General Hospital Exclusive: Maurice Benard confides in Kelly Thiebaud the role he's taking on next

General Hospital star Maurice Benard sits down with Kelly Thiebaud for an engaging episode of State of Mind on Sunday, February 22. The two Daytime Emmy winners talk about a variety of topics, including the role that Benard is planning on taking on after he ends his run as Port Charles's most well-known coffee importer!

General Hospital, State of Mind revelation

Jason and Sonny on General Hospital | Image: JPI

Benard has many questions for his co-star when the actress who plays Dr. Britt Wesbourne joins him for a thoughtful sitdown on Sunday. Benard inquired as to how long Thiebaud had been in acting class.

"I started, like, on and off, probably [in] my mid-twenties," Thiebaud reveals in this exclusive preview, "but then, I got really serious when I was about 27, 28 [years old]."

The actress went on to share that she was still taking classes.

"You'll have to come to my class," Benard told Thiebaud.

The actress who plays the character affectionately referred to as "the Britch" responded by saying she didn't know that her co-star was an acting teacher.

"I will be," he replied. Thiebaud playfully replied: "Stop it!" Then, she added supportively and seriously, "Oh, you should. You totally should.

"I'm gonna do it when I leave GH," Benard said.

That tidbit, which Benard has addressed before, including with Soap Central last summer when he shared that he had "at least three years left." That prompted Thiebaud to subtly shift from interview subject to the person doing the interview.

"Oh, boy, do you want to talk about that?" she asked.

General Hospital, coffee, tea, and acting class

Carly and Sonny on General Hospital | Image: JPI

Benard said that he wasn't quite ready to go into specifics as to when he'll be closing up Corinthos Coffee. "Oh, no, not," he replied to Thiebaud, "not yet. I gotta wait."

"That makes me sad," Thiebaud responds at the thought of Benard no longer playing Sonny.

Benard didn't indicate that this shift from performer to instructor would be coming anytime soon, but it is on his radar. "I want to teach," he says, "and do this [State of Mind], then, whatever.

Thiebaud says that in addition to taking acting classes, she also studies improvisational comedy at The Groundlings, an improv school in Los Angeles. The Groundlings has spawned many famous graduates, including Saturday Night Live stars Will Ferrell, Maya Rudolph, Chris Kattan, and the late Phil Hartman, and Friends Emmy-winner Lisa Kudrow.