Finola Hughes

Finola Hughes (born 29 October 1959) is a British actress, best known for her role as Anna Devane on the ABC soap operas General Hospital and All My Children, and her portrayal of Laura in the 1983 film Staying Alive.

She is also known for her portrayal of Anna Devane's identical twin, Alexandra "Alex" Devane on All My Children and Patty Halliwell on the supernatural series, Charmed. She also portrayed Carol on the final season of the NBC sitcom Blossom. Hughes has also appeared in the films, Aspen Extreme, Above Suspicion and Like Crazy.

Early life

Hughes was born 29 October 1959.^[1] She was born and educated in London.^[2] Hughes trained in dance and performing arts at the Arts Educational Schools London.^[3]

Career

In 1981, Hughes originated the role of Victoria the White Cat in the London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats.^[1][4] In 1983, she starred with John Travolta in the musical film Staying Alive, a sequel to Saturday Night Fever.^[5] She played the role of Laura, an English dancer who is the romantic interest of Travolta's character Tony Manero.

From 1985 to 1992, Hughes played Anna Devane on General Hospital.^[6][7][8] She won a Daytime Emmy in 1991, for Outstanding Lead Actress on General Hospital. Hughes was nominated for the same category in 1990 for Anna, in 2000 for All My Children as Alex, and, in 2002, as Anna. After establishing herself as a daytime television star, she was cast in a feature film cameo as a soap opera actress who loses an award to Sally Field in the satirical film Soapdish (1991).^[1] Two years later, she played a leading role in the film Aspen Extreme (1993).^[9]

Hughes also appeared on the sitcom Blossom in 1993 to 1995^[10] and as the X-Men character Emma Frost in the television movie Generation X (1996).^[11] In 1997, she starred in Aaron Spelling's short-lived primetime soap opera Pacific Palisades.^[1] She was a frequent guest star on the television series Charmed, playing the mother of the Halliwell girls, Patricia "Patty" Halliwell.

She provided the voice of Lara, Superman's biological mother, in Superman: The Animated Series. Another voice-over role she had was Miss Robertson on an episode of Fox's animated comedy series Life with Louie.^{[citation needed]}

Hughes briefly returned from November 13 to 22, 1995 as Anna's spirit to comfort the character's daughter Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough), who is dealing with the loss of her boyfriend to AIDS-related illness and is herself HIV-positive.^[12]

Hughes was cast as Alexandra Devane in 1999 on All My Children. At first, it was unknown what character she would portray.^[13] Alexandra debuted on July 23, 1999.^[14] Hughes left in the fall of 2000 for maternity leave and returned in February 2001.^[15] Alex left on July 9, 2001, to Budapest, Hungary.^[16]

In 2001, Hughes started playing Anna on All My Children.^[17] In 2003, Hughes left All My Children.^[18]

It was announced in April 2006 that Hughes would be returning to GH.^[19] In May 2006, as part of the May Sweeps period, three GH veterans would return. Finola Hughes would be reunited with Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio) and Emma Samms (Holly Sutton). Following a rise in ratings from her sweeps return, Hughes returned to General Hospital for a limited run through August 2006.^[20] She returned the following year on 13 July 2007 and once again on 15 April 2008.^{[citation needed]}

In September 2008, Hughes guest-starred in the General Hospital spinoff series General Hospital: Night Shift. In 2010, she also appeared in the ', Make It or Break It and Melissa & Joey.

Finola made a permanent return to General Hospital in 2012.^{[21][22][23][24]} On April 6, 2012, executive producer, Frank Valentini announced on Twitter that Hughes had been placed on contract with the series.^[25]

In 2013, Hughes made her feature-film directing debut with indie comedy-drama The Bet.^[26] She later starred with Kathryn McCormick in the dance movie Platinum the Dance Movie.^[27] In 2015, Hughes directed her second film, Byrd and the Bees a romantic comedy starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Tracy Spiridakos.^[28][29]

Hughes reprised her role as Alexandra on General Hospital, beginning April 5, 2017, masquerading as Anna; the duplicity wasn't revealed until May 12, 2017.^[30] Hughes ended her reprisal role of Alexandra on June 8, 2017.^[31] Hughes reprised the role from March 18 to 21, 2019.^[32][33][34]

In 2020, Hughes once again reprised the role of Alex while portraying Anna from October 30 to November 9.^[35]

Personal life

Hughes married artist Russell Young in 1992 and divorced in 2021. Together they have two sons, Dylan and Cash, and one daughter Sadie.^[3]

