Denise Alexander Interview Archive (2010, 2013)

Actress and longtime soap opera star Denise Alexander was beloved by fans for her portrayal of Lesley Webber on General Hospital and Susan Hunter Martin on Days of our Lives.  

Early in her career Alexander voiced characters on multiple radio soaps before making her Broadway debut in “The Children’s Hour”. On primetime television she made appearances on classics Father Knows Best, The Twilight Zone and The Danny Kaye Show. In the early 1960s she moved to daytime TV on the CBS soap The Clear Horizon.

She joined the cast of Days of our Lives in 1966 as Susan, where she rose to stardom during her seven-year run. She left Days in 1973 and joined the cast of General Hospital as Lesley to help give the ratings-challenged ABC soap a boost. Lesley fell for Rick Webber (Chris Robinson) and became entangled in a love triangle with rival Monica Bard (Leslie Charleson). Lesley also confessed to the murder of David Hamilton, a crime her daughter Laura (Genie Francis) committed. Her acting earned Alexander a Emmy nomination in 1976 for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series.

When storyline called for Lesley to be killed off in a car accident in 1984, fans became outraged. (Editor's Note: Alexander shared the what really happened back then, off the record).  It wasn’t until 12 years later in 1996 that it was revealed that Lesley was actually alive. In between the two soaps, Alexander appeared on NBC’s Another World as Mary McKinnon, working once again with Robinson during a portion of her three-year stint.  She last appeared on General Hospital in 2021.

Denise Alexander passed away in March at age 85, which led me to revisit the times we spoke (always by phone).  Below are my interviews with Alexander from 2010 and 2013 below.

First published in November 2010

ROGER NEWCOMB: You were involved in the industry when it was transitioning from radio to TV.
DENISE ALEXANDER: At the tail end of it. I got to do a little bit of everything.

Watch the 'Pretty' Season 4 Finale

Joan Van Ark and Stacy McQueen in the Pretty season finale.

The season finale of Pretty has arrived and it has every thing from the show's trademark humor to an unexpected cliffhanger that could change everything. Watch the comedy (and drama) unfold below, including the return of guest stars Denise Alexander (General Hospital) and Joan Van Ark (Knots Landing).

'Pretty' Season 4 Finale Exclusive Sneak Peek

Steve Silverman, Stacy McQueen and Joan Van Ark. Photo courtesy of Pretty/Steve Silverman.

The hilarious fourth season of award-winning comedy Pretty continues the story of Annette Champagne (Stacy McQueen), now an adult decades past her childhood pageant days, running her own dance studio, and dealing with a daughter of her own, "Dance Moms" plus an arch rival from her past.

With the season finale set to air on Monday, Annette has been knocked out and is now wandering around in an alternate reality, her rival Lily (Adrienne Wilkinson) is determined to keep Annette’s dance team from performing, and a mysterious man named Andrew (Kyle David Pierce) has a secret to share that will change everything.

EXCLUSIVE: Watch the 'Pretty' Season 4 Trailer and Get the Scoop from Creator Steve Silverman

Dee Freeman, Steve Silverman and Stacy McQueen. Photo Credit: Barbi Caruso

The hysterically funny and award-winning web series Pretty returns on January 5th with a brand new season. Creator and producer Steve Silverman moves the story of Annette Champagne (Stacy McQueen) into the future in a clever and very "pretty" way. Years after her pageant days have ended, Annette now runs her own dance studio! The Season 4 trailer is not scheduled to be released until tomorrow but Serial Scoop managed to get our hands on it early, and it does not disappoint. Featuring a grown up Annette, new cast members, guest stars, dance moms and a lot of laughs, the new season of Pretty looks like a surefire hit. Watch the trailer below:



We spoke with Steve Silverman about the upcoming season of Pretty and did our best to pry additional details out of the always tight-lipped producer.

SERIAL SCOOP: The first three seasons of Pretty were a comedy masterpiece. I was surprised but thrilled to hear the show was coming back for a fourth season. What inspired you to write this new, and very different chapter, of Annette Champagne's story?
STEVE SILVERMAN: Thanks so much, you've always been such a big support and our whole team appreciates it. Honestly? A new season sounded fun. When we wrapped Season 3, our then co-Exec Producers John and Doug said they were ready to move on to new projects and our lead actor, Sam, said the same. And I moved on myself to "The Inn." But I had this idea for moving us into the future and seeing how Annette's life turned out to be. Barbara and Heidi, producers from previous seasons and The Inn, were both on board and then I asked Emmy-nominated producer Barbi Caruso (DeVanity) if she was game and she said yes. It all came together very quickly and we kept it hush-hush, not letting anyone know what we were doing until we were on day three of filming.

SERIAL SCOOP: Annette is far removed from her pageant years and is now running a dance academy, Annette's Cadettes. I never would have thought of that, but it seems like such a natural and perfect choice for the character. Did it take much convincing to get Stacy McQueen on board?
STEVE SILVERMAN: I pitched the idea to Stacy McQueen and she liked it and said, "Write it." So I did and I sent it to her and she said let's go for it. We've been best pals for over twenty years, we love working together and we trust each other. It sounded a little scary but scary stuff is what makes life exciting.

The Pretty Season 4 cast. Photo Credit: Barbi Caruso

SERIAL SCOOP: We get a glimpse of some of the cast new members in the trailer, including Diane Delano (Fumbling Thru the Pieces) and Michael Caruso (DeVanity). It looks like Caruso is playing a Scientologist who's involved with Annette. Can you reveal anything more about their characters?
STEVE SILVERMAN: You're asking me for spoilers? ME? Seriously did we just meet? You know I'm not going to reveal anything…much. We're thrilled with our new cast and it will all, finger's crossed, make sense when you see the new season. That said, Michael Caruso is playing Annette's ex-husband and Diane Delano is a dance mom. That's all you're getting out of me.

SERIAL SCOOP: Is there anything else you can tease about the story? I need to know what Louise Fitzpatrick (guest star Denise Alexander) is up to now!
STEVE SILVERMAN: The past and the new present will collide in very strange, fantastical and "Pretty" ways: Adrienne Wilkinson steps into the now dance shoes of a former Annette rival and sparks will fly, there's a peek at that in the trailer. And Pretty favorites Parker, Royce, Candy and Bernadette make appearances. And of course, Ribina. What would Pretty be without Ribina? As for Ms. Alexander as Louise, stay tuned...

SERIAL SCOOP: There are five episodes in the fourth season. Please tell me you've decided to keep making new seasons of Pretty forever.
STEVE SILVERMAN: I'm game if you're game. I've already started scripting a Season 5, which will feature another twist in the reality-bent world these people live in. Attention Genie Francis: We'd love to have you back for more "Pretty"-ness.

For more on Pretty, and to catch up on the first three seasons, visit prettytheseries.com.