She was one half of one of General Hospital's most legendary supercouples, but Genie Francis has finally opened up about what caused her to leave the soap during the height of her fame back in 1981.

In an eye-opening interview on a recent episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now, Francis, who has since resumed her iconic role of Laura Spencer, revealed that while her struggles with drugs and alcohol at the time did play a part in her decision to leave, it was actually hurtful comments she heard about what producers said about her that caused her to walk out.

"I was having trouble with drugs and alcohol," she said. "I ended up one night in the hospital. The very next day I was told, 'Jeez, I'm sorry, you're going to have to come back to work tomorrow morning.' So I got back to work and then somebody came up to my door and knocked, and it was an awful moment in which I was told, 'You know what they said about you?' And I said, 'No, what did they say?' 'They said that it didn't matter if you lived or died because Tony [Geary, Luke Spencer] was the whole show.' And that hurt."

Only 19 at the time she was told that, Francis admits it was humiliating and devastating to hear, and as a result, she made the rash decision to leave daytime.

"I just decided that I don't matter, I'm nothing...Okay, 'Watch this, I'm gone,'" she said. "I was angry. It was a hot headed decision. I went a long distance to prove a point-a very long distance. And it hurt me, too."

Francis did eventually return to the show as Laura again, reprising the role a few times over the years for brief guest appearances. She returned for her latest arc last year as part of the goodbye to Geary, who left the role of Luke Spencer last year. She is currently still on the show, and involved in a storyline where she is trying to figure out what Helena's gift from beyond the grave means.

General Hospital airs Monday-Friday at 3 p.m. on ABC.

             

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