Celebrating 40 years since she first appeared on General Hospital, Finola Hughes has a lot to reflect on. She plays Anna Devane, a character who has been through so much. Anna is currently a police commissioner in the world of Port Charles. Hughes truly likes this part of her character. "I love the fact that she's a police commissioner, and she stands for justice," Hughes said. "I think that's cool." It is a role that has let her explore many different sides of Anna over the years.
Hughes has been in over a thousand episodes, but she has not been on General Hospital for all 40 years. She actually left the show for a while. It was executive producer Frank Valentini's return that brought her back to the series. This long-running soap opera has seen many guest stars. Hughes knows exactly who she would want to join that list. She quickly answered "Tom Cruise." That would certainly shake things up in Port Charles. More than anything, Hughes truly loves the people she works with every day on General Hospital. This has been true from 40 years ago until today. "We're all really good friends," Hughes shared. "The entire cast supports each other. We go to each other's dressing rooms and chat, and we know so much about each other." This closeness seems to be a big reason why she stays with the show.
Anna Devane's Enduring Journey And Finola Hughes' Impact On General Hospital's Storylines
From Spies To Police Work, The Character's Evolution Continues To Surprise Viewers
Anna Devane has had a wild ride on General Hospital. Hughes even played Anna's evil twin, Alex, a major twist from her time on All My Children. Since Anna came back to Port Charles in 2012, her life has kept shifting into new adventures. This includes unexpected romances with characters like Valentin and Finn. One surprising development was Anna teaming up with Steve Burton’s Jason. "Their relationship is still very professional—if you can call a police commissioner fraternizing with a hitman professional!" Hughes joked. Anna has strong morals but will bend the rules if she thinks it is the right thing to do.
For example, Jason was very important in getting Lucky and Charlotte back. Anna knows she can rely on him. He understands that she is a tough boss who will always have his back. Hughes mentioned that she and Steve Burton often find something different from what is intended in their scenes. This is because they both understand their characters' goals very well. She praised Burton saying "He has such emotional depth as an actor and is so willing to explore. He’s just a fantastic scene partner." It sounds like they have a strong working relationship on set. This helps make their scenes feel real and exciting.
Anna’s former agency, the WSB, is coming back with new energy. Hughes found this exciting. She recalled their old secret room with a huge computer. Now, Brennan is in charge of drones from his desk. The WSB feels more modern and precise. Hughes enjoys seeing the new generation being trained. She wished Anna could be involved. Anna was probably Josslyn’s age when she was training to become WSB. Hughes thinks Anna would be very protective of Joss and would tear Brennan apart for being underhanded. But Hughes also believes that if she were Brennan, Carly would be the person she would fear most.
The Deep Friendships That Have Defined Finola Hughes' Forty Years On Set
Celebrating The 62nd Anniversary And The Bonds That Keep The General Hospital Cast Close
As General Hospital celebrates its 62nd anniversary, Finola Hughes shared how lucky she feels to be a part of it. A special episode recently honored the opening of the Dr. Monica Quartermaine Cardiac Care Center. Even though Monica could not be there, Port Charles legends like Anna, Laura, Felicia, Mac, Tracy, Lucy, and Sonny showed up. This meant Finola Hughes got to spend a day with her old friends. Genie Francis, Kristina Wagner, John J. York, Jane Elliot, Lynn Herring, and Maurice Benard were all there. Hughes described these gatherings as "like Thanksgiving with family."
Hughes even spent Thanksgiving with her former leading man, Ian Buchanan, last year. She smiled and said "It’s life imitating art imitating life." She met him soon after she started the show. Some of her best friends are people she met when she first came on General Hospital. Kristina Wagner and Hughes met almost 40 years ago. Wagner is now one of her closest friends and confidants. Hughes even told Jane Elliot that when she has an empty nest in a few years, she plans to live next to her. They will live next door in two small apartments and just chat. These stories show the strong bonds that have grown between the cast members over decades.
