CHARACTER STUDY: Actors offer Insight Into Their Alter Egos

Chad Duell (Michael, GH)

- Mara Levinsky

What do you like most about Michael? "I'm not a big fan of him right now [laughs]. But I feel like he always puts his family first and he's always had good intentions. He likes to give people the benefit of the doubt; he's not malicious and he's very protective and supportive of his family and always wanting to keep the peace. He has a good heart and he's a good father."

What do you most dislike about him? "I dislike how naive he can be at times. Someone who always tries to see the good in situations can kind of get walked over or come across as a little bit of an idiot, I guess. I don't think Michael is very streetsmart. A lot of times, there are obvious things happening around him and he's just oblivious to it. That can be frustrating for me to read. I go, 'How is he not noticing this?' And he can be a bit of a broken record with how he feels about his father and Nina and all that kind of stuff. I feel like there's an easier solution to this instead of going down the path of vengeance. Normally people get upset about something at first, then it fades away and they get logical about it. Michael seems to get really upset with Sonny and Nina and stay at that point for months as opposed to going, 'You know what? It's not worth it.' To try to tear his father's life apart comes across as malicious and out of character for who Michael has been for so long. He's been a little over-the-top lately."