Think if laura

Genie Francis Marks The 45th Anniversary Of Her Port Charles Debut

- Mara Levinsky

GH fans were introduced to the show’s new Laura, played by a 14-year-old Genie Francis, on February 8, 1977. She soon skyrocketed to unprecedented soap fame (appearing solo on the cover of TV Guide and, in tandem with then-leading man Anthony Geary, ex-Luke, Newsweek), with 30 million viewers and special guest star Elizabeth Taylor on hand to see Laura become Mrs. Lucas Lorenzo Spencer in 1981. Success was not always sweet for Francis, but as she reflects on her milestone 45th anniversary, she remains grateful for the miles she’s walked in Laura’s shoes — and to still be walking in them.

Soap Opera Digest: Do you recall what your GH audition consisted of?

Genie Francis: I honestly don’t remember much about that at all, except being in the waiting room and being nervous and my mom being there with me. I don’t really remember what scene I read; it had to have been something with Denise [Alexander, ex-Lesley], who wasn’t actually there, but some mother/daughter stuff.

Digest: Fairly early in your run, then-Executive Producer Gloria Monty took you to lunch with your father and outlined her plan to shift storyline focus onto Laura, who had been more of a peripheral character, as most younger characters were in daytime television at that time. Do you remember that lunch?