The anniversary episode also included a moment where Anna thanked Sonny for helping her daughter Robin back in 1995. At that time, Robin lost her boyfriend, Stone, to AIDS. She was also diagnosed as HIV-positive. Hughes said that was an incredible moment in storytelling for General Hospital. It made Robin an iconic character. Kimberly McCullough, who played Robin, did a beautiful job. Michael Sutton was extraordinary in Stone’s final scenes which were heartbreaking. Hughes believes that storytelling that impacts an audience has longevity. It keeps people coming back because they care about the characters. She added that the show tries to serve everyone. They have a great cast of young actors, experienced actors, and a middle group who do most of the storytelling. They cover everything from teenage troubles to relationship drama, which is why General Hospital has been loved by families for many years.
Finola Hughes' Directing Career And Her Life Philosophy Beyond Acting On Screen
From Indie Films To A Long-Term Vision, Her Creative Pursuits Continue To Grow
When she is not caught up in Port Charles drama, Finola Hughes teaches a course at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts. The course is about performance for the camera. She also works behind the camera as a director. Hughes directed her General Hospital costar Cassandra James in an award-winning short film called Claude. She is already planning their next project together. Hughes also won the Best Director award at the Dunedin International Film Festival for her short film Darling. That film is still appearing at festivals.
Darling is a "proof of concept" for a longer script. Hughes is getting ready to make an independent feature film in the next few years. She loves that with indie filmmaking, there are no strict rules. She feels she can create exactly what she wants. She also feels a closeness with the people who fund her films. They are completely responsible for her vision coming to life. Hughes said she has learned that "when you’re working without a permit and you’ve got your oldest son doing second AC, that’s gorilla filmmaking, and I love it." She has come a long way from being in the original 1981 Cats production in London and 1983’s Staying Alive with John Travolta. She is still amazed that she did those things, especially the dancing. She used to jump high and be thrown around. "Wow!" she marveled.
Hughes has a life and career she could not have imagined. She says the secret to her success has never been a five-year plan. "I just have this daily vision of how I want to try to excel at what I’m doing in the moment, and enjoy the company I’m in while I’m trying to excel," she explained. She also said that as a little girl, she had a bit of "grit" inside her. This told her to "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going." She has tried to teach this to her children because it has worked for her. It seems this mindset has served her well in her long career.
Finola Hughes' Public Personality And Her Stance On Industry Relationships
Insights From Family Feud And How She Handles Discussions About Past Conflicts
Finola Hughes, like many popular actors, has been part of public conversations that extend beyond her acting roles. She even appeared on Celebrity Family Feud, joining other soap stars from The Young and the Restless and General Hospital. Michelle Stafford from The Young and the Restless shared a video about it. Hughes was part of the General Hospital team with Donnell Turner and others. These appearances show a lighter, more personal side of the actors outside their dramatic roles. The cast seemed to enjoy their time together, with comments about "bonding sessions on the plane rides."
Hughes has also faced questions about past tensions with other actors, famously with Sarah Jessica Parker from Sex and the City. Parker had commented on what she called a "catfight" narrative. She said she never "uttered an unkind, unsupportive, unfriendly word." Hughes, in turn, also spoke about this publicly. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Hughes stated that Parker "could have been nicer." She added that they were never friends but rather colleagues. She later responded strongly when Parker offered condolences after her brother's death, saying she did not need Parker's "love or support" and that her "continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now."
This shows the complex relationships that can exist in the public eye. Hughes has been direct about her feelings on the matter. She has also continued to work and build a strong career. It highlights that even beloved public figures have their own personal struggles and relationships to deal with. Just like the characters she plays, her real life has its own twists and turns. As General Hospital keeps going for years, Hughes is happy to be a part of it. "We're so lucky," she said about her General Hospital family. "We're just in that very fortuitous position of being in the public's lexicon. They keep coming back—and we’re here for it!"