Avery Kristen Pohl Dishes on Her Dreamy GH Return as Esme Prince…and She’s Not Ruling Out MORE

GENERAL HOSPITAL’S AVERY KRISTEN POHL RETURNED AS ESME PRINCE AND SHE MISSED “THAT GIRL” SO MUCH

TL;DR: Esme Prince is BACK on General Hospital — well, sort of! Avery Kristen Pohl returned to the canvas on the December 5 episode, appearing in Laura Collins’ nightmare alongside Jeff Kober’s Cyrus Renault. The actress opened up about her brief return, working with Genie Francis again, and whether Esme might actually still be alive!

The Quickest Little Pop-In

Avery Kristen Pohl made her triumphant return to General Hospital on December 5, reprising her role as the deliciously despicable Esme Prince in Laura Collins’ nightmare. It was a brief appearance, but according to the actress, it was absolutely worth it.

“It was the quickest little pop-in, but it was so fun to see everybody,” Pohl told Soap Opera Digest in an exclusive interview. The timing worked out perfectly — filming happened just a week after the Daytime Emmys, where Pohl had been nominated for Outstanding Guest Performer. “I got to catch up with everybody and then go see them at work a week later, which was really fun.”

Are you thrilled to see Esme Prince back on General Hospital? Do you think she’s actually still alive? Email your thoughts to amber@soapoperamagazine.com!

A Sweet Reunion With Genie Francis

The return kicked off with a phone call from Pohl’s manager relaying that General Hospital was hoping she’d be available. Her response? “Sure!” A few follow-up calls and emails later, she was back on set.

Pohl didn’t initially know the specifics of the story, but she was thrilled to discover she’d be working with Genie Francis again. “Oh, it was so sweet. I always love seeing her. She’s such a kind spirit,” gushed the actress. “I was really happy to hear that it was in her dream because I was like, ‘Yay, I get to work with Genie again!’ It was a really nice surprise.”

Playing Esme in someone else’s nightmare required a slightly different approach. “I think dreams are really fun because you get to throw out some of the social context and rules,” Pohl explained. “Laura really hurt Esme and was really aware of that fact. So I thought everything had to stem from that perspective.” The actress loved getting to view her character through a different lens, adding, “It was really enjoyable and fun, getting to step back into Esme. I loved it! I missed that girl a lot.”

Like Riding a Bike

Returning to GH after being away presented a small challenge — Pohl was actually sick during filming! “I was putting more pressure on myself to memorize it really, really well and make sure that there was no way I could drop a line because my brain wasn’t operating at 100% capacity,” she admitted.

But stepping back onto the stage felt natural. “It is sort of like riding a bike. It’s a muscle that you exercise, and there’s a certain amount of muscle memory to it. When I stepped on stage, I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got it.’ There were no nerves or worry. You just step right back in and you do your job and you go home.”

Is Esme Actually Dead Though?

Here’s where things get INTERESTING. When asked if she’d return again, Pohl said she’s “always open to talking and going from there.” And about Esme’s presumed death? The actress isn’t buying it.

“I would like to think that she is on a little vacation somewhere. Maybe she stuck around France, maybe she’s like, in Morocco on a camel somewhere,” Pohl winked. “I don’t know, but I don’t think she’s dead. If there’s not a body, you’re not dead, is my rule of thumb.”

Soap fans know that rule ALL too well. Esme Prince might just be plotting her next move from a beach somewhere, and honestly? We’d love to see it.

Do you think Esme Prince is really dead or just biding her time? Sound off in the comments below!

WATCH THIS: IF Esme comes back, do you think SHE’LL be our savior and take out Drew?