Finola Hughes Looks Back on Staying Alive: John Travolta’s Support, Sylvester Stallone’s Spontaneity and a Newbie Actor’s Reality Check
Finola Hughes, who has spent four decades portraying Anna Devane on General Hospital, reveals that her big-screen debut came earlier than her daytime fame. In Staying Alive (1983), the highly anticipated sequel to Saturday Night Fever, Hughes joined John Travolta, who returned as Tony Manero, under the direction of Sylvester Stallone.
The audition day moved quickly. Hughes learned the dance routines, read lines, and danced with Travolta. “Sly was there, and then they sort of said, ‘Yeah, you’ve got the role,’” Hughes recalls. “They told me right there.” She accepted the part as Laura with a mix of happiness and disbelief, noting she hadn’t even read the full script but felt the opportunity was right.
Travolta proved a cornerstone for the new actress in a city that was all new to her. “He was the sweetest,” Hughes says. “He’s just lovely. He was so supportive and so kind and kind of took me under his wing a little bit because I’d never been to Hollywood and he really looked after me.” She credits him with helping her feel grounded in a way that stuck long after filming wrapped. Even when the crew shot in New York, Travolta would take time to show Hughes around, including a night out at Studio 54, which underscored the protective, generous atmosphere he fostered on set.
Stallone’s influence complemented Travolta’s kindness. Hughes describes Stallone as “fantastic, very spontaneous,” noting that his preference for improvisation was a valuable lesson for a newcomer. “He likes things to be spontaneous, and I think that was good for me because I didn’t know how to do that. I didn’t really know how to do anything. I’m being completely honest — I had no idea what I was doing, and John would sort of give me little clues. I think they were always trying to loosen me up, so they would surprise me sometimes. They understood that they were working with a complete newbie.”
The film’s status as a sequel carried its own weight. Hughes admits she was oblivious to the larger pressure in the moment, focusing on the six weeks of rehearsals that preceded shooting and the three months Travolta reportedly spent getting in shape for the dance-heavy production. “There was a lot of prep work,” she says, acknowledging the canvas of expectations even if she didn’t feel the full scope at the time.
Premieres offered their own dramatic moments. For the Los Angeles debut, Hughes had wardrobe help from Stallone’s then-wife Sasha Czack, who guided her to a long-beaded slip dress. In New York, Hughes relied on pieces from her own closet, learning later how much forethought had gone into styling by her co-stars and their teams. A London premiere added another family moment, as Hughes brought her dad and brother and Travolta continued to look out for her.
Despite the fanfare, Staying Alive received mostly negative reviews upon release, though it has since developed a cult following. Hughes reflects with refreshing candor: “I think my acting sucked.” She even noted that she was up for a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress and Worst New Star, a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment of the film’s reputation at the time. Still, she calls the experience “amazing” and “really cool,” values she carried into her long-running daytime career.
The connections forged on set endured. Hughes has run into Travolta a few times in recent years, and she recalls a chance encounter with Stallone in Beverly Hills; both men offered encouragement and recognition of her work ethic. “He’s really supportive and cool. It was nice,” she says, underscoring the lasting camaraderie that formed among the film’s leads.
A milestone moment in Hughes’s career is intertwined with her ongoing success on General Hospital. As she marked 40 years in the role of Anna Devane in April, she looked back not only on a pivotal TV character but also on a film that helped shape her early career and the friendships that continued to matter long after the cameras stopped rolling.
Value and context for readers:
– This interview offers a window into the making of a defining 1980s dance-film sequel and the generational bridge between film and daytime television careers.
– It highlights the mentorship and protective dynamic Travolta provided to a new actor in a challenging Hollywood environment, plus Stallone’s improvisational approach that helped bring a novice performer along.
– The story underscores how Staying Alive, despite mixed contemporary reviews, gained a lasting cultural footprint and a loyal fan base over time.
Summary of key points:
– Finola Hughes’s film debut was Staying Alive (1983), directed by Sylvester Stallone and featuring John Travolta.
– Hughes portrays Laura and discusses the immediate support from Travolta and the improvisational style Stallone encouraged.
– The film faced negative reviews at release but has achieved cult status; Hughes candidly reflects on her performance and the Razzie nomination awareness.
– Personal moments around premieres, wardrobe decisions, and long-term relationships with Travolta and Stallone add human color to the narrative.
– Hughes is celebrating 40 years on General Hospital, reflecting on a career that began with Staying Alive and continued to thrive in daytime television.
Additional notes for editors:
– Pair this with a photo gallery featuring 1980s premiere moments and stills from Staying Alive to enhance nostalgia and engagement.
– Consider a sidebar: “Staying Alive’s enduring legacy in pop culture and dance-film history.”
– This piece can be positioned as a human-interest angle within a broader feature on Finola Hughes’s storied career and the 40-year milestone on General Hospital.