This week, on State of Mind Emmy-winning actor Maurice Benard shared half an hour with Hollywood Icon Vernee Watson. Bonded through being co-stars on General Hospital, Benard and Watson peeled back the layers and spoke of their experiences with mental illness and a career in Hollywood.
State of Mind’s Unapologetic Truth
Benard’s weekly series is a vehicle for unapologetic truth, and right out of the gate, Watson and Benard dug deep into their state of minds post-pandemic while playing a story together about Alzheimer’s after both losing their fathers to the disease before General Hospital’s award-winning story also starring Max Gail.
Realizing that he had been dominating the conversation early on, Benard complimented Watson, “You’d rather listen than talk…” together, they complimented Gail on his realistic performance before praise landed on each other for their choices.
Benard’s Former Ego Surprises Vernee Watson
After laughing about some fun times on set together, Benard returned the conversation to the seriousness of life, “You met me at a good point in my life,” he said, “I used to be dark!” While dragging out the final word, adding incredible emphasis to the statement.
This admission shocked Vernee Watson, who wondered how that could be. As usual, Benard credited his treatment with medicines to keep him an optimistic and lighter person.
State of Mind: Music and it’s Influence on Life
After talking about their love for music, Benard told a story of singing Michael Jackson’s “Ben” as a child at parties as a window into his journey as a performer. Michael Jackson’s music would play a role in Benard’s third nervous breakdown, as he explains in his book Nothing General About It. Benard would sit people down to sing “Man in the Mirror” to them and sincerely thought Jackson would roll up in a limousine to rescue him from the “scary movie” of his life.
Watson spoke of her nephew, who battled alcoholism and depression, though he remained a fiercely loving and protective member of the family. She said that she’s been through her own bouts of depression, especially after her kids left home.
Dealing with Depression by Staying Busy
While discussing how to deal with creeping depression, both Watson and Maurice Benard agreed it was important to stay busy. Watson says it is a credit to God, “God gave you all of this! Glorify him by fixing it.” She said even in the mundane, like keeping the dishes clean.
When Vernee mentioned keeping busy, Maurice Benard added that keeping busy helped him get out from under the control of his ego. While suffering from another nervous breakdown, Benard studied his lines and made a list of the biggest challenges he’d faced; Benard concluded that his ego was the reason for most, if not all, of his biggest blow-ups.
State of Mind: Rejection in Hollywood and How to Move Past It
Turning the conversation to rejection in Hollywood, Watson took a long time to answer whether or not she thought things had gotten between for the opportunities for black actors. Ultimately, she responded with a simple “yes.”
Benard and Watson shared stories of them breaking into the business and facing their earliest rejections. A potential agent told Benard that he’d never make it due to his ethnicity, while Watson started on Welcome Back Kotter at 27 years old.
Teaching New Actors
The experience Watson has gained through her life informs her as a teacher. For a number of years, Watson has instructed young actors on the finer points of the craft she has made a career with. Originally from New York City, Watson believes that directed and loving truth is the key to unlocking someone’s potential.
Benard and Watson both feel they have mostly overcome the struggles of judging other people based on their appearance. They admit that it can be challenging, but ultimately, you never know when someone will greet you with a bright smile. Conversely, you may never know the struggles someone else may be facing.
Current Projects Other than General Hospital
In addition to her time on General Hospital and Bob Hearts Abishola, Vernee Watson has produced a show, A Lesson in Blackness, which has held a few performances and recently received a grant to expand its reach.
Looking at black history and its impact on society today, Watson and Company takes the audience through a profoundly personal timeline of events, celebrating the unbreakable spirit of the African American community. She says proudly, “We don’t know no for an answer!” and credits the remarkable determination of the African American community for the progress made in equality.
Maurice Benard hosts State of Mind on YouTube with a weekly special guest. Covering not only mental health but the personal journies of triumph and failure with those who sit with Benard.
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