"Gold Star"

December 7th issue ABC Soaps in depth

Rick Hearst (Ric) is this issue's standout performer

ON the surface, General Hospital's Ric is a tormented guy who's obsession with destroying brother Sonny brings out the cad in him. As far as Ric is concerned, when it comes to Sonny, the end does justify the means. Until Alexis came along. What began as a carefully calculated scheme to stick it to Sonny by romancing Alexis somehow morphed into something "real," something unexpected. While she crumbles at the thought of loosing her daughter, Ric is her rock, her comfort, her friend. Or is he? Is he the answerer to her prayers or her worst nightmare? With Rick Hearst's complex portrayal, you just never know!

The Importance of Being Earnest

 Ric is now showing the man he is when his vendetta against Sonny isn't his focus. And what we're seeing is mighty appealing. While watching Alexis' suffering as a parent, Ric stepped right up to his big bro and gave him some sound advice. It had nothing to do with crime and punishment but instead, parenthood and priorities. "Why don't you stop being the all-powerful mobster for once and just be a dad?" Hearst's firm yet heartfelt delivery was the punctuation needed to shut Sonny up but fast!

Although his work with Maurice Benard (Sonny) has never been more honest, it's Hearst's recent scenes with Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) that leave us cheering. Watching Ric falling in love with this woman is nothing short of mesmerizing. The kicker was his "conversation" with Sandy the stuffed dog and a deathly ill Kristina in her hospital crib. Alexis wasn't the only one left holding back tears.

When A Man Loves A Woman

With concern in his eyes and sincerity in his tone, Ric is a different man with Alexis. He's the father whos heart was broken when he lost a child of his own. He's the intellectual who excels in verbal sparring. He's the man who is afraid to share his sould for fear that someone might hijack it. How Hearst communicates so many intricate emotions in a split-second glance or a single word is sometimes beyond comprehension.

In his two years since joining GH. Hearst has done near impossible. He has taken his pregnant-woman-kidnapping, wife-drugging character and made him redeemable by sheer virtue of his ability to dig deeply into his psyche and and is fearless enough to expose his rawness. The audience doesn't know Ric's weakness and fears, we understand them. We're not just watching a character react to situations, we feel it as he does. Rick Hearst is a rare and natural talent who has the guts to give his all to the every second he's on screen.