Alexis didn’t mince words this week on General Hospital. She didn’t ask for a full explanation when she saw Sonny sitting down with Ric at Bobbie’s. The history between those two spoke for itself. She warned Sonny not to trust a man who had betrayed him time and time again. That kind of blunt honesty is exactly how Alexis operates. Off-screen, though, Nancy Lee Grahn has a very different perspective on the man behind Ric. The Emmy winner recently opened up about working with Rick Hearst.
Key Takeaways
- Nancy Lee Grahn praised Rick Hearst as one of her favorite scene partners.
- Grahn said their long history from the Rexis era still shapes their chemistry today.
- The characters remain connected through their legal careers and their daughter, Molly.
- Grahn explained that working with Hearst provides her with a safe, collaborative acting environment.
- She said their shared creative rhythm allows them to explore scenes and build moments naturally.
A Scene Partner She Trusts
Grahn spoke with Soap Opera Digest about revisiting scenes with Hearst and why their on-screen dynamic still worked after all these years. “I just couldn’t love him more,” she said of her long-time co-star.
The two actors first built their chemistry during the mid-2000s run of Rexis, when Ric and Alexis circled each other through romance, rivalry, and everything in between. Even now, the characters have plenty that keep them connected, from their shared legal world to their daughter, Molly (Kristen Vaganos).
Grahn said any excuse for the show to put Alexis and Ric back in the same room was welcome. She described Hearst as someone who instinctively understood the rhythm of their scenes together. “He’s my guy, you know? We just get each other — a lot — and he is so good at what he does.” (Is Ric better as a good guy or a bad guy?)
Finding Freedom in the Work
For Grahn, the connection went beyond nostalgia. She explained that working with Hearst created the kind of environment actors hoped for when stepping into emotionally charged material. “You know what you want in a partner in real life? That’s what I get with him as an actor,” she said. Grahn noted that their trust allowed her to relax into the work and explore moments without worrying about where the scene might land.
That sense of safety gave her the freedom to play. Both actors liked to experiment and find small details in the moment, building scenes organically rather than rigidly sticking to the page. Grahn said the best acting partnerships came when performers met on the same creative wavelength.
When that happened, the work felt effortless — and she made it clear she found that rare alignment whenever she shared scenes with Hearst. “I get a safe place to land with him all the time. I feel very safe and free and taken care of.” (Has Ric finally stepped out of Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) shadow?)
