We used to love to hate the “Britch” — AKA Dr. Britt Westbourne on General Hospital. And, while we still do, we’re also starting to just plain love her. Kelly Thiebaud, who plays Britt, has embraced the new, more vulnerable elements of her character that GH is writing these days. In the process, Britt has earned Jason’s respect while Thiebaud has scored Performer of the Week honors for GH from Soap Hub.
Kelly Thiebaud — Performer of the Week
Potentially lethal circumstances caused us to see Britt in a new light. She was thisclose to getting rubbed out by Cyrus’s (Jeff Kober) henchmen at General Hospital when Jason (Steve Burton) realized that she was in danger. He risked his own freedom to rescue her and the two took off to hide in a safe house and then in a barn. Britt tended to the gunshot wound that Jason suffered during the escape.
Even though Britt was in a totally new environment, she didn’t lose sight of her medical oath. She tried to show Jason who the boss was by ordering him to get some rest so he could recover. Jason, in turn, wanted Britt to take his lead as they were on the run. Britt learned that staying ahead of the law is Jason’s domain.
While Britt’s been selfish at times, she didn’t want to hear it when Jason started to apologize to her; she reminded him that he saved her life. “Don’t be all noble and chivalrous apologizing to me,” Britt said to Jason, taking responsibility for getting involved with Cyrus.
Jason calmly asked Britt why she was getting so angry, prompting her to blow up — this isn’t her world and she needed some coffee! She later returned with a caffeine fix for both of them. “I pity every doctor that’s ever worked on you ever!” Britt quipped as Jason continued to ignore his doctor’s requests that he rest.
When Jason queried if she was even going to come back, Britt told him that he knew she would. And Jason conceded that she was correct. A successful pairing on soaps (and in life, for that matter) involves each person helping the other and starting to read one another. And that’s what Jason and Britt are doing.
Later, Britt was able to convince Jason that he should rest and they agreed to take shifts. Not that long ago, Britt asked Jason if he was going to dislike her the way so many others do. He said that he likes to make up his own mind. It sounds like he’s doing just that and is well on his way to liking Britt.
Jason and Britt grew even closer after she confided in Jason that she’s sick; she explained that Huntington’s disease is in her family. This isn’t something Jason can point a gun at or threaten and make go away, but he could listen with sympathy as Britt detailed the potential horrors of the condition.
Jason tried to send the doctor away (as he had Sam), but she tearfully refused to go, saying she’d rather be with him than go back to Port Charles and deal with her illness. Thiebaud is excellent at shifting between Britt crying her eyes out to playfully bantering with Jason over which of them is going to drive their getaway car.
Kudos to Kelly Thiebaud for showing us this vulnerable side to her character that has Britt fearing for her life, but still be quite concerned for someone else and, at times, crack a joke, too. While we hope Britt never loses her edge, she may have fewer people calling her the “Britch” from now on. General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes.
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