In a revealing two-part interview with “General Hospital” star Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos), for his popular “State of Mind” podcast series, Genie Francis (Laura Collins) sits down for a rare and emotional conversation as the two soap icons open up about their new storyline on the long-running soap opera, the state of the genre itself, their decades-long friendship, as well as their deeply personal mental health journeys — Benard on bipolar disorder, and Francis on depression and social anxiety.

Disappearing Stigma: Acting on Soaps

In an exclusive preview clip released to Soap Opera Network, the two talk about the long-standing stigma around soap actors and why Francis believes it’s finally fading.

“I think the stigma is less and less about us with people like Bryan Cranston [“Breaking Bad,” “Malcolm in the Middle”] embracing it and saying it was the most wonderful training ground,” notes Francis, referring to Cranston’s comments about his portrayal of Douglas Donovan on “Loving” during the early days of his acting career.

“I think it’s disappearing, I think [there are] enough film actors who have tried to do it and can’t. I think it’s lost a lot of that,” continues Francis. “People very often cannot tell the difference between bad writing and bad acting … You have to have a very discerning eye to be able to see that.”

Agreeing with Francis, Benard says, “It’s not fair sometimes, with as much [dialogue] as we have.”

“It’s more difficult now than it’s ever been, even when it was live,” elaborates Francis. “It’s harder now because now, I mean, there are days, no takes, and there’s no rehearsal time, and we’ll shoot three or four episodes in one day. You know you’ll be on set for 20 consecutive scenes of emotional stuff. That’s like a marathon. These things never happened before. So, now it’s harder than it ever was.” 

Watch the preview clip below.

The two-part “State of Mind” interview with Genie Francis will be released on Sunday, November 16 and Sunday, November 23, with the podcast available to watch or listen to on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

Note: In part two, Francis’ husband, Jonathan Frakes (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), joins the conversation.

Note: The post “I Think It’s Disappearing,” Says ‘General Hospital’ Star Genie Francis On The Stigma Of Acting On Soaps (Exclusive) first appeared on Soap Opera Network.

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I understand where she's coming from, but I do feel like the stigma still exists and will continue to, unfortunately, exist.

58 minutes ago, Errol said:

Note: In part two, Francis’ husband, Jonathan Frakes (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), joins the conversation.

 

I cannot wait for this!!!  I love the two of them.

14 hours ago, Liberty City said:

I understand where she's coming from, but I do feel like the stigma still exists and will continue to, unfortunately, exist.

I mean, unless soaps start paying equal to prime time, then doing a soap when you've made it above that pay grade will always be seen as a step down. I think it's probably easier to at least step up from doing soaps these days, but everyone knows that someone whose done prime time and goes back to soaps only does so because work have dried up.

7 hours ago, te. said:

I mean, unless soaps start paying equal to prime time, then doing a soap when you've made it above that pay grade will always be seen as a step down. I think it's probably easier to at least step up from doing soaps these days, but everyone knows that someone whose done prime time and goes back to soaps only does so because work have dried up.

I'm not even speaking on the pay grade. I'm speaking in terms of story, acting [quality], etc. There is a major stigma out there against soaps, their writing, and their acting.

Listen... I'm against all forms of stigma... and there are numerous preconceived notions that come up when people consider the genre as a whole... however, I can't help but partially hold the creators and producers responsible for perpetuating this negative image. (Primetime has this issue but to a lesser extent too.) You can't bring in 0 experience models or nepo babies who can hardly speak and THEN expect talented individuals, who truly have what it takes, to feel proud when their colleagues struggle to even SPEAK their lines. And some of these people get more airtime than the actual talented ones, which is just ridiculous. I mean... there's a whoooole wide range between the likes of Susan Flannery... Erika Slezak...  Debbi Morgan... Tamara Tunie and things like this...

 

and this...

which get more and more airtime. WHY?

And don't tell me that talented actors don't get lost in the midst of the junk, because that's not true. Acting against/with someone who can barely speak drags everyone down, including the one who CAN act. It's embarrassing how some really great actors have carried deadweights their entire careers, scene after scene after scene. I'm sick of that. Talent should be treated with respect. This is not an amateur acting class where wannabes come to learn from the legends. It shouldn't be like this... America is full of starving actors who are not nepo babies or models... who CAN do the work needed. Give them a chance.

2 hours ago, Liberty City said:

I'm not even speaking on the pay grade. I'm speaking in terms of story, acting [quality], etc. There is a major stigma out there against soaps, their writing, and their acting.

Gee, I wonder why?   

