Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
When Sasha Gilmore was introduced on General Hospital in 2018, she was posing as the daughter stolen from Nina Reeves at birth. Now the show has given her genuine biological ties that run deep into Port Charles lore, by revealing that Sasha is the secret daughter of Holly Sutton and Robert Scorpio. Of course, that news came at the expense of her burgeoning romance with Cody Bell, given that Robert’s brother, Mac, is Cody’s bio dad! As Sasha reeled from the latest upheaval in her personal life, she would up in bed with Michael Corinthos, her ex – who just so happens to be married to her bestie, Willow. Soap Opera Digest checked in with Sasha’s portrayer, Sofia Mattsson, for her take on all the drama.
Soap Opera Digest: A lot of fans had wanted to know more about Sasha’s background, more about where she came from. Did you feel that way, too?
Mattsson: Yes absolutely. With so little information revealed I’ve had to make things up myself and fill in her story in order to get into character. But I’ve always hoped the day would come when we would actually get to know more about her past, and I’m very excited it’s finally here!
Digest: How did you find out that Sasha was going to turn out to be Holly and Robert’s daughter — and that she and Cody are cousins?
Sofia Mattsson: I was told just shortly before we started filming it. So it all happened pretty fast. It was just around the time when we were filming scenes where Cody and Sasha were cluelessly together and kept trying to get intimate but were constantly interrupted. Many people were upset about them never making it all the way, and it was hard to not spill the beans about why it was, in fact, a good thing they kept getting interrupted [laughs]!
Digest: What was your reaction?
Mattsson: Super-happy and excited! I’ve been saying since the moment I got on the show that I would love to have a family connection, and now six years later it finally happened! I’m very thrilled, and honored.
Digest: Was it strange to find out that your character has been keeping the secret about Holly being her mom for all these years, and even you didn’t know?
Mattsson: Sasha has always been very vague about her mother and her past, so I figured she was hiding something very big. And being as it’s a soap, I was ready for anything! That’s part of what’s so fun about filming this show, that the story can take all kinds of directions at any given time and surprise you. I’m always at the edge of my seat when I receive a new script.
Digest: Does finding out this information about Sasha’s background make you feel like you understand her better?
Mattsson: Yes and no. It’s always been clear to me that her past wasn’t easy, and that she’s always been very lonely, which are both still true. I thought the loss and loneliness came from her mother being dead, but it turns out it came from the hurt of having a mother who was never there for her. One thing I for sure understand better is how Sasha ended up taking the job from Valentin to con Nina. I used to struggle to understand how Sasha, who is a smart and good-hearted person, would do something like that. But now, with having a mother who’s a career conwoman, it makes a lot more sense how she would get tangled into that world. Holly taught her all her tricks!
Digest: In the world of GH, the Scorpios are a pretty big-deal surprise family to get connected to.
Mattsson: I’m so honored! I’ve always loved the Scorpios. I’m so excited to have more interactions with all of them. Sasha is lucky!
INSTAGRAM/General Hospital
Teach Your Children Well: Sasha picked up some tools of the conwoman trade from Holly (Emma Samms).
Digest: How did you feel about the idea that the Cody/Sasha relationship would run into this kind of obstacle?
Mattsson: It’s super sad. I think they were really sweet together and had potential to be a super couple. But I guess I should’ve seen it coming, it’s a soap after all and happiness never lasts too long!
Digest: Did you and Josh Kelly (Cody) have discussions about this? And even though I think I know the answer to this, knowing Josh’s sense of humor, I still have to ask: Were jokes made?
Mattsson: It all happened pretty fast and suddenly, so we didn’t have much time to discuss, actually. But I think we’re both happy that we’ll still be connected, even if it’s as cousins rather than lovers. And yes, of course, since the moment we found out Josh has been making jokes about it on a daily basis. He’s a very funny guy to be around.
Digest: How heartbreaking was it for Sasha to have to tell Cody that they are related and can’t be together?
Mattsson: Everything was going so well and Cody and Sasha were really perfect together. So to get all that ripped away from you so unexpectedly is heartbreaking, for sure.
Digest: Tell us about getting to work with your new “mom,” Emma Samms (Holly).
Mattsson: It’s been incredible. She’s so sweet, funny and talented. And she’s a GH legend. The first time we ever met was in the makeup chair on the day of filming the scenes when she came to see Sasha at the mansion. So we just had to jump right into pretty intense scenes but it felt so natural and fun. I love working with Emma.
Digest: And tell us about working with your new “dad,” Tristan Rogers (Robert).
Mattsson: It’s really lovely and fun. He oozes warmth and kindness and is just a very sweet and funny person to be around. I think him having all those very fatherly qualities makes our scenes very real and heartfelt. I’m excited to have him as an on-screen dad and think our relationship can be very sweet. I’m thrilled for Sasha!
Digest: Emma told us that there were lots of gasps when you were rehearsing and shooting the reveal scenes. Was that fun, to see how surprised everyone else was?
Mattsson: Yes, so much fun! It doesn’t happen often. I think the crew is so used to all kinds of surprises by now so managing to make them gasp is a win!
Digest: Do you think Sasha could ever truly forgive Holly for not being there for her through all of the trauma she’s experienced since moving to Port Charles?
Mattsson: Sasha is a very understanding person, and far from perfect herself, so yes I think that eventually Sasha could forgive Holly. I hope so. She’s her mother, after all. But it might take some time.
CHRISTINE BARTOLUCCI/ABC
Kissin’ Cousins: Josh Kelly’s Cody and Mattsson’s Sasha got a little too close for comfort.
Digest: As fans know, Sasha ended up sleeping with her ex, Michael. Does Sasha regret that particular decision?
Mattsson: Absolutely! He’s a married man, and to one of her best friends. It was wrong on many levels. A stupid mistake she’s surely going to have to pay for!
Digest: Do you think Sasha does have feelings for Michael buried somewhere, or is this just something that happened because she was drunk and hurting?
Mattsson: I think at the time they broke up, she still had feelings for him. But he was clearly falling for Willow, so Sasha had no option but to step back, which hurt a lot when it happened. But with time, she’s definitely moved on — first with Brando and then with Cody. So them winding up in bed together was definitely a result of drinking, hurting and not thinking straight.
Digest: What do you think of this twist and the drama it could create in Sasha’s friendship with Willow?
Mattsson: For Sasha and Willow, I’m hurting. They were really close and there’s no way this won’t impact that. But for Sofia and Katelyn [MacMullen, Willow], I’m thrilled. For one, to hopefully get to work more with Katey, whom I’m really close with in real life. And also because that kind of drama is really fun to act out. Maybe because my personal life is very drama-free, thankfully! He-he.
Digest: Sasha ended up accidentally telling Michael that Drew and Willow kissed more than once. Is she upset with herself about that?
Mattsson: Initially, yes. Because it wasn’t her intention and she didn’t want to do anything that could hurt Willow more in that moment. But one thing this whole situation has shown is that keeping things form each other and lying only leads to more trouble. So I think she’s not upset about the truth being out, she just wished it happened without involving her.
Digest: Sasha and Michael decide that their night together will be their little secret that no one knows about. With this being a soap, what do you think are the chances that no one will ever find out?
Mattsson: Ha ha. The chances of that is probably zero percent. I have a feeling there’s lot of drama and repercussions to come…
Disney/Christine Bartolucci
Regrets Only: Sasha was kicking herself after she hit the sheets with Michael (Chad Duell).
