Maura West’s General Hospital character Ava Jerome has proven she’ll go as low as any soap opera bad girl can go.
Armed with a seriously vicious streak, the recovering mob boss has killed, conned, backstabbed, and even fought dirty with her own daughter. While Ava is trouble, she also possesses a vulnerability and heart that can keep General Hospital fans guessing about her motives – especially since she moved in with Sonny!
Here, Woman’s World catches up with the soap vixen who’s also caused trouble as As the World Turns’ Carly Tenney and The Young and the Restless’ Diane. With three Daytime Emmys for Lead Actress to her name, West reflects on her General Hospital character’s villainy, Ava and Sonny’s relationship, and battling with Maurice Benard.
Plus, the mother of five reveals her secret to combatting empty nest syndrome.
Soap star Maura West isn’t looking for redemption on General Hospital
Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
General Hospital’s Ava has a tendency to perpetrate the kind of schemes that would trap your average soap character in a corner. West’s character didn’t just fall hard for young Bryan Craig’s Morgan, for example, she also battled her daughter Kiki for him – twice! And ultimately, that love story didn’t stop her from swapping Morgan’s psych meds and sending him into the manic frenzy that led to his death.
Each time Ava goes too low, General Hospital seems to set her on a path to redemption. Her recent relationship with Nikolas Cassadine actually hinted at redemption for both of them, repeatedly, but that fantasy ended long before she accidentally “killed” her no-so-dead ex-husband.
No matter how close Ava comes, she always backslides – and that’s just fine with Maura West.
“I don’t think that redemption is necessary for a bad girl or a borderline villain,” she says. “Ava does not exist to be nice and friendly and get along with everybody and be like, ‘Hi, Carly! How’s life?’ No, I’m here to be the bad girl. That’s what I do.”
Daytime Emmy-winner considers Ava’s bumpy year on General Hospital
Disney/Christopher Willard
These days, Ava hasn’t been swapping any meds… but for some reason, she still hasn’t told Sonny that someone else is messing with his! And the truth is, it’s been harder than ever to know what’s going on in that pretty, complicated little head of hers.
Though Ava and Sonny share a daughter, Avery is the product of hate sex and until now, her custody came down to which parent held the upper hand – so viewers couldn’t help but wonder what she was up to when they started cohabitating like a happy family, last year.
GH star Maura West talks Ava, Sonny, and fighting with Maurice Benard
Disney/Christopher Willard
Perhaps the most shocking turn of late was that it looked like two of Port Charles’ darkest enemies might be falling for each other. Sonny put the kibosh on that when he started flirting with Natalia, but West contends this unholy pairing could have legs.
Soap opera star Maura West refuses to embrace the empty nest
Via Instagram
One would think with four out of five kids still living at home, West and husband Scott DeFreitas – who fell in love as costars on As The World Turns – would get all the youthful perspective a person could need.
