Finola Hughes

Not to be confused with the English cross-country skier Fiona Hughes.

Finola Hughes
Hughes in 2013
Born (1959-10-29) 29 October 1959
Kensington, Middlesex, England
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
Known for
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1992; div. 2021)​
Children3

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.

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.

In September 2008, Hughes guest-starred in the General Hospital spinoff series General Hospital: Night Shift. In 2010, she also appeared in the CSI: NY, 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

Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Apple Dancer
1981 Clash of the Titans
1982 Nutcracker Nadia Gargarin
1983 Staying Alive Laura
1984 The Master of Ballantrae Alison Graeme
1987 Haunted by Her Past Megan McGuire
1990 The Bride in Black Cybil Cobb
1991 Soapdish All My Trials Actress
1993 Aspen Extreme Bryce Kellogg
1994 Dark Side of Genius Jennifer Cole
1995 Above Suspicion Iris
1996 Generation X Emma Frost / White Queen
The Crying Child Jo Parker
1997 Prison of Secrets Angie
The Corporate Ladder Dr. Woodward Voice
1998 Jekyll Island Ronnie Fredericks
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World Queen Anne Voice
12 Bucks Classy
1999 Rockin' Good Times Ginger
2000 Intrepid Katherine Jessel
Tycus Amy Lowe
2009 Killer Hair Josette Radford
2010 Disarmed Lilian
2011 Driving by Braille Beth Allen
Like Crazy Liz
All-Star Superman Lilo Voice[36]
Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur Professor Svankmajer
2013 The Bet Director and executive producer
2014 Dance-Off JoAnn Original title: Platinum the Dance Movie
2017 Byrd and the Bees Director and executive producer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Kenny Everett Television Show Various
1983 The Hot Shoe Show Dancer
1987 L.A. Law Lauren Sevilla 3 episodes
1985–present General Hospital Anna Devane / Dr. Liesl Obrecht / Alex Devane 1985–92, 1995, 2006–08, 2012–present (Anna); 2013 (Liesl); 2017, 2019 (Alex)
1992–93 Jack's Place Chelsea Duffy 18 episodes
1994 Burke's Law Rhonda Bentley Episode: "Who Killed Romeo?"
1994 Dream On Laura North Episode: "Tis Pity She's a Neighbor"
1993–95 Blossom Carol 28 episodes
1996 Superman: The Animated Series Lara Lor-Van Voice, episode: "The Last Son of Krypton"[36]
1997 Pacific Palisades Kate Russo 13 episodes
1997 Sunset Beach Helena Greer 3 episodes
1997 Life with Louie Miss Robertson Voice
1998 The Love Boat: The Next Wave Alison Townsend / Hart-Williams Episode: "Affairs to Remember"
1999 Tracey Takes On... Josie Episode: "Obsession"
1999–2003 All My Children Alex Devane Marick and Anna Devane 1999–2001 (Alex); 2001–03 (Anna)
2004 Hope & Faith Herself 2 episodes
1998–2006 Charmed Patty Halliwell 9 episodes
2008 General Hospital: Night Shift Anna Devane 4 episodes
2005–08 How Do I Look? Host
2010 CSI: NY Mrs. Christensen Episode: "Sanguine Love"
2010 Make It or Break It Viola Pettinger Episode: "What Are You Made Of?"
2010 Melissa & Joey Herself Episode: "Dancing with the Stars of Toledo"
2013–2014 Beware The Batman Lady Shiva Voice, 7 episodes[36]
2014–2015 Granite Flats Avon Lady / Zelda 3 episodes
2020 Good Trouble Director; episode: "Daylight"

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1984
 Golden Raspberry Award Worst Supporting Actress Staying Alive Nominated
[37]
1984
 Golden Raspberry Award Worst New Star Staying Alive Nominated
[37]
1986
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress: Daytime General Hospital Nominated
1986
 Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite Super Couple: Daytime (shared with Ian Buchanan) General Hospital Nominated
1989
 Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite Super Couple: Daytime (shared with Ian Buchanan) General Hospital Nominated
1989
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Heroine: Daytime General Hospital Nominated
1990
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
[38]
1990
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Heroine: Daytime General Hospital Won
[39]
1991
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Won
[40]
1991
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress: Daytime General Hospital Won
[41]
1992
 Soap Opera Digest Award Best Wedding (shared with Tristan Rogers) General Hospital Nominated
1992
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress: Daytime General Hospital Nominated
2000
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series All My Children Nominated
[42]
2000
 Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite Return All My Children Won
[43]
2002
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series All My Children Nominated
[44]
2013
 LA Femme Filmmaker Award Best Feature (Director) The Bet Won
[45]
2015
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
[46]
2016
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
[47]
2017
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
[48]
2020
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
[49]
2021
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
[50]
2023
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
[51]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Finola Hughes profile". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  2. ^ Hughes & Diehl 2009, p. 375.
  3. ^ a b "Finola Hughes". Soaps She Knows. United States: SHE Media. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 17 February 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. 18 April 1985. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  7. ^ Myers, Ginger; Johnson, R.J. (11 March 1986). "Odyssey to GH". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  8. ^ Reichardt, Nancy M (26 December 1991). "Soaps Scoop – Emmy winner checks out of 'General Hospital' role". Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
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  34. ^ Frank Valentini (Executive producer); Shelly Altman and Chris Van Etten (Head writers); Larry Carpenter (Director); Scott Sickles (Script writer) (21 March 2019). General Hospital. Season 56. ABC.
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Sources

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