User:Nk3play2/Anna Devane

Anna Devane
General Hospital character
Portrayed by	Finola Hughes Camilla More (1991–1992)
Duration	1985–1992 1995 2001–2003 2006–2008 2012–present
First appearance	April 10, 1985 (1985-04-10)
Classification	Present; regular
Created by	Pat Falken Smith and Norma Monty
Introduced by	Gloria Monty (1985) Wendy Riche (1995) Jean Dadario Burke (2001) Jill Farren Phelps (2006) Frank Valentini (2012)
Book appearances	Robin's Diary
Spin-off appearances	GH: Night Shift
Crossover appearances	All My Children
In-universe information Other names Tess Durbeyfield (1976) Anna Scorpio (1976–77) Anna Lavery (1987–89) Anna Hayward (2002–03) The Adventurous One (Spinelli) Alice Everett-Ashton Anna Everett-Ashton Father Thomas Devane Sisters Alexandra Devane Lindsay Devane Half-brothers Gabriel Devane Spouse Robert Scorpio ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1977)​ ​ ​ (m. 1991; died 1992)​ Duke Lavery ​ ​ (m. 1987; died 1989)​ David Hayward ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2003)​ Sons Peter August Daughters Robin Scorpio Leora Hayward Stepsons Griffin Munro (1987–89) Grandsons Noah Drake Granddaughters Emma Drake Uncles Fredrick Devane Nephews Aidan Devane Other relatives Charlotte Devane

Anna Devane is a fictional character on General Hospital, an American soap opera that airs on the ABC network, played by Finola Hughes. Created by head writer Pat Falken Smith, Anna was introduced by executive producer Gloria Monty in 1985. Anna is revealed to be the ex-wife of resident super-spy Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) and her presence puts a strain on his marriage to Holly Sutton (Emma Samms). The character initially received backlash from viewers which was offset by the introduction of Anna and Robert's daughter, Robin (Kimberly McCullough).

Storylines

1985–1992

Anna is introduced in 1985 as skilled jewel thief who takes an interest in Robert and his wife Holly. Anna is soon revealed to be Robert's ex-wife whom he divorced upon discovering she was a double-agent working for both the WSB and DVX spy agencies. Anna works as Sean Donely's (John Reilly) secretary and partners with him to fence the Aztec treasure. However, the treasure goes missing forcing Anna and Robert to team up which makes Holly jealous. As the revelation about their marriage leads to Holly leaving Robert, Anna teams up with Robert and Grant Andrews (Brian Patrick Clarke) to bring down Donely who has gone rouge. When Robert goes missing during their mission, Anna returns home to find her apartment destroyed and her old friend Filomena Soltini (Argentina Brunetti) tied up. It is revealed that Filomena has been secretly been raising Robert and Anna's daughter Robin as her granddaughter. Robert resurfaces and confronts Anna about Robin who overhears the truth and runs away. She is kidnapped forcing Anna and Robert to rescue her. Later, Anna is named co-police chief along with Burt Ramsey (Bob Hastings). In 1986, Anna falls for the handsome mysterious club-owner Duke Lavery (Ian Buchanan). When her friends Frisco and Felicia (Jack Wagner and Kristina Wagner) go missing, Anna suspects Duke is involved but her urges her to trust him. As Duke and Anna are engaged in October 1986, Robert exposes Duke's involvement in a money laundering scheme for the mysterious "Mr. Big." Soon after, Anna's home is bombed and Duke assures Anna he loves her and decides to get out of the mob for good. However, Duke is framed by his boss, the mysterious "Mr. Big" and ends up in jail. Robert then enlist Anna and Frisco's help to expose "Mr. Big" who turns out to be Anna's corrupt partner Ramsey. After the death of his father Angus McKay (Guy Doleman), Anna becomes suspicious of Duke's relationship with his half-sister, Camellia (Elizabeth Keifer). In May 1987, Anna is horrified when the press crashes her wedding to expose that Duke covered up Camellia's murder of Evan Jerome, the son of mobster kingpin Victor Jerome (Jack Axelrod). Anna dumps Duke and starts her own private investigator firm, and a recently widowed Robert becomes her partner. Robert and Anna bond as they work together and he wants to reunite but she chooses to go back to Duke instead. Duke and Anna are married in a traditional Scottish wedding on October 19, 1987. In January 1988, the deranged Grant Putnam (Brian Patrick Clarke) kills Filomena after a failed attempt to kidnap Robin, and abducts Anna instead. Fortunately, Robert tracks Putnam and Anna to the Adirondack Mountains and rescues her. Anna settles into a happy life with Duke while working with Robert as they co-parent Robin. In the summer of 1988, Anna announces she is pregnant. However, Anna suffers a miscarriage in October 1988 when she is trapped in an elevator rigged to fall by Victor's jealous daughter Olivia St. John (Tonja Walker), who had become obsessed with Duke. When Olivia is shot and left comatose, Anna is arrested for her attempted murder. Fortunately, Anna is cleared when Victor's bastard son Dino (Chris DeRose) is revealed to be behind the shooting. Anna is relieved when Olivia is shipped off to a mental hospital in 1989. However, Anna's life with Duke comes to an end when he is killed in a fire in April 1989, as revenge for testifying against the mob.

