Laura Wright nearly passed on General Hospital, but that wasn’t the real shocker. When she finally said yes, her welcome was anything but warm. Maurice Benard, the face of Sonny Corinthos, gave her the cold shoulder—and it nearly derailed one of GH’s most iconic on-screen partnerships.
The Offer That Nearly Didn’t Happen
Laura Wright didn’t jump at the chance to join General Hospital. At the time, she was still portraying Cassie Winslow on Guiding Light. And she wasn’t ready to uproot her life in New York to move cross-country to California.
In her recent appearance on Maurice Benard’s State of Mind, Laura revealed that she almost turned down the GH role completely. Her negotiations with Guiding Light were already tense. She asked for contract flexibility, hoping to stay within the Procter & Gamble universe. That would’ve allowed her to jump to As the World Turns if needed. But the answer was a hard no. Everything she asked for was denied.
Ten minutes after that call ended, her entire future changed. Jill Farren Phelps, the executive producer of General Hospital, called Laura directly. She said the writers wanted her—badly. That was all it took. Laura immediately said yes, not realizing what kind of welcome she’d actually get.
“He Wasn’t Feeling Well”—Maurice’s Cold Reception When Laura Came To General Hospital
When Laura stepped on set at General Hospital, she expected professionalism and maybe a little soap camaraderie. What she got was something else entirely. Maurice Benard, the face of Sonny Corinthos and longtime scene partner for the role of Carly, didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat. In fact, as Laura joked during their interview, Maurice “wasn’t feeling well” that day. Translation? He barely looked at her. The energy was cold. He made no effort to get to know her.
Laura wasn’t just stepping into a new role—she was stepping into the role. Carly Spencer had already been played by two powerhouse actresses before her. Fans were watching. Cast members were watching. And Maurice? He wasn’t sold.
Laura’s Grit Behind the Glamour
What people forget is that Laura Wright came from hustle. Before soaps, she worked four jobs at once—managing a tanning salon, pumping gas, and doing whatever it took to keep going. She knew how to earn her place. She wasn’t about to let a cold co-star or a shaky start get in her way. Laura didn’t argue. She didn’t back down. Instead, she let her performances do the talking. And slowly, something shifted. Maurice began to thaw.
Today, Maurice and Laura are one of General Hospital’s most beloved on-screen pairings. Their chemistry is electric. Their scenes? Soap gold. But getting there took time, patience, and a lot of earned trust.
Fans may see Carly and Sonny as iconic now, but behind the scenes, the journey began with silence and skepticism. That’s what makes their success even sweeter. Laura Wright didn’t just survive her rough start at General Hospital. She turned it into a legacy. Stay tuned for more juicy insider stories from your favorite soap stars—only on Soap Opera Daily!
