General Hospital co-stars Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos, General Hospital; ex-Cassie Layne Winslow, Guiding Light) and Cameron Mathison (Drew Cain, General Hospital; ex-Ryan Lavery, All My Children) have had lots of time together as their characters move toward romance in Port Charles this summer, and they got to talk about the connection.
Now, the two ABC Daytime veterans are on an East Coast publicity tour to promote General Hospital and the show's upcoming 60th anniversary. That coincided with a trip to the Times Square studios of Good Morning America, where Mathison had been a regular contributor for the show beginning in 2009 before he started work for Entertainment Tonight in 2015.
Wright and Mathison joined long-time ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos and his GMA co-hosts Michael Strahan and Cecilia Vega on Wednesday for a fun conversation that involved everything from their respective careers on soaps to how they each get into character, and how they both play off one another in scenes.
"I've been on General Hospital for 17 years," recalled Wright, who debuted in Port Charles as Carly in 2005. "I started watching General Hospital when I was 11 years old, and I was obsessed with Luke and Laura. When I got the job, Jackie Zeman, who played Bobbie Spencer, was my mom, and Luke Spencer ended up being my uncle. It was a dream come true. It's amazing, and I've loved every second of it."
Mathison made his debut as Ryan Lavery on ABC's All My Children in January 1998, but it wasn't until August 2021 that he made his debut on General Hospital, when he stepped into the role of Drew Cain, the character that had been originated by Billy Miller (ex-Billy Abbott, The Young and the Restless).
"ABC Daytime, it feels like coming home to me," Mathison told the panel at Good Morning America. "I played Ryan on All My Children for a bunch of years, and that was a very special time. Coming onto this show ... it's just been amazing. The cast and production, I come into work super prepared, knowing how good everyone is there. Every day, it feels like coming home."
Wright complimented Mathison on his work ethic, and she shared that the two co-stars had a lot in common as performers. "We always say we're the same person. Our work ethic is very similar because we both started here in New York City," Wright said of her working relationship with Mathison.
Wright and Mathison also shared what it was like to truly get into the role of their characters. Both said that, as actors, they have to believe that what they are portraying is real. Doing so makes the scenes feel more authentic to viewers, they said.
"For me, I just believe it," Wright said. "I believe the unbelievable circumstances that I'm in." Mathison echoed Wright's view. "You've got to (have belief) and then the emotions come, and if they don't, they don't," Mathison added.
During the interview, Mathison also shared an update on his health. In 2019, Mathison underwent surgery and treatment for renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. During Wednesday's guest spot on Good Morning America, Mathison was pleased to announce that he'd been cancer-free for three full years. "I'm feeling fantastic," Mathison said as Wright and the GMA co-hosts applauded.
To watch the full Good Morning America interview, check out the video below.
General Hospital's 60th anniversary festivities are officially scheduled to begin October 28, with the three-day Graceland Fan Celebration Weekend in Memphis.
Were there any fun nuggets in the Good Morning America that you enjoyed? What do you think of Carly and Drew as a couple? We want to hear from you -- and there are many ways you can share your thoughts.