2 hours ago, Maxim said:

Listen... I'm against all forms of stigma... and there are numerous preconceived notions that come up when people consider the genre as a whole... however, I can't help but partially hold the creators and producers responsible for perpetuating this negative image. (Primetime has this issue but to a lesser extent too.) You can't bring in 0 experience models or nepo babies who can hardly speak and THEN expect talented individuals, who truly have what it takes, to feel proud when their colleagues struggle to even SPEAK their lines. And some of these people get more airtime than the actual talented ones, which is just ridiculous. I mean... there's a whoooole wide range between the likes of Susan Flannery... Erika Slezak...  Debbi Morgan... Tamara Tunie and things like this...

You aren't wrong, but then I think of the horrible Dasha (of the Red Scare podcast, and most recently, fawning over Nick Fuentes fame), one of the most untalented "actors" I've ever seen, who was given a recurring part on Succession, one of the best-acted shows I've ever seen. So that reminds me even in the most prestigious shows, connections get you work you don't deserve. At least with soaps, I can cut more slack due to the compressed schedule and lack of rehearsal time. 

I do think that the bad acting issue is a reason many in the industry will never get past soaps as being unworthy. If any reading has changed I think it's less because of people having an improved opinion of soaps and more because they aren't as big culturally now, they're just sort of in their little corner. And actors can't afford to be as snobbish when more and more work is drying up...now with AI in the wings to replace them.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

You aren't wrong, but then I think of the horrible Dasha (of the Red Scare podcast, and most recently, fawning over Nick Fuentes fame), one of the most untalented "actors" I've ever seen, who was given a recurring part on Succession, one of the best-acted shows I've ever seen. So that reminds me even in the most prestigious shows, connections get you work you don't deserve. At least with soaps, I can cut more slack due to the compressed schedule and lack of rehearsal time. 

I do think that the bad acting issue is a reason many in the industry will never get past soaps as being unworthy. If any reading has changed I think it's less because of people having an improved opinion of soaps and more because they aren't as big culturally now, they're just sort of in their little corner. And actors can't afford to be as snobbish when more and more work is drying up...now with AI in the wings to replace them.

I remember a time when I stumbled upon a forum (while I was on some sort of late night google deep dive) - it seemed like a typical "macho" space where men discussed cars and sports... and then there was a topic... which was about soap operas. While reading the responses, I was quite shocked to see that nearly 90 percent of the members were mocking soap operas, claiming that "everyone on these shows is so terrible and fake" and things like that and the emphasis was on how particularly bad the acting was. I felt an urge to register and share my thoughts... but then I realized... for these people who have likely never truly "watched" soaps... aside from glancing while their wives or mothers are doing it... (maybe there are those watching in the closet, who knows)... THIS is their perception of soaps - a disastrous spectacle of poor acting and melodrama. How would they react if I told them that some of the finest performances I've ever witnessed... have come from soaps? They would probably laugh at me. This is the kind of stigma that irks me to no end... and it only worsens when those in charge hire people who seem almost... intentionally chosen to undermine the genre. It feels as if they don't take the show seriously, so why should we... it's a vibe I find unsettling. And It's not only that they hire bad people... they keep giving them dialogue like crazy. They place them center stage. (For reasons that are beyond me.)  

Aaaand here I am... watching my OLTL episodes from 1992 and witnessing and experiencing acting... not just in soap operas... but in general - in the highest level. It almost feels like indulging in a hidden treasure that others overlook or don't know about. It's such a strange feeling at times. Yet, can I blame them for their negative perceptions of soaps when I see the trash on television? Sadly... I cannot. Maybe I need to register in that macho forum if I find it again and just tell them - sh-t up, turn the sport channel off, go to youtube and type - OLTL 1992 and then Thank me. They'll probably ban me right then and there. 😁

Edited November 15Nov 15 by Maxim

6 minutes ago, Maxim said:

I remember a time when I stumbled upon a forum (while I was on some sort of late night google deep dive) - it seemed like a typical "macho" space where men discussed cars and sports... and then there was a topic... which was about soap operas. While reading the responses, I was quite shocked to see that nearly 90 percent of the members were mocking soap operas, claiming that "everyone on these shows is so terrible and fake" and things like that and the emphasis was on how particularly bad the acting was. I felt an urge to register and share my thoughts... but then I realized... for these people who have likely never truly "watched" soaps... aside from glancing while their wives or mothers are doing it... (maybe there are those watching in the closet, who knows)... THIS is their perception of soaps - a disastrous spectacle of poor acting and melodrama. How would they react if I told them that some of the finest performances I've ever witnessed... have come from soaps? They would probably laugh at me. This is the kind of stigma that irks me to no end... and it only worsens when those in charge hire people who seem almost... intentionally chosen to undermine the genre. It feels as if they don't take the show seriously, so why should we... it's a vibe I find unsettling. And It's not only that they hire bad people... they keep giving them dialogue like crazy. They place them center stage. (For reasons that are beyond me.)  