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

• List of dancers

References

1. ^ "Finola Hughes profile". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
2. ^ Hughes & Diehl 2009, p. 375.
3. ^ "Finola Hughes". Soaps She Knows. United States: SHE Media. June 12, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
4. ^ Sellers 2023, pp. 50–53.
5. ^ "Finola Hughes biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
6. ^ "Tipoff – ABC sees red, drops 'Reds'". Star-News. April 18, 1985. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
7. ^ Myers, Ginger & Johnson, R.J. (March 11, 1986). "Odyssey to GH". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc.. Archived April 7, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
8. ^ Reichardt, Nancy M (December 26, 1991). "Soaps Scoop – Emmy winner checks out of 'General Hospital' role". Gainesville Sun. Archived June 28, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
9. ^ Canby, Vincent (January 23, 1993). "Review/Film; The Difficulties of Life On Aspen's Ski Slopes". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived December 6, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
10. ^ Sager, Jessica (May 14, 2024). "Mayim Bialik Is In! Everything to Know About a Potential 'Blossom' Reboot". Parade. Parade Media. ISSN 1839-6569. OCLC 1772138. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
11. ^ McCaffrey, James (February 19, 1996). "Movie Banks on Popularity Carrying Over". Los Angeles Times. Archived 2018-03-31 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
12. ^ Matheson, Whitney. "Recalling some of TV's dearly departed." USAToday.com Archived October 16, 2011 at the Wayback Machine August 31, 2005.
13. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (June 8, 1999). "A done deal: Finola Hughes joining AMC". SoapCentral. United States: Dan J. Kroll Productions. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
14. ^ "The big day is Finola-ly here". SoapCentral. United States: Dan J. Kroll Productions. July 18, 1999. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
15. ^ "Hughes to return for February Sweeps". SoapCentral. United States: Dan J. Kroll Productions. December 28, 2000. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
16. ^ "A ROCKY ROAD: AMC'S EDMUND AND MARIA". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc.. July 23, 2004. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
17. ^ "Who's Who in Port Charles|Anna Devane|". Soap Central. Archived July 13, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
18. ^ Kroll, Dan J (July 24, 2003). "AMC confirms Hughes will exit, but is she headed back to GH?". Soap Central. Archived September 7, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
19. ^ Kroll, Dan J (August 3, 2003). "Will Hughes Return to GH?". Soap Central. Archived September 30, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
20. ^ Kroll, Dan J (April 6, 2006). "Hughes Returning to GH In May". Soap Central. Archived January 29, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
21. ^ Masters, Megan (14 December 2011). "Finola Hughes Returns to General Hospital". TVLine. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
22. ^ Logan, Michael (December 14, 2011). "Exclusive: Finola Hughes Returns to General Hospital". TV Guide. Lions Gate Entertainment. Archived July 25, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
23. ^ Giddens, Jamey (December 14, 2011). "Finola Hughes Returns as Part of Robin's Exit Story on General Hospital". Daytime Confidential. Zap2it. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
24. ^ Kroll, Dan J (December 13, 2011). "Finola Hughes returning for extended GH stay". Soap Central. Archived June 21, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
25. ^ Fairman, Michael (April 6, 2012). "BREAKING NEWS: Finola Hughes Put On-Contract At General Hospital!". On-Air On-Soaps. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
26. ^ "General Hospital's Finola Hughes Turns Film Director with the Bet – Today's News: Our Take". TV Guide. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
27. ^ "Finola Hughes to Star in 'Platinum the Dance Movie' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
28. ^ "General Hospital's Finola Hughes To Direct Byrd and the Bees. - General Hospital News - Soaps.com". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
29. ^ "'Revolution' Star Tracy Spiridakos Joins Jonathan Rhys Meyers in Romantic Comedy (Exclusive)". TheWrap. 2014-06-10. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
30. ^ SOD (May 17, 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: FINOLA HUGHES ON GH'S ANNA REVEAL". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc.. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
31. ^ Frank Valentini (Executive producer); Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante (Head writers) (June 8, 2017). No. 13823. General Hospital. Episode 13823. ABC
32. ^ Soaps SheKnows (March 15, 2019). "Finola Hughes Portrays Dual Roles as Anna and Alex on General Hospital". Soaps.com. United States: SheKnows Media. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
33. ^ Frank Valentini (Executive producer); Shelly Altman and Chris Van Etten (Head writers); Denise Van Cleave (Director); Donny Sheldon (Script writer) (March 18, 2019). General Hospital. ABC
34. ^ Frank Valentini (Executive producer); Shelly Altman and Chris Van Etten (Head writers); Larry Carpenter (Director); Scott Sickles (Script writer) (March 21, 2019). General Hospital. ABC
35. ^ Soaps SheKnows (October 30, 2020). "Finola Hughes Plays Dual Roles of General Hospital's Anna Devane and Alex Marick". Soaps.com. SheKnows Media. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
36. ^ "Finola Hughes (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 7, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
37. ^ Wilson, John (23 August 2000). "1984 Golden Raspberry Award Arichive". Los Angeles, California: Golden Raspberry Award Foundation and John Wilson. Archived from the original on 28 October 2006. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
38. ^ Goudas, John N. (26 May 1990). "Emmy nominees announced". TimesDaily. Florence, Alabama: Tennessee Valley Printing Co. p. 70. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
39. ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1990". Soap Opera Digest. soapoperadigest.com. 2003-04-11. Archived 3 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
40. ^ Sharbutt, Jay (28 June 1991). "Daytime winners listed". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon: Western Communications. Associated Press. p. 17. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
41. ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1991". Soap Opera Digest. soapoperadigest.com. 2004-07-19. Archived 3 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
42. ^ Havens, Candace (12 May 2000). "Lead actress Emmy race too close to call". The Union Democrat. Sonora: Western Communications. p. 55. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
43. ^ "'General Hospital' wins 5 honors". The Vindicator. Associated Press. 11 March 2000. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
44. ^ Offman, Craig (13 March 2002). "Daytime Emmy noms announced". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
45. ^ "Filmmaker Winners 2013-2005". Los Angeles: lafemme.org. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
46. ^ "The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
47. ^ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations". New York, New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Archived 17 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
48. ^ "The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations". New York City: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 22 March 2017. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
49. ^ "The 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
50. ^ "2021 Daytime Emmy Awards: Talk Show Host and Lead Actress Nominees Revealed (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. CBS Interactive. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
51. ^ "The 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations". New York/Los Angeles: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.

Sources

• Sellers, Robert (2023). When the British Musical Ruled the World (eBook). London: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 50–53. ISBN 979-8765167236.
• Hughes, Finola & Diehl, Digby (2009). Soapsuds (eBook). New York City: Random House. p. 375. ISBN 978-0307491107.

External links

• Official website December 15, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
• Finola Hughes at IMDb