SOD Online Interview with Leslie Charleson - 5 Greatest GH Moments

GENERAL HOSPITAL Interviews

Leslie Charleson's Five Greatest GH Moments

By Janet Di Lauro

Leslie Charleson has portrayed Monica, the lady of the Quartermaine manor on GENERAL HOSPITAL, for more than a quarter of a century. Over the years, she's amassed some fond memories of life in Port Charles. Take a walk down memory lane with the actress as she reminisces about her top five Monica moments — the good, the bad and the batty!

HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW (1979)

"When Gloria Monty was producing there was a scene when Monica had to fall down the stairs. They did have a stunt double, but it was one of those crazy things where her head was much bigger than mine. So the wig that they had on her looked shorter than my hair. I remember Kathy, the hairdresser at the time, coming up to me on the set. I was waiting to take the place of the stunt double after she fell down the stairs. Kathy said, 'Don't say anything. We'll take care of it; come down to the makeup room.' She cut my hair to match the stunt double's wig. She cut off about three inches of my hair. I was so traumatized, but I didn't react until we finished the scene."

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT (1980)

"A lot of the stuff that you remember is on location, because it meant you were out of the studio. Some of my most fun times were the scenes where Alan was stalking Monica and Rick. It was funny and fun at the same time. Stuart Damon (Alan) was such a wonderful bad guy. Back then, he didn't have to do much of anything to terrorize me...because of his height. I'm so small, and Stuart is so tall."

GOING BATTY (1986)

"There was a time when Alan and Monica were being counseled. They had gone to see a marriage counselor. They were given these rubber bats and Stuart and I got to wail on each other really. And we did. It was one of the best therapy sessions I've ever had as far as getting aggressions out. We were in a room that was almost a padded cell."

EDWARD THE GREAT (1987)

"I have a lot of great memories of working with David Lewis (ex-Edward). He would do anything and everything he could to crack me up. He had that rubbery face that could look so stern — until you looked at his eyes. Then you saw that twinkle. I remember doing a scene where Uncle Herbert had died. It was David, Anna Lee (Lila), Stuart and me. David and Anna had to exit the bedroom, leaving Stuart and me to have a very serious conversation. As David passed us, he said, 'I'm taking mommy to wee-wee,' so [just] Stuart and I could hear it as we were taping. We had to do the rest of the scene in character. We locked eyes and thought, 'Once this scene is over, we're going to kill him.' Afterward, we railed on David. We said lots of unprintable words."

A NEW DAWN, A NEW 'DO (1991)

"I remember the time when we were changing Dawns (Monica’s daughter), regularly. Joe Hardy was producing the show at the time, and I think we were on the fourth Dawn. I had gone out and gotten my hair cut. Halfway through the haircut it occurred to me that I was going to be working the next day, and I had to match the previous day's scenes. It was sort of like, 'Oh. Wow!' In fact, my hairdresser even said, 'Your head has gotten awfully hot.' I said, 'I am so screwed.' I worried about it, because it was not me. I wouldn't do that. The next day I went up to see Joe. He was just staring at me, because I looked a lot different. I said, 'Joe, look: The way I figure this, if you can hand me four daughters in the space of six months, I can cut my hair.' He looked at me and said, 'You have a point!'"

I might be the only one keeping this thread up, LOL, but for those wondering where "Monica" has been...

From Leslie Charleson's Official Site

August 14, 2006

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're having a wonderful summer. I've been spending my days riding my horse early in the morning, trying to beat the heat. I know California isn't the only state having record heat waves! I guess we all are. In any event, I hope you're staying cool!

I know you've been wondering where "Monica" has been, as I have been missing from the GH canvas for the last three months. I wish I could say that I was off traveling on a wonderful vacation, but the truth is I've been written out for budgetary reasons, but I'll be back in September, when the new "budget year" begins. I appreciate all the calls, postings and letters that have been coming in to ABC from fans saying they miss seeing "Monica" and me. It lets ABC know that the fans notice when I'm not there...

Just thought about how much I enjoy Monica and Alan, especially during PORT CHARLES's Year 2000(which, IMO, was the best soap opera EVER during that period). Alan was on PC like almost EVERYDAY of the week, taking an active role with the residents and their cases. I wish, had the show gone the hospital route, that they would have continued to keep him on and maybe even make him a contract player.

And now that GH is blatantly ripping off GREY'S ANATOMY(which I think is a blantant PC ripoff), we still don't see Alan enough in the hospital, IMO.

Thanks for sharing, Ms. Q, but man, what crock! Although, I guess this is why we've seen such little of Leslie, Tristan, Stuart, and Finola. Maybe why no more Holly, too. Hmm.

Monica. Is. On.

*faints*

*catches Ms. Q and fans her with a Monica script*

LOL Keith.

Guess I shouldn't have gotten too excited. Seems as though Monica's disappeared again.

*peeks in head* I've decided I need to step my toe out of the Tracy Quartermaine LoveFest and venture forth to other threads....like..OOH MONICA AND ALAN!

MeLoveMe some M&A--what is their ship name, anyway? MoLan? AlIca? Anyway, before I ever heard of Tracy or Jane Elliot, before I ever saw a second of GH footage, I knew who Monica and Alan Quartermaine were. My sister was a huge fan during the early 80s (in high school), and she would always talk about Monica and Alan Quartermaine.

In my mind, they *are* General Hospital and always will be.

I wish A&M were on more. Last wk we didn't get any A&M which sucks. Hope their on this wk.

MONICA AND ALAN IN SPOILER PHOTOS

These came from the Luke/Laura Wedding...

Monica, Alan, and others stand (well, not Tracy) as Nikolas walks Laura down the aisle

Monica, Alan, and the rest of the Q's in their seats before the wedding

Alan, blurred behind Bobbie

SOD Online Recap Q/A with GH Actors about the Wedding...

Leslie Charleson (Monica) and Stuart Damon (Alan), who have their own anniversary coming up next year, had a grand time reminiscing about the first Spencer wedding, proving they're just as entertaining a couple off-screen, as well:

Soap Opera Digest: Did you ever think you'd be here to witness this?

Damon: Leslie, speak up. Stop with the mute act.

Charleson: Usually, you do it first! No, I never anticipated the run that we've had with the show. What actor thinks they'll be doing one thing for 30 years?

Damon: It's amazing. Leslie said the other day how lucky the two of us are that we've never stopped laughing together for 30 years. It's a miracle that we can still walk in and be civil and have fun together.

Digest: What were your characters doing in 1981?

Damon: At the time Luke and Laura's wedding was going on, Alan was very busy trying to kill Monica.

Charleson: Yes, he was trying to kill [her]and [she] was very busy trying not to be killed.

Damon: Alan was devising all these various projects that I thought were pretty good. Unfortunately, they never quite worked out.

Charleson: He was the best stalker.

Damon: Yes, a very good stalker.

Charleson: Very threatening. He scared the living daylights out of me. And still does.

Damon: You say the sweetest things.

YAY they were on today can't wait for tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too bad we didn't get more of them...I loved how they danced though it was so sweet. Hope to get more monica and alan soon.

I wish we had MORE ALAN AND MONICA

IluvAandM, I dreamt about the Quartermaines last night. Monica and Alan were of course there, bickering with the rest of them. Maybe it's a sign of good things to come.

IluvAandM, I dreamt about the Quartermaines last night. Monica and Alan were of course there, bickering with the rest of them. Maybe it's a sign of good things to come.

YAY Hopefully I wish they were on more....cuz it sucks when they aren't

Edited December 15, 200619 yr by IluvAandM