Who says lightning can't strike twice! There's been a thunderstorm in Port Charles for
the past six months, ever since Stefan Cassadine shot Katherine Bell, drawing Stephen
Nichols (Stefan) and Mary Beth Evans (Katherine) together. This pair's chemistry is
undeniable, as any Days of Our Lives fan will attest. For five years, they reigned as one
of DAYS' most beloved supercouples, and made Patch and Kayla household names.
Last year, General Hospital decided to re unite Nichols and Evans and now, thanks to
some passionate pool scenes, fans are clamoring for the two to become a committed couple
again. But Stefan and Katherine are very different from Patch and Kayla and nobody is more
aware of this fact than Nichols. Recently, Soap Opera News caught up with him, and he was
happy to discuss his days on DAYS -- and life in Port Charles.
SON: Are you enjoying GH!
S.N.: Yes, I am. It's a really great opportunity for me to create a brand-new character
that has the potential to be as dynamic as the other character (Patch) I did all those
years ago.
SON: Do you ever miss playing that other character!
S.N.: No, I don't. I can't, because things have changed there so radically. If you
asked if I miss the first two or three years that I actually did that job -- there was
something really magical about that time - I'd say yes. But I can't say I'd want to go
back there at this point. I'm really enjoying what I'm doing now. The writing is excellent
and so are the actors I'm working with. It's a great job.
SON: What did you think of GH reuniting you with Mary Beth!
S.N.: I thought it was a really good idea. I guess that we re a salable commodity
together. It's a very touchy proposition as well, though, because we're two completely
different people now In our lives and we're also two different characters. I hate that
word, characters, by the way. We're totally different from the people we played on Days of
Our Lives. It's much more complex. It's a matter of having to create a whole new
relationship. The chemistry's there. You don't have to create that, but the relationship
is completely different from Patch and Kayla. Re-teaming with Mary Beth Evens on GH seems
like old times -- yet different.
SON: You have great chemistry with Tony Geary. too. There's such hatred. Do you need
chemistry with another man!
S.N.: I think it's just the fact that we appreciate each other. And we have a very
similar energy. I noticed it right away when I got on the set. I don't know what it is, or
what you'd call it. It's a kind of intensity. There's a lot of focus involved in that.
When you focus, you sort of create that energy, and he does that. I watch him. I like to
watch other actors -- it's fun to see what other people are doing. Tony has a great
intensity. He's also very clever. I mean, out of many, many daytime actors, he's one who
has really carved a niche for himself in terms of character. And it's all because of his
ability, his energy and his personality. He brings all of that to Luke.
This is the first time I've worked with Genie (Francis), too, and it's the same thing. She
has this fabulous energy. It's two actors looking at each other and really being aware.
SON: What about working with Jackie Zeman (Bobbie)!
S.N.: Jackie's fantastic. We have a great time together. She's a really good actress.
She's always prepared, which is something that I appreciate. So often you work with people
who just don't have their stuff together. I don't know how they do it, because I would
just fall apart if I didn't know my lines.
SON: Did it feel like old times when you were reunited with Mary Beth!
S.N.: Yes, but as I said, it's really different. Patch and Kayla were simple people.
Katherine and Stefan are very complex, yet still human. I feel like, if I can remember
that everybody is human, it helps a lot in the characterization.
SON: Fans are really enjoying Stefan and Katherine.
S.N.: We've had some good stuff -- sort of on the edge. They're trying to find the
right angle for the story The audience has to know why Stefan would want Katherine and why
Katherine would want Stefan, other than this great attraction. Because they're two really
intelligent people, it seems that they need a really strong motivation to do what they do.
So, the writers are really working on trying to find that. And then, of course, in good
old soap opera tradition, they have to find something to come between us and break us up.
So that's all being worked on.
SON: Do you think they'll redeem Stefan!
S,N.: I don't really believe in that redemption thing. I think that people like Stefan
have redeeming moments, and I wouldn't like to take it further than that, quite frankly. I
would like to always walk on that line between different human behaviors.
SON: Do you ever have the urge to put on a patch!
S.N.: Yeah, for a joke. It's always a fun gag.