Emma Samms returns this week to General Hospital to finally get us down to the nitty gritty. Who is Ethan? Is he Holly’s son with Luke Spencer? Or, the biological son of Robert Scorpio? Or, is this just another scam being pulled off by the beautiful con artist?

As part of the “GH” May Sweeps humdinger, Emma came back to the show to tape a few weeks worth of episodes, something she says, she “relishes” doing. Her last appearance on the soap was a few years back. Of course, we all remember her as the young Holly Sutton who captured the hearts of both Mr. Spencer and Mr. Scorpio during the legendary “GH” heyday. But from that heyday did an offspring… spring?

On-Air On-Soaps chatted with Emma about her exciting return, her numerous projects, family life in England, and her time on the primetime soap, Dynasty. Also, she’s getting to work with her old pal Tony Geary, and her newest buddy, Nathan Parsons, and she tells us she couldn’t be happier.

Here’s Emma!

Listen to the audio:

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MICHAEL:

You are back on General Hospital this week! When you came back this time from your last visit two years ago, you came back to a new set and a different look, and the show in HD!

EMMA:

I tell you the new hospital set is amazing, but my character never goes anywhere near the hospital. The Police station, yes, but not the hospital. As far as High Definition, I hope I look good in it. (She laughs)

MICHAEL:

How is working with Nathan Parsons (Ethan), presumed “son” of Holly?

EMMA:
I have he is amazing! I watched him before I met him and worked with him. Then as soon as I started working with him, I forgot whatever I was talking about, because he has such an interesting character and quality about him. It’s not your standard young actor. He is very interesting and the way he works, it makes you pay attention to him. I think everybody focuses on him. He is very charismatic. We have quite a few scenes together, and they have been very interesting, and that is all I am going to say! (She laughs)

MICHAEL:

So, as we have heard, he will turn out to be Luke Spencer or Robert Scorpio’s Son?

EMMA:

Yeah. That much I can tell you.

MICHAEL:

And Holly will be the mama?

EMMA:

Probably. I am very well trained by the ABC press department! (She laughs)

MICHAEL:

Is Holly coming back with an agenda? What is precipitating her return?

EMMA:

I think it’s safe to say that Holly always has an agenda. I think there are a lot of people who are very keen on having her reunited with Scorpio, because that was such a successful pairing. But, what people have to remember is that she has been on her own for a long time, and it’s quite likely that she will revert back to type, which is a con artist. She’s from a whole family of swindlers and thieves, and in truth, it makes much more sense for her to be that character, if the writers are kind enough to bring me back every now and then. Holly is the type of character that you can bring back to cause a little trouble and than leave again. That idea of coming in and out of the plot and the show is what I am so happy to do.

MICHAEL:

So, Holly is either conning Luke with this Ethan, or she is there to tell Luke some truths?

EMMA:

Holly is always pleased to see Luke, as I am to see Tony Geary (Luke). I have been so lucky to have two marvelous on-screen relationships at “GH”, and I am very grateful for that. Of course, it was Tony who taught me to act at age 21. I think it’s safe to say that I was pretty rubbish….

MICHAEL:

….And your first scene was in the pond, supposedly naked!

EMMA:

That’s right….

MICHAEL:

…I know my Holly.

EMMA:

You know the Holly trivia!

MICHAEL:

What do you think about Tony Geary? I think he is the consummate actor on soaps.

EMMA:

I totally agree with you, and the reason why, is he listens, he pays attention, he is not reading the lines in the way that you would necessarily think of them when you are first reading them, and he makes it all so different and exciting and interesting. I am still learning from him. The other thing about Tony is not only is he an amazing actor, he is an amazing person. It’s always a delight to be around him.

MICHAEL:

Well, it would be so exciting to have Holly, Luke, Robert and Tracy in a one big mess over Ethan!

EMMA:

A lot of people are hoping different things, and of course you can never make everybody happy, which can be a bit frustrating for an actor, because you are going to upset some people and you are going to make other people happy. I always hope, overall, you make more people happy than upset. You have to do essentially what the writers tell you to do.

MICHAEL:

I saw some “hot” chemistry with Maurice Benard (Sonny) on the set of “Good Day LA” when they did a segment on your first day back at “GH”. Do you think it would be fun for Holly and Sonny to mix it up?

EMMA:

I tell you, they would be two interesting characters together, if they were ever to have an issue to deal with that brings them closer.

MICHAEL:

So we can assume that Jane Eliot (Tracy) and you are going to really mix-it up?

EMMA:

I think one can assume that because it’s too good to miss, because Jane is such a fantastic actor as well. The interesting thing is now that I do all sorts of work other than soap operas, I therefore am on film sets and nighttime television shows, both here and England. The thing that makes the “GH” experience unique is that on a show like General Hospital everybody is nice and hard working and professional, because they won’t have you if you are not. You will get kicked off the show pronto, if you are none of those things. And, what a joy that is, and a difference that makes to go to the set and be surrounded by these really lovely people.

MICHAEL:

Well, Fallon, ( He laughs) when you played that part on the prime-time soap Dynasty, what was your take away from that experience and the primetime soaps of the 80’s?

EMMA:

Besides all the clothes in my attack? (She laughs) It was all mostly designed by Nolan Miller, and how lucky was I to wear those things? In truth, to be part of a show that has become an iconic representation of the 80’s generation is really a privilege. Who would have thought that after the show some 20 later, after the show has been finished, that people are still talking about it, and that it does represent the 80’s in such
a profound way.

MICHAEL:

Do you still stay in touch with some of your former Dynasty co-stars?

EMMA:

I do. The actor who played my love interest in the last couple of seasons who played the police officer, Roy Abruzzo, is a friend. He went onto to do The Sopranos for a couple of years. I have stayed in touch with him. In fact, I went to see him in a play a few weeks ago.

MICHAEL:

You live in the countryside in the UK. What have you been doing with yourself in England?

EMMA:

Mostly, I have been raising my kids who are now 11 and 12. I have a boy and a girl. I am blessed to have two such wonderful little people to devote my life too. I still work some. I do some bits and pieces for the BBC. I did a movie with Wesley Snipes a few years ago, and I did a mini-series in South Africa, except everything is a way from home! So, I try to limit it very much. I am going to be doing a very interesting job when I get back, which is that I am actually dancing in a modern ballet type production. I have not danced in a very long time.

MICHAEL:

Weren’t you a dancer originally in you career?

EMMA:

Yes, I was!

MICHAEL:

See, I know my Emma Samms!

EMMA:

You know your Holly.

MICHAEL:

Of all your accomplishments, what are you most proud of?

EMMA:

I would say, by far, it’s having created with my cousin The Starlight Children’s Foundation. It’s now called, over here, the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, which helps children who are critically, chronically and terminally ill. And, to have had a career that meant that I could use that celebrity, as it were, to do good things and help kids, and to help families going through horrible times…that’s the best thing in my career, by a long shot!

MICHAEL:

Are you still active in the organization?

EMMA:

Very much so… and certainly in the UK! Business is booming for us. We have raised more and more money every year, and reaching more and more children, which is very satisfying.

MICHAEL:

In closing, emails have come into me from many of your long time female fans telling me to ask you your beauty tip.
You still look amazing! What is your secret?

EMMA:

Genetics is my secret, which is sadly the answer. I think we are all destined to age pretty much like our mother, unless we mess with it too much by being out in the sun a lot or smoking, or whatever. My mother looks fabulous. So, thank
goodness for that!