In 1990, Olivia having escaped the sanitarium tells Anna that Duke is alive and posing as art dealer, Jonathan Paget (Gregory Beecroft). As Anna and Duke are about to reunite, Duke is shot by Victor's son Julian Jerome (Jason Culp) in retaliation for him betraying the Jerome family. Robert postpones his wedding to Katherine Delafield (Edie Lehmann) to comfort Anna. Robin convinces Anna and Frisco to help her friend Casey the Alien (Bradley Lockerman) recover his crystal and return to his home planet of Lumina. Anna, Robin and Casey kidnapped are by adventure novelist P.K. Sinclair, who is revealed to be Anna's obsessive arch-rival Cesar Faison (Anders Hove). Fortunately, Faison's plans to steal Casey's crystals are thwarted and Anna helps Casey go home. On Valentine's Day 1991, Robin sends Anna and Robert cards signed with each other's names. They later attend Robin's dance recital where they continue flirting. After a romantic dinner, Anna seduces Robert only to tie him up and leave him for Frisco to find him. Their cat-mouse games leads to the two falling in love again. Robert ends up in the hospital when someone tries to kill him and his estranged brother Mac (John J. York) is the prime suspect. While Mac feigns innocence, Robert is released into Anna's care and they make love for the first time in years. Robert proposes to Anna and she accepts. They are married on June 28, 1991 in Lila Quartermaine's (Anna Lee) garden. Robin is the maid of honor and Mac is the best man. In November 1991, Anna discovers Lila's presumed dead husband Edward Quartermaine (David Lewis) alive and reunites him with his family. In January 1992, Robert and Anna's happy life is upended by the return of a very much alive Holly. Realizing he's made a life with Anna (again) and Robin, Holly divorces Robert. To make matters worse, Faison kidnaps Anna in February 1992, after killing Anna's childhood Au pair, his own mother, Nanny McTavish (Helena Carroll). Robert immediately leaves to rescue Anna. In March 1992, Anna, Robert and Faison are reportedly killed in a boat explosion.

2001–2003

Anna is revealed to be alive in March 2001 when her twin-sister Alexandra Marick (Hughes) returns to her home in Pine Valley to announce that been secretly caring for her sister. Months earlier, Alex had been summoned to Canada by Bart (Ralph Waite). Bart had been caring for Anna when she began having seizures. Bart immediately contacts Alex for help. With the help of her brother-in-law Dimitri Marick (Michael Nader) and his brother Edmund Grey (John Callahan), Anna checks into Pine Valley Medical Center, posing as Alex. Alex also enlist her colleague David Hayward (Vincent Irizarry) to heal her sister. While Anna recovers, she has no recollection of her life in Port Charles. Meanwhile, Anna learned from Alex that their aunt Charlotte had put a hit out on her. The failed hit puts claims the life of Gillian Andrassy. Anna settled into her new life and also met her half-brother Gabriel. Charlotte had brainwashed Gabriel to kill Anna but fortunately, the sisters are able to break the conditioning. In May 2001, Anna shares a happy reunion with Robin. While she wanted to be with Robin, Anna knew she'd put her in danger. Anna turns to the WSB for protection and they partner her up with federal agent Chris Stamp to apprehend the drug-lord Proteuos.

