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Claudia Antonia Zacchara-Corinthos was a character on General Hospital. She was the daughter of the late notorious NYC crime lord Anthony Zacchara and his late ex-wife Domenica Zacchara, and was a member of the Zacchara organization.
The role was portrayed by Sarah Brown on contract status from January 31, 2008, until the character was written out and killed off onscreen November 4, 2009, due to storyline issues.
Brown also portrayed Carly Corinthos from 1996-2001.
Development[]
With actress Laura Wright in the role of Carly, Brown returned to General Hospital in January 2008 as new character Claudia.[7] Having previously won three Daytime Emmy Awards[8] and two Soap Opera Digest Awards[9][10] for her portrayal of Carly, Brown stated that a chance encounter with executive producer Jill Farren Phelps had precipitated discussions about her return to the series, and that they had never considered her reprising Carly.[7]
Initially contracted for a one-year run, Brown later re-signed for another year, citing both financial motives and her desire "to learn more about Claudia."[11][12]
After Sarah Brown tweeted a few statements alluding to the fact that she was leaving General Hospital, it was confirmed by the show that she is in fact on her way out.
Brown made the following statements via Twitter:
โClaudia Zacchara has been a wild ride, every ride stops when the music ends. The music stops mid Oct.โ
โIt's been nice being back at GH, but it's time for the character to come to an end, at least for me.โ
โHave a film in the works for Nov โ a lead role to die for โ and we shall c what else comes up. Thank you for your support, means the world!"
Laura Wright and Sarah Brown share a connection through one of GH's most popular characrters.
With Claudia debuting during the 2007โ08 Writers Guild of America strike, Brown noted in January 2008 that striking head writer Bob Guza had outlined the character beforehand.[7] Brown previewed her role as the daughter of Anthony Zacchara, played by Bruce Weitz, that "has a soft spot, because she's being played by me. (Laughs) [...] She's a very, very sexual woman. That's what I'm gathering. There are some really wonderful reasons for that. Like any tough cookie she's tough because she's really fragile, and she's really fragile because she has an Achille's heel."[13] The strike ended a month after Brown started, and in December 2008 she acknowledged that the change in writers due to the strike had made Claudia "inconsistent" in that "half the things the writers had set up for me [ultimately] were changed ... you've made choices that don't work anymore and you're suddenly saying things that contradict what you did earlier."[12]
Paired again with former co-star Maurice Benard (who plays Carly's ex- and Claudia's current husband Sonny Corinthos), Brown compared Claudia's dynamic with Sonny to Carly's:
Carly was a more outwardly insecure character who was always professing feelings of love and devotion to perfect strangers and people she identified with right away. She was more open, so she had much more drama on the table on a regular basis. Working with Maurice now, we want to keep things hidden under the surface, to make a bit more work for the audience to figure out what's going on. That's what they do in nighttime [television]. It's more interesting when you're not spoon-fed.[12]
Of the then-developing storyline that found Claudia trying to get pregnant by Sonny to protect herself from his wrath over her part in the shooting of his son Michael, Brown dismissed the idea that Claudia was "desperate":
At that time she called Claudia and Sonny's relationship "sick and twisted," suggesting that "once Claudia has his baby, perhaps love will blossom, but right now, I donโt think thereโs a lot of love there."[11] She added, "I donโt think Claudia would behave this way if she was in love with Sonny. Iโm holding out hope that they will fall in love and fans will see that journey on camera."[11] Calling Claudia's hiring of the hit man who accidentally shot Michael "a stupid move on Claudiaโs part," Brown noted that the character "feels very guilty over her actions."[11] The actress also voiced her interest in seeing how the writers would get Claudia out of this situation and how Sonny would forgive her.[11]"I refuse to play a needy woman who relies on a pregnancy to save her life. Trust me โ it wonโt go there ... itโs not why I signed on to this show again. And I donโt think Bob [Guza] sees that kind of desperation in Claudia or myself. Itโs not a road either of us are interested in traveling down. Itโs also not what I do well. I like to think Claudia and I are a little more dimensional than that. Look, she ran the mafia in Italy with her uncle Rudy. Sheโs one of the guys. In many ways, she flourishes more in a manโs world than the men do ... Who wants to see a needy girl sit there, desperate for love from a man? There must be more dynamics in this relationship".[11]
Background[]
Claudia grew as an awkward little girl who had a red shoe fetish, living with her deranged father and her strong confident mother. Anthony felt threatened by Dominica and decided she voiced her opinions too much. He divorced her and kept Claudia out of spite. At the age of 16, Claudia successfully seduced Trevor Lansing, her fatherโs lawyer. She wanted to test how much her father loved her. Instead, he shipped Claudia off to Milan, Italy, to live with her mother's brother. While being raised by her uncle Rudy, she learned the business and turned into a beautiful young vixen, who doesnโt take crap from anyone, including daddy dearest.