Aaaand here I am... watching my OLTL episodes from 1992 and witnessing and experiencing acting... not just in soap operas... but in general - in the highest level. It almost feels like indulging in a hidden treasure that others overlook or don't know about. It's such a strange feeling at times. Yet, can I blame them for their negative perceptions of soaps when I see the trash on television? Sadly... I cannot. Maybe I need to register in that macho forum if I find it again and just tell them - sh-t up, turn the sport channel off, go to youtube and type - OLTL 1992 and then Thank me. They'll probably ban me right then and there. 😁

That has always annoyed me too. The parodies of soaps that used organ music for decades after soaps used them. And in more recent years, just soap parodies which give the impression of someone watching B&B (and not the better B&B) and thinking that was the whole genre. There's always been a contempt for soaps for being a woman's format, even as the genre became so shockingly misogynist. I think many now are just surprised to learn there are any soaps still on. I'm not sure which is worse.

At least there are places like this which circulate the good times (and can laugh at the bad times). And I'd guess some of those people secretly enjoyed soaps. As the old TV Guide critic said after trashing Dark Shadows - after he moved on he realized he missed watching it.

32 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

That has always annoyed me too. The parodies of soaps that used organ music for decades after soaps used them. And in more recent years, just soap parodies which give the impression of someone watching B&B (and not the better B&B) and thinking that was the whole genre. There's always been a contempt for soaps for being a woman's format, even as the genre became so shockingly misogynist. I think many now are just surprised to learn there are any soaps still on. I'm not sure which is worse.

At least there are places like this which circulate the good times (and can laugh at the bad times). And I'd guess some of those people secretly enjoyed soaps. As the old TV Guide critic said after trashing Dark Shadows - after he moved on he realized he missed watching it.

Yes. Many people think soap operas are Joey Tribbiani's Dr. Drake Ramoray coming back from the dead on Days of Our Lives, with his evil twin and exaggerated acting. Unfortunately, they are not wrong - some soaps have indeed been like this for a long time. However, they are incorrect in believing this is true for ALL soap operas. This stigma ignores decades of history that will likely never be revisited or recognized (as much of the material has been lost, taped over, or destroyed), focusing solely on the trashy period of soaps, especially after the mid-1990s, which has turned into a punchline. Many people deny enjoying soaps, even if they do, just to fit in with their friends and peers opinions. I doubt soap operas can shake off this negative image completely. Some of them even seem to embrace it and push it further, parodying the genre in itself. Yet, there is hope IMO. In a world where nearly everything seems to be declining, even films are getting worse... it seems soaps might not be so bad anymore (I think the new punchline are reality shows), and there is a veeery slim chance for them to innovate and create a new legacy. 

Edited November 15Nov 15 by Maxim

2 hours ago, DRW50 said:

I do think that the bad acting issue is a reason many in the industry will never get past soaps as being unworthy. If any reading has changed I think it's less because of people having an improved opinion of soaps and more because they aren't as big culturally now, they're just sort of in their little corner. And actors can't afford to be as snobbish when more and more work is drying up...now with AI in the wings to replace them.

I don't think the fragmentation of media has helped actors from soaps. Most of the big movie stars that started on soaps (Demi Moore, Meg Ryan, Robin Wright, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon) were on in the 80s when daytime was at its cultural peak.

There hasn't been A-list actor from the soaps since Michael B Jordan. And he did a season of The Wire before joining AMC.

2 minutes ago, bongobong said:

I don't think the fragmentation of media has helped actors from soaps. Most of the big movie stars that started on soaps (Demi Moore, Meg Ryan, Robin Wright, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon) were on in the 80s when daytime was at its cultural peak.

There hasn't been A-list actor from the soaps since Michael B Jordan. And he did a season of The Wire before joining AMC.

I'd argue one reason is because there are fewer and fewer A-list actors. After that point you have performers along the lines of Amanda Seyfried, who has never been a huge star, but a very steady success.

NAC went from GH to various big primetime star roles. Not movie stardom but the most recent transition I can think of.

17 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I'd argue one reason is because there are fewer and fewer A-list actors. After that point you have performers along the lines of Amanda Seyfried, who has never been a huge star, but a very steady success.

NAC went from GH to various big primetime star roles. Not movie stardom but the most recent transition I can think of.

I just thought of him! 

P.S. I don't know why but this conversation reminds me of people who left soaps to do "bigger" and "better" things and then did nothing more famous or known than their soap role.  

Edited November 15Nov 15 by Maxim

9 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I'd argue one reason is because there are fewer and fewer A-list actors. After that point you have performers along the lines of Amanda Seyfried, who has never been a huge star, but a very steady success.

NAC went from GH to various big primetime star roles. Not movie stardom but the most recent transition I can think of.

That's a fair point about less A-listers.

Between the ones you mentioned Melissa Fumero & Justin Hartley have worked consistently too.