Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

November Sweeps is in full bloom on ABC’s General Hospital, and it’s turning out to be an epic one, especially for mob gal, Ava Jerome (Maura West)!  With so many in Port Charles wanting to take her down … or, out … it is whack-job Nina Clay (Michelle Stafford) who just did the unthinkable to her arch enemy with an assist from her evil mother, Madeline (Donna Mills)!  In the highly anticipated, knot-in-your-gut scenes, Nina has drugged Ava by paralyzing her, and then inducing labor with a series of terrifying syringe-filled injections.  Ava has no option but to have Nina deliver her baby!  Nina’s revenge plot comes to its fruition with a newborn baby in hand as payback for Ava having her husband Silas’ (Michael Easton) baby (Kiki) all those years ago!

Meanwhile, Sonny (Maurice Benard) has just filled-in Morgan (Bryan Craig) that Ava killed Connie!  Morgan has told Sonny that Ava is hiding out at the brownstone, and remember, Sonny told Ava he will kill her once the baby is born for retribution for her pulling the trigger.  What will Sonny do?  And there is this: which one of the Corinthos men is the father of Ava’s now kidnapped baby girl?  With the drama continuing to unfold, On-Air On-Soaps chatted with two-time Daytime Emmy winning dynamo Maura West, who just delivered, yet again, another star-turn as Ava’s world is turned upside down and sideways!

There is no question that West has become one of the crème de la crème, the quintessential actress of the genre, exciting the audience at home with her layered character and performances, and bringing her A-game to the set of GH each and every time.  In our candid and oh-so-fun conversation, Maura reveals what it was like taping the key scenes with Michelle Stafford, where Nina’s plan to take Ava’s baby goes into full tilt!  She also addresses: where she thinks the story will go from here, who she hopes is proven to be the father of Ava’s baby, if she is concerned that Ava could finally be sent up the river after all her crimes, and what she thought of Ava running down Jason, which facilitated the entrance of Billy Miller!  “Buckle Up, GHers!”  Here’s what Maura shared!

MICHAEL:

Ava Jerome has compiled quite the laundry list of crimes!  Have you been concerned at all how the writers were going to get her out of all this … and thus worried about the fate of the character?

MAURA:

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Of course, you feel that way, but frankly, then I shed that.  It’s not my problem, or my business.  My business is to play my scripts one day at a time, and play this character.  It’s really not for me to wonder about four months down the road, or six months down the road, or a year down the road.  I am a human being, so sure I go, “Well, this is a tough one!”  But again, at the end of the day, it’s not my business.

MICHAEL:

When you found out that Ava was pregnant, what was your initial reaction?  Did you think it was a great way to keep her alive in the story?

MAURA:

In the moment, I thought it was a great way to save her and keep her alive.  It’s a handy tool for this genre to have someone be pregnant.  It’s very common, and yet this was unpredictable, at least to me.  I think the audience got it before the big reveal.  They were thinking, “Oh, she’s gonna be pregnant.”  The fans post their thoughts, and they are often right!  I am really game for anything; otherwise I wouldn’t be having any fun.  I loved it!  I loved the idea, because it’s hilarious that it could be Carly’s (Laura Wright) grandbaby that Ava is having.  Also, the idea that just this one time, one time in the crypt, and the possibility then of Ava having Sonny’s baby is interesting, too.  It all came out of the one misstep by these characters.

MICHAEL:

What did you think of the infamous “crypt sex” scenes?  Your performance, as well as Maurice’s, was amazing!  Have you watched back the scenes?

MAURA:

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I am very self-critical, because I know what was going on that day.  I know what Maura was thinking before we started taping the scenes, or where I was emotionally.  So when I see it back, that is how I gauge each episode.  That being said, I would be an idiot to not watch the show, and the progress of not only Ava, but the other characters around her, and who’s talking about her.  Frankly, I like the show, and I like a lot of other characters, and I am entertained by it.  I did like the “crypt sex” scenes, because I got to work with Maurice Benard (Sonny). I find him to be a very interesting man, and an unpredictable actor, which I like.  I would say overall I liked the scenes, as much as you can like screwing in a crypt! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

The “crypt sex” certainly got a reaction from the fans of the show.  Many were outraged that the duo did it right there in front of the dead Quartermaines!

