Daytime newcomer Paige Herschell made quite the dramatic entrance onto the General Hospital scene back in April when she debuted as Jacinda Bracken, the paid escort tapped by Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Portia (Brook Kerr) to drug Drew (Cameron Mathison) with ketamine so that he’d made a public spectacle of himself — which he most certainly did when he ended up doing body shots off of her at the The Savoy. Jacinda took her hefty paycheck and jetted off to Australia, but she came back earlier this month looking to replenish her bank account — and has wound up entangled with Michael (Rory Gibson), who is using her as his alibi as he tries to skate suspicion for shooting Drew. Soap Opera Digest checked in with Herschell about her Port Charles experience, her chemistry with Gibson and more.
At Your Service
Herschell says that she was as surprised as the audience when Jacinda popped back up on GH. “I got this audition request back in February and it was just a couple of episodes, maybe,” she recalls. “And it’s turned into more than that! I’m happy to be around.”
The crafty and unapologetic Jacinda is a far cry from the types of roles Herschell is used to booking — and is definitely the first paid escort on her list of credits! “It was such a shock to me when [the powers-that-be] offered it to me,” she marvels. “She’s so confident, Jacinda, and I’m a little bit more reserved than she is. But it is so cool to play somebody so opposite of yourself, you know? It’s very fun. I’m having a great time.”
The actress had auditioned for GH Casting Director Mark Teschner a few other times over the years. “They even brought me in for a producer callback for something else, and it didn’t go my way, and that’s fine — that’s just how the business is,” she shrugs. “And then this one came about and it was so opposite me that honestly, I submitted the tape and was like, ‘Okay, well, I had a fun time, but good riddance to that one!’ And then here we are [laughs]!”
Herschell had a memorable first few days on set, given the whole “Drew does body shots off of Jacinda” scenario she was tasked with playing. Whatever intimidation she felt going to work that day faded away thanks to the kindness of her new colleagues. “Cameron was so professional and is such a kind person,” she praises. “I know he gets a lot of crap online and stuff, but that’s just because he’s doing his job [of playing a villain] correctly! And because he was so available and ready to play, I think that my nerves just went away. Normally, I would be a bit more nervous, but because of his professionalism, and how welcoming everybody — the cast, the crew — was on set, it felt easier than I thought it would be.”
When she gave her family a heads-up about what her appearance on GH would entail, they got a kick out of it. When she first airs, Herschell smiles, “They sent me pictures — screenshots of my face and then them next to the TV making the same face.”
The actress thought that would be the end of Jacinda’s story. “In the script, they banished her to Australia and I thought, ‘Okay, well, that’s that! I thought, ‘Okay, that’s just how soaps work.’ I had no idea [if they would bring her back], but I had so much fun with everybody that I was just left feeling like, ‘Oh … that’s all? I want more!’ “
She made her interest known to Executive Producer Frank Valentini. “When I left the first time, I said to Frank, ‘Maybe Jacinda didn’t actually get on that plane!’ I think I maybe put that in his head, and he was kind enough to help me out there [laughs]. And I was very happy to get the call to come back.”
Getting To Know You
Working with Rory Gibson has been a definite highlight of Herschell’s Port Charles comeback. “Wow, what a great scene partner,” she beams. “He is so grounded and he’s such a sweet guy. I’m a bit of a neurotic person in my life; I’m a little chaotic and all over the place. But when Rory and I have had these scenes together, he just brings me to like a calm state where we can really connect and play and I’m very happy that it’s him that I get to keep being paired with.”
As the actress sees it, Jacinda is drawn to Michael both for his sizable bank account and for his other assets. “A character can be both, right? She can be money-motivated and also, there could be some chemistry there — and I think there is,” she offers. “I mean, with Rory, he probably has chemistry with a lamp! Anybody could have chemistry with Rory because he’s so great. But I think with Jacinda, we’re quickly seeing that she has a bit of a sweeter side to [balance] her manipulative side. I think Michael brings that out in her, so we’re getting to see a few more colors. And we’ll see where it goes.”
Herschell says she has felt invited to imbue Jacinda with those levels that she didn’t get a chance to show in her shorter first stint. “I think the writing has lent itself to that,” she explains. “I’ve let a little bit more of Paige come out in Jacinda, and hopefully, I’m a sweet person! But I’m trying to give her a bit more humanity.
“I think Jacinda has done her fair share of playing around with people to get what she needs,” Herschell continues. “And who knows why she is doing it? Maybe for some enjoyment and excitement, because sometimes people do that — they follow the fun drama they’ve created for themselves. Maybe we’ll find out why she likes to be involved in stuff like that, I’m not sure, but she definitely has a sense of humor about it.” And when it comes to things that might give less adventurous characters pause, like lying to the police for Michael, “I think she’s very much like, ‘We’re just gonna go with the flow, ‘ ” she winks.
As the story progresses, Herschell is excited to find out more about what makes Jacinda tick, and has already found a lot to love about her character. “Her ambition and her confidence and her money-motivated, strong will is inspiring,” she declares. “I’ve definitely learned a lot from her — at least in the confidence realm!”
The actress hopes the audience will get a kick out of having Jacinda on their TV screens. “Take her with a grain of salt,” she teases. “But if you want to spice things up, watch Jacinda, because I think she’s probably going to bring a little spice to the scene!”
Are you enjoying Jacinda so far on GH? Could you see genuine feelings emerging between Jacinda and Michael? Let us know in the comments below!