Storylines[]
Claudia makes it very clear to everyone that she wants to take control of the family dynasty.
The character of Claudia is summoned to Port Charles in January 2008 by mob lawyer Trevor Lansing in the hope that she can assert some control over her wayward younger half-brother, Johnny Zacchara. Mentally unstable mob boss Anthony had divorced Claudia's outspoken mother Domenica and kept custody of their daughter out of spite. After a 16-year-old Claudia had seduced Trevor, Anthony had sent her to Milan, Italy to be raised by his brother Rudy. Now Trevor, who has been secretly running the now fully-insane Anthony's illegal operations for years, is surprised to find that Claudia, once a "gangly and awkward teen," is now a strong and vicious woman bent on taking over the Zacchara empire. With Claudia debuting during the 2007โ2008 Writers Guild of America strike, Brown noted in January 2008 that striking head writer Bob Guza had outlined the character beforehand.[7] The strike ended a month later, and in December 2008 Brown acknowledged that the change in writers due to the strike had made Claudia "inconsistent" in that "half the things the writers had set up for me [ultimately] were changed ... you've made choices that don't work anymore and you're suddenly saying things that contradict what you did earlier."[12]
John and Claudia Zacchara, 2008.
Claudia and Sonny Corinthos meet anonymously in a bar and end up in bed. Soon after, she realizes his identity, knowing that Sonny is "her chief rival for control over Port Charles." When Sonny learns who Claudia is and she makes her intentions for Port Charles known, the battle lines are drawn. Sonny rejects her further sexual advances, and leaves her for dead after an explosion. Claudia hires Jerry Jacks and Ian Devlin to kill Sonny; in the attempt, a bullet hits Sonny's son Michael instead, and the boy ends up in a coma. Jerry stabs Claudia on May 15, 2008 to cover his involvement in the shooting,[14] and then kicks her into the river. She washes up on the beach and is found by Nikolas Cassadine.[15] Nikolas takes care of her, and while delirious she accidentally admits that she had hired Ian to kill Sonny; Nikolas threatens to tell Sonny's second-in-command Jason Morgan unless Claudia turns herself in. Nikolas ultimately allows Claudia to leave without reporting her to the police because she is aware that he had paid Devlin $10 million for drugs. Anthony makes a sudden recovery and is finally released from his mental institution, immediately shutting Claudia out of the business. Weeks later, he gives his daughter the opportunity to gain status in the mob family when she is quarantined with Jason Morgan and Damian Spinelli: if she can kill Jason, he will allow her back into the business. Claudiaโs attempt fails.
Johnny's girlfriend, Lulu Spencer kills her ex-boyfriend Logan Hayes in self-defense; to protect her, Johnny tells Claudia that he had done it himself. Claudia dumps the body on the street trying to make it look like a hit-and-run, but Johnny is later arrested. Logan's estranged father Scott Baldwin โ the prosecuting attorney in Johnny's trial โ fabricates documents claiming Logan was a police officer in order to make Johnny's potential sentence the death penalty. To save Johnny, Claudia perjures herself on the stand, testifying that he killed Logan to stop him from raping her. Johnny is found not guilty.
Sonny and Claudia's 2008 wedding.
