Laura is returning to ‘General Hospital’

Genie Francis will reprise her role on the soap beginning Aug. 26

Donna Svennevik / AP file

Genie Francis is checking back into "General Hospital." The 46-year-old actress will again reprise her role as Laura on the ABC daytime soap opera beginning August 26. "This is a short visit," Francis told The Associated Press on Friday.

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updated 4:43 p.m. ET July 11, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Genie Francis is checking back into “General Hospital.”

The 46-year-old actress again will reprise her role as Laura on the ABC daytime soap opera beginning Aug. 26.

The character’s 1981 fairy-tale wedding to Luke (played by Anthony Geary) was watched by 30 million viewers and landed the couple on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Francis began playing Laura in 1976.

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“This is a short visit,” Francis told The Associated Press on Friday. “It’s a mother-daughter story. Years ago when I started playing the character as a 14-year-old girl, it was a mother-daughter story, only I was the daughter. So it’s kinda cool this is full circle. It’s nice to come back for visits. ‘General Hospital’ is my home.”

Laura was last seen slipping in and out of a catatonic state in 2007. The upcoming appearance will feature Laura in a story line with daughter Lulu. Francis, who now runs a home-furnishing shop in Belfast, Maine, said she was told that Laura wouldn’t be killed off during her latest guest stint.

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“I would stay on, but ‘General Hospital’ honestly doesn’t seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment,” said Francis. “They want little short doses during sweeps periods. It’s not entirely up to me. I’m thrilled and delighted my audience stands behind me. If they didn’t, you can be sure I wouldn’t get to come back for these visits.”