NIKOLAS AND EMILY
TYLER | NATALIA

Applause, Applause
Outstanding Performer for the Week of May 31, 2004
Soap Opera Weekly
June 30, 2004

Natalia Livingston - Emily, General Hospital

Coincidence has figure heavily into Nikolas and Emilys story on General Hospital, but one aspect was no more happenstance - Natalia Livingston's string of stirring performances was kismet.

On her Mexican hotel veranda, Emily happened to see Nikolas on the very next balcony! Transfixed, she barely mouthed "Omigod." In a way, she had seen a ghost. Her breathing grew heavy as she stared at the spector, unblinking. Fear was quickly replaced as hope crept across her face - this was her lost husband! But even as Livingston's eyes grew wide, that hope was replaced with horror and incomprenhension as Emily watched Nik lip-lock Mary. As her jaw dropped, Livingston's brow furrowed in consternation. Emily fought to catch her breath. AS the couple smooched she hook her head, trying to see through a sudden flood of tears as she hung her head in sorrow.

A hotel staffed identified Nik as "Connor Bishop" and said he was on his honeymood, striking Emily mute once more.

Late, on the beach, Emily agan ran into the clueless amnesiac, and Livingston played her as frightened becuase Nikolas didn't recognize her. She squinted and spoke tentatively, her voice quivering. But when he said they'd never met, she began a steady burn. "Never met?" she wailed, clenching her teeth and eyes as her voice to a yelp and her arms flailed. Livingston then reverted to her characteristic whispering delivery. As he rambled an explanation, she shut her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself as she realized Mary had lied to her, Emily regarded Nik with a crooked squint of suspicion, but her expresson softened when she realized he was truly muddled.

When Connor talked about Nikolas, Emily turned to mush; she was so touched by his compassion for her loss that she bordered on tears. She could sense his affection for the woman he believed to be his wife, and Emily couldn't bring herself to ruin his happiness, even if it meant misery for herself. She had to let him go. Livingston finally let herself go when Emily watched Nik and Mary romp in their honeymoon suite. You go, girl! * - JD