Claudia in her car after being driven off the road
Claudia tells Sonny about her father's role in the shooting of Kate Howard, and gives Sonny information that allows him to freeze Anthony's off-shore bank accounts. Prevented from fleeing to Brazil, a furious Anthony kidnaps Claudia on February 25, 2009, threatening to kill her unless Sonny brings him $20 million.[21] Sonny arrives with the money, but finds Claudia tied to a bomb and rescues her.[22] Sonny and Claudia later make love. Ric and Jasper Jacks learn that Claudia is responsible for Michael's shooting, and Ric decides to blackmail her with the information. Though she does not want children,[23] Claudia becomes pregnant by Sonny in order to stay alive should he discover the truth.[24]
Of the then-developing storyline that found Claudia trying to get pregnant by Sonny to protect herself from his wrath over her part in the shooting of his son Michael, Brown dismissed the idea that Claudia was "desperate":
I refuse to play a needy woman who relies on a pregnancy to save her life. Trust me โ it wonโt go there ... itโs not why I signed on to this show again. And I donโt think Bob [Guza] sees that kind of desperation in Claudia or myself. Itโs not a road either of us are interested in travelling down. Itโs also not what I do well. I like to think Claudia and I are a little more dimensional than that. Look, she ran the mafia in Italy with her uncle Rudy. Sheโs one of the guys. In many ways, she flourishes more in a manโs world than the men do ... Who wants to see a needy girl sit there, desperate for love from a man? There must be more dynamics in this relationship.[11]
Claudia's attempt at a pregnancy
At that time she called Claudia and Sonny's relationship "sick and twisted," suggesting that "once Claudia has his baby, perhaps love will blossom, but right now, I donโt think thereโs a lot of love there."[11] She added, "I donโt think Claudia would behave this way if she was in love with Sonny. Iโm holding out hope that they will fall in love and fans will see that journey on camera."[11] Calling Claudia's hiring of the hit man who accidentally shot Michael "a stupid move on Claudiaโs part," Brown noted that the character "feels very guilty over her actions."[11] The actress also voiced her interest in seeing how the writers would get Claudia out of this situation and how Sonny would forgive her.[11] Sonny initially throws Claudia out after Ric suggests that he may be the baby's father, but Sonny eventually allows her to stay until the baby's paternity is confirmed.
Claudia loses her son
Claudia, post-miscarriage.
An amniocentesis later proves that the baby is Sonny's. On her way to tell him, Claudia is accidentally run off the road by Sonny's daughter Kristina and miscarries the baby. To make up for her miscarriage, she persuades Sonny to have another child. Claudia overhears a conversation between Kate Howard and Olivia Falconeri discussing Olivia and Sonny's love child, who is Dominic Pirelli, one of Sonny's soldiers. She blackmails Olivia in to breaking up with her brother, Johnny, in exchange for secrecy. Sonny later refuses to have a child, leading Claudia to plan on seducing Dominic. Sonny asks Claudia to accompany him to Puerto Rico for a business dealing. The meeting goes well and Claudia asks Sonny to stay there on the island until her birthday, October 29.
As the days become numbered, Sonny arranges a birthday party for Claudia as Jason arrives with further evidence with Claudia's involvement in Michael's shooting. At the party, Sonny publicly announces Claudia's betrayal in front of Port Charles's residents, leading her to take Carly as a hostage as she takes a car and escapes the Metro Court. Carly enters pre-mature labor and is able to take the wheel away from Claudia, leading Claudia to be knocked unconscious in the car. Carly escapes to a nearby cabin to deliver her baby on her own, only to have Claudia find her.
Michael kills Claudia (2009)
After Carly gave birth to her daughter, Claudia develops an obsession with the child and with Carly weakened by the labor, Claudia snatches the child only to be bludgeoned in the head by Michael.[25]
Claudia after being killed by Michael.
On January 29, 2010, Sonny was arrested for Claudia's murder following semi-doctored evidence supported by Dominic Pirelli (it was revealed on that night to Sonny that Dominic was actually Dante Falconeri, his son with Olivia). Prosecutor Claire Walsh was hired by Jasper Jacks to assure Sonny's conviction.
After Carly perjured her self on the stand to say that Claudia was killed in self defence, Dante finds Michael, who was hiding out in Mexico. Michael tells Dante that he killed Claudia, not Sonny, and showed evidence to support his "confession". As Sonny's verdict was to be served, Dante tells the court that it was Michael who bludgeoned Claudia to death.
Michael was placed on the stand was forced to confess, exonerating Sonny. Although Dante give up Michael hoping for a suspended sentence, Michael was served a five year prison sentence for Claudia's death, with everyone railing at Dante and blaming him for sending Michael to prison[26].