MAURA:

I love that the fans are so attached to the characters, and even the characters that are in that crypt!  It’s sacrilege for the fans of the show. They have been watching the show for so long, and Ava is sort of this new girl in town, and she screws on the graves! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

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Morgan (Bryan Craig) was recently taking care of pregnant Ava and hiding her at the brownstone!  Now, he is armed with the knowledge that Ava killed Connie! What do you think will happen when he eventually confronts her?  How will she deal with it?

MAURA:

I would just guess from my relationship with Ava, since I am very intimate with her (laughs) that she knew this would be a conversation that would come up some day.  She was just trying to avoid the conversation as long as possible.

MICHAEL:

Ava is great at sidestepping.  She has been a survivor of all her dirty deeds … until now!

MAURA:

But in the end one must face their faults, their lies, and their demons!  The clock is ticking here.  It’s her turn.  I think it’s also important to remember, and for me to remind myself, that this was a mob hit.  This was no different from Julian (William deVry) shooting Vince at the pier, or the numerous shootings that have happened, or all the guards that were shot in Ava’s hallway at her penthouse.  People get shot on this show by mobsters, and that is what happened in that office that day with Connie (Kelly Sullivan). Connie had just found out that Derek Wells (Julian) and Ava were the Jeromes!  Ava could not allow that to go any further.  So, this is not like it was some forensic files creepy murder, it is what is, and that is a mob hit.  Now, that is not necessarily better (laughs) but it does change the attitude of it, as far as mobsters go. This is what happens in this world.

MICHAEL:

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For months and months, it has been set-up that Nina (Michelle Stafford) is going to take this baby from Ava!  Can you take me through the taping of the harrowing scenes, as played by you and Michelle Stafford?  What was your reaction when you found out just how Nina was going to take Ava’s baby … literally right out of her!

MAURA:

Michelle and I work great together.  We respect each other, the script, and the story, and we know what our jobs are.  So while having fun, as women and as actors, because that is so important, we can also get the job done effectively and efficiently.  When I read the script at home I was stunned!  I was just stunned.  The cruelty of paralyzing this woman, who is so active, able, and strong, and willful!  Those are all the things about Ava that I love.  Once she has been given this paralytic, she is stripped of her ability to defend herself, which is what she has done her whole life.  And for me, I almost dry-heaved!  I was like, “Oh, my God!”  I know Ava is bad, but I love her, and I have to love her.  So, my first thought was: “Poor Ava!”  And then I think to myself, “O.K. Maura, how are you going to do this?”  It is very difficult as an actor to act when you are essentially completely inactive, and yet you have all of these scenes to do. I found it very challenging in that way.  I don’t want to speak for Michelle, but conversely for her, she is the one who is the movement and the language, and she is the catalyst.  As an actor, I can’t give her a lot, because I am just lying there.

MICHAEL:

Your eyes showed the terror!  The scenes were phenomenal. 

MAURA:

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I certainly hope so!  (Laughs)  That is very challenging to paralyze your actress and say, “Now, go!”   It was very tricky.  Michelle was great, and in fact after those scenes were done, we went out and had a couple of margaritas to shake it off!  You have to shake it off, because it was sort of creepy, and it was emotionally taxing to do that kind of stuff.  Sometimes, you just need to decompress.

MICHAEL:

It was horrifying to see Ava go from being paralyzed from one drug, to going into labor from the other one, and Nina going crazy and getting everything ready to aid in the delivery of that baby!  How was playing that moment?

MAURA:

Michelle is so brilliant in this moment when that the paralytic wears off just as the drug that induced Ava’s labor kicks-in.  Nina needs to be able to have her push out the baby. Nina took great delight in that her plan had worked: that one drug was wearing off as the other was taking effect and kicking-in.  Ava at that point is paralyzed by the pain of active labor.  I can say that having been there a few times in real life! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

And then the baby is born!  Nina adamantly tells Ava that this is HER baby.  And then who shows up? … Nina’s accomplice, Madeline (Donna Mills)!  In an effort to keep the women from taking off with her newborn little bundle of joy, Ava starts to attempt to turn the tables on them by divulging a bit of information to Nina!

