Exclusive Interview: Rory Gibson talks Michael and Willow, a real-life marriage update, and who on General Hospital is like his acting coach

Rory Gibson has hit the ground running as Michael Corinthos on General Hospital. Soap Central caught up with the actor at Lily Brooks O'Briant's (Lucy, The Young and the Restless) Daytime at Night - St. Jude benefit event last month for an exclusive interview in which the actor chatted about his on and off-screen lives!

General Hospital: Who is Rory Gibson's coach?

There's a showbiz adage about performers never working with child actors (or animals), but GH had Gibson act in scenes with his TV son, Viron Weaver (Wiley), on his first air show! Gibson tells Soap Central that he spent a little time with his young co-stars before working with them on-screen so they could develop a rapport. "Viron and I talked about video games," Gibson shares. "The twins playing Amelia [Islay and Paisley Kerr] are so sweet. I love kids so much."

Michael's a character with a long, complicated backstory as he's a Quartermaine by blood (the late A.J. was his father), but he was raised by Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard). "It took a little bit, actually," Gibson says about getting up to speed on who Michael is. "I didn't want to watch too many old episodes. As a recast, it's tricky. You want to stay true to what's been happening, but you also don't want to replicate anything because if you're doing that, you're just copying."

Gibson says that Frank Valentini, executive producer, and his assistant, sent him "the longest breakdown I've ever seen." He adds, "I was able to study up on things. Outside of that, my co-stars have been filling me in on everything — especially Laura [Wright, Carly], who plays my mom. I feel like she's my acting coach!"

Love story

Right now, Willow's contemplating marrying Drew (Cameron Mathison) as she sees that as a pathway to seeing Wiley and Amelia again. Michael, however, has told his ex that the exact opposite would happen if she ties the knot with the unethical congressman.

Is there still some love between Willow and Michael despite all that they've been through? "I think so," Gibson says. "We'll see what happens. I don't even know." The actor hastens to add, "Katelyn's so great. She's such a lovely person."

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Michael's future love life is unknown, but off-screen, Gibson is happily engaged to girlfriend Alicia Ruelas. "We got engaged [in 2022]," the actor says. "We didn't start planning our wedding until about 8 months ago. We're taking it easy and doing a slow burn with the planning. We already feel like we're married."

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