Crimes Committed[]
- Shipped drugs for Ian Devlin [prior to her 2008 arrival]
- Held a letter opener to Trevor Lansingโs throat [Feb 7, 2008]
- Found a wounded Kate Howard and did nothing [Feb 18, 2008]
- Tried to bribe Ric Lansing into giving her Lorenzo Alcazar's old waterfront properties [Mar 14, 2008]
- Tried to get Jason Morgan to kill Trevor Lansing [Mar 27, 2008]
- Ordered Ian Devlin and Jerry Jacks to kill Sonny Corinthos [Mar 28, 2008]
- Covered up her involvement in Michael Corinthos' shooting [Apr 7, 2008 to Oct 29, 2009]
- Plotted to kill Ian Devlin [Apr 17, 2008]
- Attempted to stab a man hired by her father in self-defense [Apr 28, 2008]
- Shot and killed the man hired by her father [Apr 29, 2008]
- Disposed of the manโs corpse with the help of Jason Morgan [Apr 29, 2008]
- Perjury; lied on the witness stand saying her father never tried to kill her [May 1, 2008]
- Threatened Kate Howard with bodily harm [May 5, 2008]
- Planned to fabricate evidence that would have linked Ian Devlin to Anthony Zacchara [May 15, 2008]
- Offered Maxie Jones $10,000 to seduce her โbrotherโ Johnny and $20,000 so Lulu Spencer could witness it [Jun 9, 2008]
- Attempted to smother Jason Morgan with a pillow [Jun 23, 2008]
- Disposed of Logan Hayes' corpse [Jul 9, 2008]
- Evidence tampering; Removed evidence at Logan Hayes' murder scene [Jul 10, 2008]
- Held Jason Morgan at gunpoint [Jul 11-14, 2008]
- Held Matt Hunter at gunpoint [Aug 8, 2008]
- Slapped Scott Baldwin [Aug 18, 2008]
- Searched Alexis Davisโ office [Aug 25, 2008]
- Slapped Johnny [Sep 8, 2008]
- Perjury; lied on the witness stand saying that Logan Hayes' tried to rape her [Sep 12, 2008]
- Knocked Johnny unconscious with a book [Oct 7, 2008]
- Adultery; had an affair with Ric Lansing while married to Sonny [Dec 5, 2008 to Feb 25, 2009]
- Posed as Dr. Monica Quartermaine to get Michael's test results [Mar 13, 2009]
- Drugged Ric Lansing [Mar 27, 2009]
- Ordered a hit out on Jerry Jacks [Apr 23, 2009]
- Ordered a hit out on Jason Morgan [Jun 18, 2009]
- Tried to smother Dominic Pirelli with a pillow [Jun 24, 2009]
- Slapped Sonny [July 15, 2009]
- Ordered Jerry Jacks to go after Michael Corinthos and Kristina Corinthos-Davis [Jul 30, 2009]
- Slapped Spinelli [Sep 14, 2009]
- Slapped her father, Anthony [Sep 15, 2009]
- Slapped Olivia Falconeri [Sep 15, 2009]
- Blackmailed Olivia Falconeri into breaking up with Johnny [Oct 5, 2009]
- Tried to blackmail Dominic Pirelli into having sex with her [Oct 9, 2009]
- Planned to get pregnant with Dante/Dominic's child and pass it off as Sonny's [Oct 9, 2009; revealed Oct 13, 2009]
- Got into a cat fight with Olivia, trashing her hotel room in the process [Oct 29, 2009]
- Kidnapped Carly Corinthos-Jacks at gunpoint [Oct 30, 2009]
- Attempted to kidnap a newborn Josslyn Jacks [Nov 4, 2009]
Health and Vitals[]
- 5'4" and 110 pounds[27]
- Suffered a deep laceration in her side during an explosion at the Alcazar cannery [Mar 17, 2008]
- Car crash after her father tampered with her car [Apr 23, 2008]
- Shot at by a shooter hired by her father to kill her [Apr 24-28, 2008]
- Threatened with sexual assault and held at gunpoint by the shooter hired by her father [Apr 28, 2008]
- Stabbed in the stomach by Jerry Jacks [May 18, 2008]
- Quarantined with Jason Morgan and Damian Spinelli for Asian flu [Jun 18-24, 2008]
- Got into a car accident with Sonny Corinthos and narrowly escaped the car exploding [Hospitalized; Sep 8, 2008]
- Collapsed after being exposed to a deadly bio-toxin [Jan 30, 2009]
- Almost smothered to death with a pillow by her father [Feb 3, 2009]
- Thrown down the hospital stairs by Trevor Lansing [Feb 12, 2009]
- Strapped a bomb on a warehouse rooftop by her father [Feb 2009]
- Blackmailed by Ric Lansing [Spring 2009]
- Raped by Ric Lansing [Apr 2009]
- Experienced cramping during her pregnancy [Apr 2009]
- Fell down the stairs at the hospital during a fight with Carly Jacks [Jun 8, 2009]
- Experienced cramping during her pregnancy after the fall down the stairs and was at risk for a miscarriage [Jun 2009]
