, but I really believe it’s one that she’s ready for,” the actress says. “Look at how much she’s grown in a couple of months. She’s gone through [being] in a jail cell, pregnant, to a single mother, working her own hours, having Ace in daycare, and she has this support system.

“If you look at her life before, she didn’t really have that [except for] a little bit with Ryan [Jon Lindstrom] and Spencer [Nicholas Alexander Chavez],” Pohl continues. “She’s got a much safer environment now.” There’s another reason, Pohl feels, that Esme wanted out on her own, which may have less to do with amnesia and more good old-fashioned subconscious feelings of unrequited love.

“I don’t think [Esme] really wants to watch Spencer and Trina [Tabyana Ali] be right under her nose anymore,” the actress says. “That’s going to be a difficult living situation. Whether she’s fully aware of it or not, she was in love with Spencer at some point.”

Spencer is Ace’s half-brother but his protectiveness of his younger sibling would make a casual observer swear that he was his dad. It’s a difficult situation. “Definitely not,” concurs Pohl, “and props to Nicholas Chavez for how he’s [having Spencer] handle the situation and finding interesting moments to play. He’s up for the challenge. He’s great!”

Pohl says she immensely enjoys working with Genie Francis (Laura), TV boss Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), and TV mom Alley Mills (Heather). “What’s really cool is that everybody brings something different,” Pohl says. “Genie is truly one of the kindest human beings I’ve ever met. I’ve learned so much from her. Nancy always makes me laugh. She’s so fun and she keeps me on my toes. I respect her so much. Also, I call Alley all the time and say, ‘I love you, TV Mom!'” Watch the interview below.