Last week on General Hospital, viewers watched the devastating fallout after Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) overheard Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Lois (Rena Sofer) in an argument at the Nurses’ Ball; stating that Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) are his actual biological parents; shattering everything that the young man believed.
The one constant who has not left his side since that time is Emma Drake (Braedyn Bruner). Trying to process everything that has happened, Emma has been a sounding board for Gio and is supporting him in his time of need, as their bond continues to grow.
Michael Fairman TV caught up with soap newcomer Braedyn Bruner at the red carpet of the Daytime at Night – Benefit for St. Jude concert and fundraiser at the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. The event was put together by The Young and the Restless’ Lily Brooks O’Briant (Lucy) and was attended by many in the daytime community and several of Bruner’s GH co-stars.
Since December of 2024, Braedyn has taken over the role of Robin (Kimberly McCullough) and Patrick’s (Jason Thompson) daughter on-screen replacing Brooklyn Rae Silzer in the part. now well on her way to putting her own stamp on Emma, as the character has evolved and grown-up.
We asked her about GH scene partner, Giovanni Mazza, her co-stars, Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine) and Finola Hughes (Anna Devane), Emma’s new attitude and if she thinks Emma can be the one to ultimately bring down the sketchy PCU professor, Henry Dalton (Daniel Goddard). Here’s what she shared below.
GIO AND EMMA SCENES – GIOVANNI MAZZA
Braedyn spoke on being in the scenes with Giovanni Mazza as Gio struggles with the shocking news of his birth parents: “He is one of my best friends in real life and on the show. I think that just makes our job a lot easier. He gave so much this week during his performances, as he always does. But this was different. It was our (the cast) first time seeing him so upset and not his usual happy-go-lucky self and that really affected me, not only as the character, but me seeing him like that as a friend in real life. It just made the scenes that much more real and honest.”
In a throwback to her on-screen mom, Robin, Emma takes Gio to the famous Port Charles bridge which over the years has been a place of many emotional moments: “The scenes at the bridge were so much fun to do. I love to do my research. I think everyone knows this about me. So, I sent Giovanni multiple clips of Robin and Jason (Steve Morgan) at the bridge that I found on You Tube, and we watched them together. It’s funny, I think our bridge scenes are getting compared a lot to that (by the audience), but it’s been a great week (of shows).”
FINOLA HUGHES AND KIMBERLY MCCULLOUGH
Since debuting on GH, Braedyn has shared much of her screen time with Finola Hughes, where Emma’s behavior has been at odds with her grandmother’s expectations. Bruner shared on Hughes, “She’s amazing. Not only does she play my grandmother on the show, but she’s more like a mom to me, to be honest, in real life. Finola is the funniest, most hardworking person I think I’ve ever met. She’s just been a great mentor and is always there for me, if I have a question, or if I want to run lines.”
Will we eventually see a mother/daughter reunion played by longtime GH favorite Kimberly McCullough as Bruner’s on-screen mom? “I am hoping one day I’ll get to meet her,” expressed Braedyn. “I’ve heard nothing but incredible things about her, particularly from Finola Hughes with whom I work with all the time.”
EMMA’S ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
GH fans were in for a shock when the character came back on to the canvas in the form of Braedyn Bruner in the part. This version of Emma seemed to be written, at first, with a whole lot of attitude that could have made her unlikeable. The actress explained, “I try to find ways to humanize her in my scenes. First (by the powers that be) it was, ‘We want Emma to come back, sort of like she owns Port Charles,” which was a lot of the notes I was getting. I was like, ‘I see that, but I want to find the pockets of her that are still Emma because she does have a good heart.’ I don’t think she’s ever mean to just be mean. I think in scenes with Josslyn (Eden McCoy) I think that’s motivated a bit by jealousy. I think it’s the childhood stuff that she’s bringing up, but also I think she desires to have a friendship with Joss. I’m hoping we’ll be friends again, but I think she’s just a little hurt about things right now.”
JANE ELLIOT
Who doesn’t love the one and only Jane Elliot? Braedyn has gotten the opportunity to work with the GH icon, and revealed what it was like to step on the set with the dynamo: “Oh, my Gosh! She’s so fun to work with. I think the first day I was intimidated a bit, but how can you not be, she’s the queen! Jane has just been yet another person on General Hospital that is just open to helping me, and if I ever have a question I’ll ask her.”
PROFESSOR HENRY DALTON – DANIEL GODDARD
GH has another major storyline brewing which is pitting rivals Josslyn and Emma against one another. Emma is unaware that Joss is now a WSB agent working undercover to get the goods on Professor Henry Dalton. In a conversation between Emma and Joss, it was revealed that the reason Emma got expelled from Berkeley was because she broke into Dalton’s lab to prove he was doing his research on animals, and she was forced to sign an NDA to avoid jail time. Now, Emma is intent on exposing Dalton and stopping him from whatever he is planning on doing which is why she followed him to Port Charles.
Braedyn previewed Emma’s agenda: “There’s some stuff about to come out really soon where we’re going further into the Professor Dalton storyline. I think she’s beyond on to him. I wouldn’t be surprised if she doesn’t break the case wide open before anyone else does.”
Now let us know, are you rooting for Emma and Gio to be the next young super couple of General Hospital? Do you think Emma will crack the case on Dalton, or will that end up being Josslyn, or will the two nemesis end up working together? Share your thoughts via the comment section below, but first check out the scenes between Braedyn and Giovanni Mazza from last Friday’s episode of GH.