In 2002, Anna finds David secretly meeting with Roger Smythe (Mark Pinter), a runner for Proteus. David claims he's been treating Roger's heart condition with experimental drugs. Chris pressures Anna to turn David into the authorities and Anna sets out to protect him, so she offers to marry him. David and Anna are married in March 2002, for convenience, though they've fallen in love. As Anna's is named chief of police, David's mother Vanessa Bennett (Marj Dusay) is revealed to be Proteus. Anna is furious to learn that David played a part in the disappearance of Edmund's wife, Maria Santos (Eva LaRue) and she leaves him. However, soon after Anna learns she is pregnant and reluctantly tells David. She finds support in her nephew Aidan (Aiden Turner). Despite his warms feelings toward her, Anna is suspicious of Aidan. She learns Aidan has been framed for murder and their is still a hit out on him.

David sets out to win Anna back and confesses to his crimes. David is sentenced to community service at a free clinic. Anna goes to visit David and is taken hostage at knife point by troubled teen Reggie Porter (Chadwick Boseman). After the ordeal, Anna learns her baby suffers from a congenital heart defect and needs emergency surgery. Since David is still on probation, Anna travels to Switzerland to see a specialist. David surprises Anna by arranging for Robin to meet her there. During the operation, the doctor suffers a stroke and David is rushes to Switzerland to save Anna and their daughter. Anna gives birth to daughter Leora Devane Hayward on February 26, 2003, named after David's late brother, Leo du Pres (Josh Duhamel). When Leora's condition worsens, Joe Martin (Ray MacDonnell) convinces Anna to agree to another surgery. Unfortunately, Leora does not survive and David lashes out accusing him of killing Leora for revenge. Anna in turns finds comfort with district attorney Jackson Montgomery (Walt Willey). Anna reaches out to David only to find him trying to poison the Martins with an amnesia drug. Anna locks David in his cabin until he accepts Leora's death as an accident. In the summer of 2003, Anna oversees the investigation into the murder of Michael Cambias (William deVry). Michael's supposed wife Kendall Hart (Alicia Minshew) is the prime suspect but Anna discovers finds evidence implicating David and Kendall's mother Erica Kane (Susan Lucci). Realizing she couldn't remain objective, Anna leaves the evidence at David's cabin with a letter. She reveals she is going to Paris to with Robin and does not want David to follow

2006–2008

Anna resurfaces in 2006 when she runs into Robin and a very much alive Robert in the Markham Islands. Robert and Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) have gotten involved in jewelry heist with Holly Sutton (Emma Samms) and end up in prison. Robin comes to free her father while Anna comes looking for the jewels. Anna promises to visit Port Charles to catch up with Robin and to meet Robin's boyfriend, Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson). Robin comes to Port Charles a few weeks later investigating Lorenzo Alcazar (Ted King) and uses Robin as her cover story. Disappointed to learn that Patrick and Robin have split, Anna convinces Robin to give Patrick another chance. When Anna realizes Robin is in love, she makes sure Patrick feels the same way before she leaves on assignment. Anna returns in 2007 and helps Patrick's father Noah Drake (Rick Springfield) pass himself off as rock star Eli Love during the LIFEbeat concert which is held in support of HIV/AIDS awareness. She and Noah have a brief fling before she skips town again. Anna returns in 2008 and is shocked to learn Robin is pregnant. Anna initially struggles with the news she is going to be a grandmother and gets drunk with Luke. A brief visit from Eli helps Anna come to terms with being a grandmother and she finally told Robin how excited she is. On the prime time spin-off, General Hospital: Night Shift, Anna is at Robert's side when he is diagnosed with colon cancer. Anna finds comfort spending time with Robin and Mac when Robert falls into a coma. During Patrick and Robin's wedding ceremony in October 2008, Robin goes into labor. Anna is terrified when Robin falls into a coma shortly after giving birth to her daughter Emma. Fortunately Robin recovers and enlist Anna as her maid of honor when she and Patrick finally marry in December 2008 and Robert is there to walk her down the aisle.

