Laura Returns! Genie Francis Is Checking Back Into ‘General Hospital’
Exclusive
Great news, soap viewers! Fan favorite Genie Francis is returning to General Hospital.
The Emmy-winning actress is bringing her iconic character — Laura Vining Webber Baldwin Spencer Baldwin Collins — back to Port Charles.
As regular viewers of GH know, Laura exited the story canvas in January when she went to Europe to nurse her precocious grandson, Spencer, back to health after he broke both of his legs.
“I’m really excited for Genie to be rejoining the cast and we have an amazing story for her,” Frank Valentini, the show’s executive producer, says.
So when does all of this unfold?
“I’m headed to Maine for the next month and then, after that, I’m back at General Hospital,” Francis tells TV Insider in an exclusive statement. “I’m looking forward to coming home and I am really excited about this new invigorating storyline they have for Laura — I look forward to the next chapter of this prolific and historic character.”
Rick Moses, Genie Francis, and Anthony Geary on ‘General Hospital’ in 1980 (Photo by Maureen Donaldson/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Francis debuted on GH in 1977 as the long-lost daughter of Dr. Lesley Webber (Denise Alexander). The triangle featuring Laura, Scotty (Kin Shriner), and Bobbie (Jacklyn Zeman) was instrumental in catapulting GH from near cancelation to the top of the ratings in the late 1970s.
A record 30 million people tuned in to see the wedding of Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura in the fall of 1981.
Francis received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Laura in 1997. A decade later, the actress took home the gold for her work as Laura in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category.
At press time, an exact return air date for Francis was unavailable. However, GH usually tapes a few weeks ahead of time.
General Hospital, Weekdays, ABC
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And just like that, I will be watching GH again!
I started watching GH again when Genie returned in 2015 and stopped watching when she was fired earlier this year. I'm excited to see Laura again, but it sounds like I haven't missed much since I tuned out. Apparently Anna and Faison have a son and he has taken over the show?? Okay then.
Hopefully Laura is the one to figure out Ryan is impersonating her husband!
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I hope she falls in love with Ryan, and dumps Kevin for him.
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I take it you're not a Laura fan. :-/
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Alan, now THAT would be a shocker/Twist!!!
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who is Ryan?
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Years ago Ryan terrorized Felicia Jones. The story ran for months. His twin brother Kevin a psychiatrist showed up. The story gets complicated from there. Lucy Coe used to be married to Kevin. The actor was excellent in both roles.
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Genie Francis bailed out of GH numerous times. Remember the manakin that was a catatonic Laura that Luke used to visit. The whole Helena curse was created because Genie bailed on the Luke and Laura story a few months after that historic marriage. Any wonder Luke dropped her for Tracy.
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That's not why she bailed she was young and her and Tony was very popular she was young when she started the show can you imagine being the bread winning in your family at such a young age she was worn out but they want her back in 83 to help her send Luke off down thru the years they treated Mrs Francis terrible but not Mr Geary and putting him with Tracy was terrible to me no chemistry at all just comedy Luke and Tracy couldn't come close to what Luke and Laura had they save the show along with Glory Monty I don't care how hard the writers try to mess up the history
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I liked Luke with Holly. Much better than with Tracy. I'm sure there were several young actors who would have loved to have been Laura.
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I like Holly with Robert I thought they were a good match but then the writers had to mess that up with saying Luke had an affair with holly and a baby Luke would not do that to Laura while married.
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Thrilled she’s FINALLY coming back. Once she does, I’ll start watching again, but until then I’m Done!! Another baby swap and this one ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. Julian has a picture of Lucas’ baby for God sakes!! How stupid do these writers think we are? Welcome home Laura!
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I cannot wait, Genie's Laura has been the heart and soul of General Hospital for like 40 years now, and when she is given a "front-burner" "Laura-centered" storyline, along with OUR Angel comes the higher ratings!!!
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What no one is saying is whether or not she's back on contract.
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I have it on good word, from someone in the know, that she is.
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Entertainment Weekly confirmed she's on contract. In addition, last night, Genie tweeted a photo of her signing her new contract.
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