MAURA:

Courtesy/ABC

I know!  The baby is born, and it’s a baby girl.  Ava never gets to see her, or hold her, or smell her, or any of the things new mommies want to do.  The bargaining takes place when Madeline (Donna Mills) shows up to help Nina leave with the baby, which is totally insane, but great!  Ava is trying anything to stop them, and she is very weak after giving birth, and so she can’t just go running around after her baby.  She is not being able to help herself to the baby, and then she starts to verbally bargain, or really trying to plead to Madeline, that you don’t have to do this.  She tries to get Nina angry with Madeline by telling her how Madeline paid her to have sex with her husband Silas (Michael Easton) all those years ago, and to try to divide the two so they will somehow leave the baby.  And for me, those were my first scenes with Donna Mills!  Let’s not forget that!

MICHAEL:

This was a soap opera heaven for fans of the soaps, seeing you, Donna Mills and Michelle Stafford all together in scenes!  How was it working with Donna?

MAURA:

It was incredible!  Donna has this glorious presence about her, but she is just there to do the job.  It’s really just wonderful.

MICHAEL:

Were you a Donna Mills fan when she was Abby on Knots Landing?

MAURA:

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Are you kidding me?  I don’t think you can be a television fan, without being a fan of Donna Mills!  Knots Landing was on for 14 years, or so!

MICHAEL:

So this little bombshell that Ava drops to try to put a wedge between Madeline and Ava, do you think she is telling the truth about how she was paid by Madeline to seduce Silas, especially given how Ava lies her way out of everything?

MAURA:

I think that we are left thinking that Ava is telling the truth.  Ava does fib a lot though!  She did not mean to fall in love with Silas, but she cared about him after the fact.  I think we are left realizing that this all could be true.

MICHAEL:

Ava is going to want her baby back!  Did you play it from the get-go that Ava wanted this child … or did you play it from a place that she was going along with the pregnancy, because this baby was the only way to keep her alive so Sonny wouldn’t kill her?

MAURA:

She is very upset.  As far as Maura played it, this woman anticipated, wanted, genuinely loved, and was not simply grown inside her to protect her, and so it wasn’t just a ploy for Ava to stay alive for nine more months.  It really was a baby that she wanted.  She is a mother, and she does love her other daughter Kiki (Kristen Alderson).  I think it has been made very clear that Ava does like being a mother, and certainly would want her baby.  It is a really devastating moment for Ava when they walk out the door with the baby.  Oh, yeah!

MICHAEL:

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Do you think the audience is now going to root and care for Ava, now that Nina and Madeline left with her baby? 

MAURA:

It is our jobs to find the humanity in the scenes.  By the way, as exciting and dramatic as it is, it can happen and has in real life, but there is always a humanity written in there, which I love.  So that no matter what is going on, or how far-fetched we might go, in the next beat there is a really human moment.  That is the brilliance of General Hospital head writer Ron Carlivati, and his writing team.

MICHAEL:

So, who are you hoping will turn out to be the biological father of Ava’s baby … Sonny or Morgan?

MAURA:

Well, Morgan of course!  She told him that and she meant that.  Ava loves Morgan.  She doesn’t love Sonny, besides how many kids can that guy have? (Laughs)   Morgan and Ava had that sweet scene not long ago where she said to him, “I hope the baby is yours.”  I love working with Bryan Craig (Morgan).  He has always been wonderful right from the start, easy, and he never feared the weird feeling of him being so much younger than the actress he is playing opposite.  He has been really a joy, actually.

MICHAEL:

At the end of yesterday’s episode, Ava finally wobbles and crawls to the door, and there is Sonny! Oh, boy!  Her day of reckoning is here, or is it?

MAURA:

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I know!  He is everywhere!   And there he is … standing there all cute! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

While many have been waiting for the showdown between Sonny and Ava, I am placing my bet that she and Sonny are going to be forced to work together to find the baby, therefore her life is saved for the moment … yet again!  How does that sound? (Laughs)

MAURA:

I can say that definitely something happens.  You have to watch.  Many twists!  And that is not a bad guess of yours.  It could be … or could not be.  Maybe … or maybe not.  So much stuff is going to happen.

MICHAEL:

When you look at the list of actors you get to work with in your story, including Michael Easton (Silas) they are all A-list heavy-hitters in daytime!  Do you ever take a moment and think to yourself how incredible and cool this is to work with such a talent pool?

