Exclusive! Maurice Benard speaks out on his General Hospital future: "I've got at least 3 years left." 

Maurice Benard, who plays fan favorite Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital, hosted a gathering at the GH Fan Club Weekend in Glendale last weekend. Soap Central was on the scene to capture the Daytime Emmy winner's thoughts on Sonny, his future, and a conversation he once had with former leading lady Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda).

Maurice Bernad on his General Hospital future

Benard was asked by an attendee if it were completely up to him how he'd want Sonny to make his final exit, which prompted the actor to speculate on his future with the ABC serial. "I think I've got at least three years left," he shared.

"There's a bit of 'I feel good,' and then, 'maybe I am old?'" Benard added. "Your answer is going to be this: I would not leave General Hospital. Sonny's the greatest character anywhere. [However], my mental health is going to tell me to go. It's going to be sad. I don't want to [go]. But, maybe not, and I'll just keep going, right? That's where I'm at."

Benard told his gathering attendees that they probably wouldn't like the specifics of a proposed storyline he envisions. He suggested a finale for Sonny that would be both final and nebulous -- not unlike the finale Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) faced on The Sopranos.

In the meantime, Bernard continues to perform his in-person shows across the country. "The reaction to that is amazing," he says, noting that sometimes jokes land differently based on where he is performing.

When Sonny met Brenda

Fans asked about the likelihood of Vanessa Marcil returning as Brenda since the Sonny/Brenda remains so popular. Benard remembered a discussion he had with his longtime leading lady after they began working together.

"I love her," Benrad says. "[Vanessa] is my great friend. We went to Puerto Rico to film with Ricky Martin [ex-Miguel]. So, on the way back, when I had done these scenes with Vanessa making out on the beach like from Here to Eternity."

Benard recalled being on a plane with Marcil as they were returning home when he was inspired to have a conversation with her. "I hadn't been on the show that long," he remembers. "I hadn't worked with young actors. I don't do this as much anymore, but with Vanessa, I was nervous. I didn't know what to say because I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. I said to Vanessa, 'Do you want to be a good actress or a great actress. She said, 'I want to be a great actress.'

"I said, 'Well, you're not that now,'" recalled Benard, hastening to add, "I may have made that [part about not being great now] up a little bit."

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What the actor did say to Marcil was that he was willing to help her and work with her. "I'll help you get to the goal," he said. "We were able to do [great] scenes together. I love that even more than anything than I do. If I retire, I may teach acting."

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