NICOLAS BECHTEL RETURNS TO GH
This week, Nicolas Bechtel steps back into the role of Laura’s precocious grandson, Spencer Cassadine, marking his first appearance since 2017.
“Since the last time I was on GH, I was working on [the Disney series] STUCK IN THE MIDDLE,” reports Bechtel. “We wrapped at the end of March 2018, so I had some time to relax and catch up on sleep, get used to being back at my family home fulltime. It was a nice break, but I was itching to get back to GH!” So much so, he teases, that “Spencer came back, probably, because I kept pestering Frank [Valentini, executive producer].”
Suffice it to say, he was excited to set foot back onto the GH set. “There aren’t too many things that I get carried away about, but I have to say that I couldn’t even sleep the night before I returned,” he enthuses. “Any time I am not working at GH for a few months seems like forever. It’s one of my favorite places to be. I always look forward to it. I missed everyone and every thing about GH! My first day back was awesome. The thing about GH is that everyone is so good to me. They are all so kind. I got lots of hugs and ‘Welcome backs’. It was great.”
One of his happiest reunions was with Valentini, his GH boss since Bechtel was cast back in 2013. “Frank, he is my guy. On my first day, I got there and I went upstairs to say hello to him and he wasn’t there; he was at a meeting off-site. As soon as he got back, he came to the stage to help me with my scenes. He makes me work hard and I respect that. He knows what I can do and expects me to do my best. He makes sure I am being respectful to my parents and I am getting good grades. I’m okay with that. I take my role as Spencer very seriously. I always want to be the very best.”
Bechtel was also delighted to see his onscreen grandmother, Genie Francis (Laura), who recently made her own comeback. Praises Bechtel, “Genie is such a sweet person. I was so excited to see her. I stopped for flowers before I came in because it was the first time I had seen her in a long time. She is no-nonsense when she is working and on set, but she and I have a good time. She makes it seem like she
is my real grandma.”
What Bechtel most enjoys about playing his character, he says, is that “Spencer is someone very different from who I am in my real life. He’s a wild man and I wish I could do some of the things he does! Like book a flight to another country from his
cell. Or call a driver to take him where he needs to go. It’s always nice to really play a role and not someone similar to who you are in real life.” Expect a slightly different iteration of the character this time around, though. “Spencer has changed,” Bechtel previews. “He’s older and wiser. He’s trying to be a better listener. He’s trying to be respectful of his grandma — and he has a better wardrobe!”
“My first day back was awesome.”