MAURA:

When I first came to GH my first scenes were with Tony Geary (Luke), Jane Elliot (Tracy), and Roger Howarth (Franco) who is brilliant … they are all brilliant.  So, I know what you are saying.  Believe me, I don’t take it for granted when I go on set and Michael Easton (Silas) is standing there.  I go, “Wow! Holy s—t that is Michael Easton standing there!”  And you know, none of it gets really old to me.  I enjoy it.  I like people, and I like acting a lot, and for me every minute of it is such a joy.

MICHAEL:

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Where do you think Silas’ relationship with Ava is at now?  He was there to help her when she was having labor issues.  Do you think that somehow Silas and Ava could rekindle the past?

MAURA:

These are two people that did care about each other, once upon a time.  As far as rekindling, anything is possible, but you need to give Ava time to heal up … she just had a baby!  (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Where is Ava’s brother Julian in all of this?  Does he get a clue to what has befallen his sister?

MAURA:

He does hear about things.  The last scenes I had with William I just loved with the Chinese food in the penthouse between Ava and Julian.  I got such a kick out of those. You find that Julian does really care about his sister, and it’s been kind of hot and cold: “You know I love you, but I am going to kill ya!”  Julian does want to protect Ava.  He does not tell her he is doing that, but he does tell people to back off, and is concerned about the whereabouts of his sister, as any big brother would be.  I think you will see him coming to Ava’s aid.

MICHAEL:

There have been rumors out there that Kiki (Kristen Alderson) may turn out to not be Ava’s bio-child after all!

MAURA:

Courtesy/ABC

I know, but I guess I would wonder why someone would think that?  That would be my question: why would this child she has been raising for the last 21 years not really be hers?  I myself have not seen clues to the fact, which doesn’t mean that is not true.  I don’t know!  I am absolutely playing that Kiki is my daughter, and that is the relationship that they have for me.  I guess, I did read something about how if Ava had a baby before, why should she be reading, “What To Expect When You’re Expecting!” (Laughs)  I love Kiki and the relationship they have.  I would be very sad actually if Kiki wasn’t Ava’s.   I can say that since we do see Ava give birth to this baby, that one we actually know is her biological daughter! (Laughs)

MICHAEL

We discussed in a previous interview how you take on and embody a character, and that the clothes Ava wears are also an important part of the creation.  You even got to keep her “Ava-style” when pregnant!

MAURA:

I was given flats one day while Ava was pregnant.  I said,“Please, she needs to have her heels on.  She may have to sit down more often though!” (Laughs)  I am not really an actor who works from the outside in, so the clothes don’t really make the character, but it’s all a puzzle that has to fit together.  Ava never wore pants.  She wore pants last week twice, and people went, “She never wears pants!”  You can’t put over anything on the fans.

MICHAEL:

You have had some fabulous scenes in 2014!  I say, “Emmy Nomination!” should be coming your way!  Any scenes come to mind that were some of your favorites?

MAURA:

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I like the simple stuff and two person scenes, and God knows Ava doesn’t have any friends, so I have a lot of those! (Laughs)  I enjoyed the simple sweetness with Kiki, and there were scenes awhile back where Ava was getting out of Dodge, and Julian was going to kill her.  I loved that Morgan saved her, and those were written well.  They were emotional, and there was action, and love, all in one episode.

MICHAEL:

I just want to get to this little plot point … Ava ran over Jason (Billy Miller)! (Laughs)

MAURA:

I know, and that’s another thing!  I love that.  I just smashed that face and look what I made him look like … Billy Miller! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

She ran him over.  Ava can’t catch a break these days.  She is just a hot mess! (Laughs)  I loved the scene where she runs him over, gets out of the car, looks down at the body and is hysterical, and then Jordan is there to pick up the pieces!

MAURA:

I actually loved that scene where she saw him, and with Vinessa Antoine as Jordan, I love that relationship, too!  I love girls having girlfriends – it’s hard to really make that happen though when one is actually criminal.  I know Billy Miller, and so it was pretty nice that I was the one who ran him over, and brought him to town! (Laughs)

Photo Credit: Courtesy/MauraWest

MICHAEL:

So think about this: even with the baby kidnapping story, and that Ava killed Connie, there is still another major story to come when her part in running over Jason comes to light!  Where does that stack up in Ava’s mind?

MAURA:

That is the least of Ava’s worries at this point. (Laughs)  Jason is alive and looks good!  He’s got Liz (Rebecca Herbst) looking after him … she’s a pretty girl … he’s doing good!