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This week’s guest is James Patrick Stuart who plays Valentin Cassadine on General Hospital. Bradford is impressed with James’ Zoom setting in a lovely yard, saying it looks like a postcard that could read, “Wish you were here.”
James thinks that would be the perfect name for his own podcast he can set in exotic locales. In this podcast, he’s in what he calls “the dull side of the house.”
All About Disney
After touching on all the types of projects James is now working on, Bradford asks if he is at the top of his game. James loves coming into all of these things in his 50s and wonders what would have happened if he’d peaked in his 20s.
He considers himself a father figure on the Villains of Valley View set and is impressed he’s only had one car accident going back and forth between the Disney and GH studios — which are 9 minutes apart — over the last two years.
Bradford comments that he looks like he could be the dad in a Parent Trap reboot as James ticks off other Disney shows he’s appeared in like Jesse and I’m in the Band. However, he passed up a Disney series to work with Meryl Streep back in 2008.
Balancing GH And Disney
James talks about how GH Executive Producer Frank Valentini was enthusiastic about making doing both shows work the first two years James did Valley View. However, that required bringing actors and crew on set early in the morning.
James believes that ‘Vanna’ seems to be sidelined for now to not have to make Finola Hughes sit on the back burner while he filmed Valley View. He thought they’d start production again in November but due to the writer’s strike, it’s been pushed back. Could Valentin himself now be “sidelined for no reason”?
Diving Into Vanna
Finola Hughes is an old friend and from the time Valentin debuted, James wanted to work with her more. He’d even throw a “smoldering look” in wherever he could before ‘Vanna’ was together.
When Valentini finally told him two years ago that the writers realized there was something between Valentin and Anna, James felt it was about time.
Sadly, he thought he had a little bit more time with Vanna happiness until he opened a script a few months ago and saw a breakup was coming.
Bradford and James both point out that “happy never works on a soap” as it’s all built on conflict.
How To Ruin Soap Pairing Peace In One Step
Steve and Bradford note that soaps often ruin a couple’s happiness by injuring a child or killing someone. James mentions that in the old days shooting a child was off-limits, but at least Charlotte wasn’t killed and seemed to recover quickly.
Steve relays that Sonny and Jason have each been shot an inordinate number of times and are fine. Well, not Jason since he is still under some Greek Cassadine rubble.
James explains that as far as he knows, Charlotte was under Victor’s mind control via tarot cards and a letter.
Vanna’s Trust
James is aware that fans are upset that the show and actors took all this time to build up trust between the characters just for Valentin to not trust Anna with pertinent information about Charlotte.
The actor also stresses that this story was conceived during the writers’ strike and how it was amazing that the show was able to keep going.
To play the story, James delved into his own parenting experience of wishing he could go back and do things differently. He then portrayed Valentin as a flawed and traumatized man whose parenting mistakes were taken to a high degree.
He rationalizes that despite wanting a future with Anna, Valentin’s top priority was doing right by Charlotte. However, he went too far and Charlotte ended up taking a bullet.
Valentin now blames himself, with James calling it “good soap.” Thankfully, James was prepared to play the story because Valentini explained what was coming.
Valentin’s Leading Ladies
James feels he’s been blessed on GH with a bevy of top-notch scene partners, including Finola Hughes and Michelle Stafford. He was only supposed to be on the soap for 10 days, but is now going on seven years because Stafford’s Nina needed a love interest.
James loves Stafford’s sense of humor and tells the story of how Valentini told him he’d be doing a love story with her and she responded with “You’re welcome.”
Valentin’s Journey
Steve and Bradford ask about playing Valentin’s evolution from “the most evil Cassadine of them all,” as Helena called him.
James knew from the start if Valentin was as bad as Helena said then wouldn’t be around long so he played him as a man who was damaged and always wanted to be humanized. It’s why his child and his love affairs mean so much to him.
His history led to being angry and a desire to control, but he was not necessarily a bad guy. He also thought it was a limited-run role so he played him the way he wanted to. James felt the same way when he was told he only had six months left as Will Cortlandt on All My Children.
James’ Performing Philosophy
James talks about being an artist and a performer like his father, Chad Stuart of the British duo Chad and Jeremy. After his music career came to a halt, his father worked in advertising and he thought it damaged him to try and figure out what other people wanted.
That makes James want to be a more “authentic” performer and not always about what other people think.
They end the episode with James happy for his GH friends’ success with a podcast and holiday tour as he wishes us a Merry Christmas.
Show Notes:
Welcome James Patrick Stuart-1:54
All About Disney-3:00
Balancing GH And Disney-7:05
Diving Into Vanna-09:35
How To Ruin Soap Pairing Peace In One Step-11:37
Vanna Trust-13:15
Valentin’s Leading Ladies-17:49
Valentin’s Journey-19:40
James’ Performing Philosophy-25:00