2012–present

Anna returns in February 2012 at Patrick's request and shares a happy reunion with Robin and her granddaughter Emma (Brooklyn Rae Silzer). However, Robin is killed when a lab explosion at the hospital shortly after. In her grief, Anna occupies herself with caring for Emma and supporting Patrick. Robert is so distraught by the news that he skips town before Robin's funeral even after Anna begs him to stay. Robin's distraught cousin Maxie Jones (Jen Lilley) crashes the funeral and exposes Patrick's affair with Lisa Niles (Brianna Brown). Anna finds comfort with Luke Spencer and they soon move in together making his ex-wife Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) quite jealous. Anna reconnects with former FBI protégé John McBain (Michael Easton) when he comes to town gunning for Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) as he believes Sonny is responsible for the deaths of two of his loved ones. Anna ends up on the wrong side of the deranged Heather Webber (Robin Mattson) due to her romance with Luke. After Mac is fired as police commisioner, Anna takes the job with his blessing. When Luke is kidnapped by Heather, Anna comes to his rescue. When Heather is captured, Anna questions her and is shocked when Heather claims Robin is alive. When Anna pulls a gun on her, Heather reveals she saw Robin at Ferncliff Sanitarium where Heather was once held. While Robin isn't at Ferncliff, Anna finds a lead that takes her to a Swiss clinic. Unfortunately, Anna and Luke do not find Robin in Switzerland either. Anna is shocked when Duke returns to town in October 2012 and reveals he had been taken by members of the Jerome family and abandoned in a Turkish prison. The reunion is interrupted by Luke and Duke is shocked to learn they are involved. Duke tells Anna that they are still married because he is not dead.

Development

Creation and casting

Hughes, best known for her portrayal of Laura in the 1983 film Staying Alive auditioned for the role of Anna Devane about 3 months after she relocated to New York. In the original character breakdown, "the writers had requested that they wanted someone just like that girl from 'Staying Alive.'" Hughes met with Monty to audition for the role. About two weeks later, Hughes was shocked when she actually got hired because the role was originally written for an American actress. At the time, Hughes attended an acting school run by Milton Katselas where several of her blonde classmates had also auditioned for the role of Anna. "I just knew I hadn't gotten the part." She continued, "When I found out I did have the job, I screamed and jumped up and down." "I've never played a character anything like Anna before" Hughes said of her casting.

In December 1991, actress Camilla More took over the role of Anna. More had previously appeared on Days of Our Lives in the roles of Gillian and Grace Forrester. More served as a temporary recast until early 1992. At the time, Hughes was in the middle of contract negotiations.

Characterization

Personality

In 1986, Hughes said "She's a lot tougher than I am and a lot more daring." The actress said "I like Anna. I'd like to know her."

Backstory

Anna once worked with Sean Donely as a WSB agent.

Introduction

It was revealed that Anna would test Robert Scorpio's and marriage to Holly Sutton in a big way. Anna is introduced initially introduced as Robert's treacherous ex-wife looking to claim Robert for herself. To help change fans minds about the character, the writers created and introduced the character of Robin (Kimberly McCullough), as Anna and Robert's daughter.

Departure (1992)

In late 1991, rumors circulated the Hughes had been fired from the series. During contract negotiations, the actress took advantage of an out clause in her contract to work on another contract. Hughes filmed her final scenes the week of Thanksgiving and last aired the week of December 16 before she was replaced by More. In the interim, Hughes continued negotiations and if all went well, Hughes was slated to return by March or April 1992.

Resurrection (2001)

In June 1999, it was announced that Hughes was set to join the cast of ABC's All My Children in the role of Alexandra Devane. The character's name immediately led to speculation that Alex was a relative of Anna or Anna herself. In an interview with Soap Opera Update in December 1999, Hughes revealed that the producers were in the early stages of exploring Alex and Anna's connection. In March 2000, Alex purchases a horse that she names "Scorpio." On April 5, 2000, Alex embraces a young patient which triggers what is believed to be a memory in which she interacts with Anna's daughter, Robin. Meanwhile, Guy Donahue (Hunt Block) is troubled at the thought of Alex uncovering these memories. As the story played out, both Hughes and co-star Tristan Rogers said they would happily return to GH while Kimberly McCullough expressed her disinterest.

• Maternity leave

Return (2012)

On December 14, 2011, Michael Logan of TV Guide exclusively reported that Hughes was set to reprise the role of Anna in 2012, in a recurring capacity. Hughes was slated to film late January and due to appear onscreen during February Sweeps. A spokesperson for the series said Hughes "will be on our canvas for a while" and the character's return would be heavily tied to daughter Robin, and son-in-law Patrick Drake.

Reception

Introduction

Of the character's introduction, Soap Opera Update said "Anna was a character ripe for discovery" as Robert's ex-wife. The magazine praised the character's development; "Anna has grown tremendously since she entered the show in 1985." "Finola Hughes has had a difficult time winning over General Hospital fans, but the odds have been overwhelmingly against her." The revelation that Anna and Robert's past "outraged" fans of Robert and Holly. DiLauro said "Anna was transformed from sinner to saint" with the "clever" introduction of Robin. By 1986, Anna had become one of the "most respected heroines" and making Hughes one of series' most popular stars.