- Suffered a severe head injury when her car was run of the road by Kristina Corinthos-Davis and required surgery [Jul 21, 2009]
- Suffered a miscarriage due to the injuries sustained in the crash [Jul 27, 2009]
- Punched by Olivia Falconeri [Sep 15, 2009]
- Punched by Olivia and got into a cat fight with her, trashing her hotel room in the process [Oct 29, 2009]
- Died after being hit over the head with an axe handle by Michael Corinthos (in defense of his newborn half-sister, Josslyn Jacks) [Nov 4, 2009]
Trivia[]
- Claudiaโs astrological sign is Scorpio
Family tree[]
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See also[]
References[]
- โ Revealed on Jun 25, 2008. Johnny used to call her that when he was younger.
- โ http://tvmegasite.net/transcripts/gh/older/2009/gh-trans-10-07-09.shtml
- โ http://tvmegasite.net/transcripts/gh/older/2009/gh-trans-10-29-09.shtml
- โ Claudia kidnapped Carly at her birthday party (October 29), but was killed on November 4, as the episode on November 4, 2011 said it was the 2 year anniversary of her death ... "Johnny: You were sitting in your cell at Pentonville while Claudia just tipped reality. She took a hostage and then a fatal blow to the head. Any of that ring a bell? Tonight's the second anniversary of your daughter's murder." http://tvmegasite.net/transcripts/gh/older/2011/gh-trans-11-04-11.shtml and the day before Carly's birthday, which is the 5th ... "Carly: I'm gonna celebrate my birthday with Josslyn tomorrow. We're gonna have cake. We're gonna blow out the candles. Michael will probably come by, and that will be the birthday for Carly the Mom. But you know what? I used to be someone else, someone who had nothing to lose and someone who took chances." http://tvmegasite.net/transcripts/gh/older/2011/gh-trans-11-04-11.shtml
- โ She came on to him twice but he turned her down both times.
- โ Conceived via rape.
- โ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 GH Exclusive! Sarah Brown Previews Her 'Wild' Return. TVGuide.com. Retrieved on August 5, 2009.
- โ As the World Turns Interview: Who Is Sarah Brown?. SoapOperaDigest.com. Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
- โ The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1998. SoapOperaDigest.com. Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
- โ The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 2000. SoapOperaDigest.com. Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
- โ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 Lady Boss. TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved on August 5, 2009.
- โ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 I, Claudia: Sarah Brown Surveys Her General Hospital Future. TVGuide.com. Retrieved on August 5, 2009.
- โ GH's Sarah Brown, Part 2: When Claudia Met Sonny..... tvguide.com. Retrieved on November 18, 2012.
- โ General Hospital recap (5/15/08) - ABC.com
- โ General Hospital recap (5/16/08) - ABC.com
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/5404/Here_Comes_a_Different_Bride
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/5322/Sonny_Gets_An_Offer_Can_He_Refuse
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/5722/The_Jackal_Will_Not_Abandon_Stone_Cold
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/5722/The_Jackal_Will_Not_Abandon_Stone_Cold
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/5847/Separated_at_Birth
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/6173/Has_There_Ever_Been_a_Worse_Father
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/6166/Anthony_Comes_Home_to_Boost_his_Bank_Account
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/5979/Wheres_The_Truck
- โ http://www.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/6470/Two_Postives_and_a_Big_Fat_Negative
- โ http://soapzone.com/newsroom.php/gh/scoops
- โ http://www.devil.soaps.com/generalhospital/update/id/8951/It_Will_All_Be_Okay/
- โ Stated as listed on her autopsy...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsKOKD5KhCE&index=40&list=PLX62-Mfq-Y5ew8h0gBGwcvBXZ2kyv905i
External links[]
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