General Hospital

Performer of the Week: Genie Francis Takes No Prisoners

Published by

Diane Brounstein

7 years ago

It would be best if all of Port Charles learned the lesson that you do not mess with Laura – except boy do we love Genie Francis when someone does. Her turn this week on General Hospital (GH) reached a fever pitch as she took action against Valentin.

It’s not easy to corral Spencer (Nicolas Bechtel), and that’s a lesson Laura has already learned. He’s been escaping off on his own and she was tired of that and laid down the law. But, she also knows he’s acting out because he misses his father.

So when he told poor Charlotte (Scarlett Fernandez) that her father killed his, it tore Laura in two – seeing as the young girl in question is also her granddaughter. But when Valentin got in the middle of it all, Laura was not about to let him take it out on Spencer.

Laura slapped Valentin hard when he bad-mouthed Nikolas. Still, that was just a preview for today when she felt he was getting away with having kidnapped Spencer. Laura let loose her pent up anguish and hit him with a crowbar.

While this may seem out of bounds for those who only know Laura as a grandmother, acting without thinking is right in the wheelhouse for the woman we’ve watched grow up from a troubled teen into the passionate and fiery woman she is today.

We’ve also watched her portrayer, Emmy winner Genie Francis, grow up before our eyes as well. When you watch her, she doesn’t have to “act” the history – she was there for it all.

Francis portrayed Laura’s desperation to perfection, up-ticking the tension with each passing hour (or real-life day).

The tension then exploded Friday in her confrontation with worthy adversary Valentin.

It was almost like a master class watching Francis and James Patrick Stuart play off each other — and today’s climax was worth certainly worth the wait.

General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. Share your thoughts, leave a comment in the section below. Win exclusive member-only GH spoilers, prizes, and more: sign up here! Also, join the conversation on our Facebook page.