Volume I, Issue v

January 1999

Exclusive Interview: Pam Griffith

In our first exclusive interview (oh, we're so excited!), "Lulu's mom," Pam Griffith, answers all our questions about her daughters' work on General Hospital.

What other jobs have the girls had, if any? (Did we see them on ER in the 2nd season?)

The girls have done several other things and yes they were on the Christmas show of ER second season. They have also done the movies--If These Walls Could Talk, Twilight of the Golds, Eight Heads in a Duffel Bag--and a movie coming this spring, Baby Geniuses. They were also in a Leggs panty hose commercial, that aired during the Olympics.

How were the girls cast? How long have they been on the show?

GH put out a call for twin girls 9 months to 1 year old and our agent sent us to that call. There were about 20 sets of twins. They took the girls on the set to see how they would interact with others. Their audition was with Mac and Kat. Kelli fell over on the set and started to cry and when she didn't cry long they were pretty impressed. At the time they were picked for the show they had no hair, so the question of the dark hair is just that they didn't have any when they were picked. The girls were 11 months old when they started the show and they just turned 4 in October.

What do the girls think about acting? Do they enjoy their time at the studio? Do they enjoy performing?

I don't think the girls think of it as acting...we really don't make a big issue of it. They love their time at the studio, and often ask when they are going to General Hospital. This is their fun time. They love being on the set and I don't think they think of it as performing...it's just fun to them.

What's a typical day on the set for them like? What's the process they go through to do a scene? Do you get the script, or do they just come to rehearsal? Do both of them work in each scene?

When we arrive at the studio we go to the room assigned to us for the day to see what wardrobe has selected for that show. We dress both of them and then get them a bit to eat. We let them run around and go visit so they can loosen up some. (They are on the shy side and if they haven't been there for awhile it takes a few minutes.) We usually get the script a couple of days in advance and I usually have the girls draw me pictures of what they think is going to take place. This was a tip from an acting coach I received. Whichever girl is in a better mood is the one who works.

We've heard that one of the twins is more talkative than the other one is. Does one of them take direction better than the other one does?

Right now Alisyn is a little more talkative...but Kelli used to be the more outgoing...they switch personalities all the time. They both take direction really well, and a reason they don't talk a lot is because they were raised on the set...and have heard "Quiet on the set" since they were 11 months old and well they take that very seriously.

We assume the girls have a chance to interact with cast members other than those that form the Spencer and Cassadine families. Which cast member would we be most surprised to know spends time with the twins?

Ingo...or as they call him Bingo. He is just great with them.

Has Anthony Geary been supplanted in their affections, or is he still Numero Uno?

Anthony Geary is and always will be # 1 to them...they just love him.

Jonathan spends a lot of time running after in the girls in the halls and you can hear the squeals from all over. Tyler is more on the shy side but always makes sure to hug them and joke with them.

Do the "Baby Michael" twins spend time with your girls during down time? How do they get along?

The girls have never been on the set the same time as the Baby Michael twins...and we have only ever seen them on TV. Maybe soon they will be on the set at the same time. I know the girls would just love it...cause they love babies.

As their mom, what's one of your favorite scenes with Lulu? Do they have a favorite?

I would have to say my favorite scene is the very first time they were on the show. It was the first time they were ever on TV and it just melts my heart every time. Anything with Lucky would be their favorite.

Which prop(s) in the Spencer house do they like the best? At Wyndemere?

The props...WOW. I guess in the Spencer house...would have to be the wooden apples on the table. When they were babies they used to throw them at Tony to get him to play. Wyndemere...well I know their least favorite is the large gargoyle statues in Stefan's study...they are really afraid of them.

What do the girls like to do when they're not playing Lulu?

They like to go to their Rainbow group at church...they love Blue's Clues and they ride their Big Wheels all over our neighborhood. Everyone on our street knows them and they love to visit with everyone.

What does big sis think of the twins being on a television show? Is she also in the business?

Kelsi is very proud of her babies (that what she calls them). But she has absolutely no desire to do the acting thing.

What's the hardest part of the business as far as you, as a parent, are concerned? What's the most fun for you?

The hardest thing for me is the drive...we live in Bakersfield and it takes almost 2 hours to get there. The most fun would have to be watching the girls grow on TV.

Are you a GH fan? Do you watch when the girls aren't on? Do you tape their scenes?

I was a huge fan...you know during the Luke and Laura time. Now I only watch when the girls are on. We try to tape most of the shows they are on...but have missed a couple.

On-screen, people often comment on the similarities between Lulu and her brother Nik. Do you think the girls resemble Tyler?

I think the girls resemble Tyler a lot...*G*

Are the girls as fond of their newer co-stars, Stephen Nichols and Tyler, as they are of the actors they have worked with so much longer, like Genie?

They love everyone on the show. We have been there so long they have become family to them.

Do the girls play with the children of GH actors/actresses? Do people tend to bring their kids to the set, or not?

The girls don't get to play with other children on the set very often. Occasionally the actors will bring their children and that is such a treat for Kelli and Alisyn.

How far in advance do you know what's going to happen in the girls' storyline? How much notice do they give you of when they are going to work?

We usually get the script 2 to 4 days prior to them taping and we usually know about 3 weeks in advance the days they are going to work.

Do the girls have a contract? Will you let them continue to work when they reach school age, if GH is willing, or will you have them "retire" for a while? [Oh, please say they'll stay on as long as GH will let them. We LOVE their sparkly eyes.]

The girls do not have a contract. I will keep the girls on GH as long as they want them. All the people at GH have been so good to Kelli and Alisyn I would never dream of taking them off the show. If they could be taught by the teacher on the set, that would even be better. She is wonderful and the girls love her. I am not sure however how long before they will age them.