Genie Francis

Genie Francis (born Eugenie Ann Francis on May 26, 1962 in Englewood, New Jersey, USA)^[1] is an American actress known for her portrayal of Laura Spencer on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital, a role she played from 1976 to 2002, and then again, briefly in 2006 and 2008 and again in 2009.^[2]

Personal life

Francis's father, Ivor Francis,^[1] a Canadian actor of English descent, died in 1986 from the effects of multiple strokes. He played a brief role on General Hospital as an adoption counselor when his daughter was also on the show. Her mother, Rosemary Daley, is a former actress/model of Lithuanian descent. Genie is a confirmed Catholic. She has an older brother Ivor Jr., a younger brother Kenneth, and an older half-sister Shelley from her father's first marriage.

Genie met actor/director Jonathan Frakes while filming the television show, Bare Essence. After meeting again during the filming of the miniseries, North and South, Genie and Jonathan started dating in 1985. They became engaged in 1986, and married on May 28, 1988. The couple has two children, Jameson Ivor Frakes, born in 1994, and Elizabeth Francis Frakes, born in 1997. They have just recently moved from Belfast, Maine to Beverly Hills, California.

General Hospital

Genie's most famous role, that of Laura Webber Spencer on General Hospital, would bring her instant stardom in the late 70's. Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura became an international phenomenon and the most popular super couple in daytime history, appearing on the covers of TV Guide, Us Weekly, and People magazines. The television couple wed on November 16, 1981, with 30 million viewers tuning in to make this episode the highest-rated hour in soap opera history.^[2] At the peak of her success, Francis left the show in 1982 to try her hand at primetime television. Soon after, she landed a starring role in her own series, Bare Essence, which was not a success. Nevertheless, she remained a fan favorite and viewers were delighted when she returned to General Hospital in 1983 for a limited run to coincide with the departure of Luke when Geary decided to leave the series.

Through the years, other daytime soaps have pursued Francis because of her tremendous popularity. She appeared on Days of our Lives as Diana Colville from 1987 to 1989 and on All My Children as con artist and incest victim Ceara Connor Hunter from 1990 to 1992. She reprised her role as Ceara on Loving in November 1991. She then returned to GH in 1993. In 1994, when Francis became pregnant with her first child, the pregnancy was written into the show and Genie took six weeks off for maternity leave. However in early 1997 when she was pregnant again, she took a much longer absence from the show, staying away for nearly a year and a half.

In September 2002 she abruptly left General Hospital following ABC's refusal to work out a contract she wanted.

In June 2006, Francis began negotiating with the casting directors on the show in returning to the role of Laura Webber Spencer for a limited run through November. She returned to the show with spectacular fanfare to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Luke and Laura's wedding. The magic of Luke and Laura was recaptured, and the reunion garnered the show more publicity than it had seen in years. Though she reprised the role for only one month, Francis's stint was so successful that she garnered a Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, which she ended up winning in June 2007. "Oh my goodness!" she said. "Thank you so much. I am overwhelmed. I've waited 31 years for this moment."

In December 2007, Francis had a starring role in the Hallmark Channel movie, "The Note," which earned her critical acclaim.^[3]

Genie Francis returned to General Hospital in August 2008 to reprise her role as Laura Webber Spencer. Francis told the AP, "It's a mother-daughter story. Years ago when I started playing the character as a 14-year-old girl, it was a mother-daughter story, only I was the daughter. So it's kinda cool this is full circle. It's nice to come back for visits. General Hospital is my home." She continued, "I would stay on, but `General Hospital' honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment," said Francis. "They want little short doses during sweeps periods. It's not entirely up to me. I'm thrilled and delighted my audience stands behind me. If they didn't, you can be sure I wouldn't get to come back for these visits."^[2] Laura's character was written off as returning to France for treatment for her illness.

Commercial endorsements

In May 2007, Francis began appearing in magazine advertisements as a spokeperson for the Medifast Diet, claiming she lost 30 pounds as of December 2007 using the diet.

Filmography

It's Christmas Time Again"(Music CD)/Pictograph Records 2009 (pictographrecords.com)

• Taking a Chance on Love (2009) as Peyton MacGruder
• The Note as Peyton MacGruder
• Roswell as Mother (2000)
• Oh, Baby as Rachel (2000)
• 3rd Rock From The Sun as Gwen McMichael (2000)
• The Incredible Hulk (1996 animated TV series) as Sister Rose Erak (1997)
• Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman as Amber Lake (1995)
• Camp Nowhere uncredited as Mrs. Spiegel (1994)
• Loving as Ceara Connor Hunter (1991)
• All My Children as Ceara Connor Hunter (1990-1992)
• Days of our Lives as Diana Colville (1987-1989)
• Bare Essence as Patricia 'Tyger' Hayes (1983)
• North and South as Brett Main Hazard
• General Hospital as Laura Vining Webber Baldwin Spencer Cassadine Spencer #2 (Fall 1976 to January 1982, 1983 to 1984, October 29th, 1993 to September 6th, 2002, October 26th, 2006 to November 22nd, 2006, August 25th, 2008 to November 12th, 2008, December 2009)
• Francis also played Laura Spencer in an episode of Roseanne called Suck Up or Shut Up in January 1994

Awards (won)

• Daytime Emmy Awards
  • (2007) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for General Hospital

• Soap Opera Digest Awards
  • (1997) Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress for General Hospital

• Soapy Awards
  • (1981) Soapy Outstanding Actress for General Hospital
  • (1980) Soapy Outstanding Actress for General Hospital

• Young Artist Awards
  • (1981) Young Artist Award Best Young Actress - Daytime TV Series for General Hospital

Awards (nominated)

• Daytime Emmy Awards
  • (2002) Special Fan Award America's Favorite Couple for Luke and Laura Spencer on General Hospital

-Shared with Anthony Geary

• (1997) Daytime Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for General Hospital

• Young Artist Awards
  • (1982) Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Daytime Series for General Hospital
  • (1980) Young Artist Award Best Juvenile Actress in a Daytime Series for General Hospital

See also

• General Hospital
• North and South
• Luke and Laura Spencer
• Supercouple

References

External links

• Genie Francis at the Internet Movie Database
• Genie Francis profile at Soap Central