In his year on General Hospital, Giovanni Mazza has proven to be a rising star, even earning the title of Soap Hub’s Performer of the Month this past May. Now, the young actor is revealing which co-star he credits for his ability to perform those heartbreaking scenes.

Like Mother, Like Son
Mazza’s latest scenes have been ones many viewers won’t forget, especially his Nurses Ball breakdown. When Gio (Mazza) made his big reveal about Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) being his parents, everyone on screen and off could feel his pain. Everyone in Port Charles is still talking about the way he smashed his treasured violin out of anger.

In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Mazza revealed which one of his GH co-stars he gives credit to for his performance. “I don’t think I could have done [the performance I gave] without seeing Amanda’s portrayal of her character’s journey for the last 5 months,” he shared about his new on-screen mom Amanda Setton. “Just time and time again, she has put her heart on her sleeve and created such a rich emotional life that I thought, ‘Man, if I don’t do that, if I don’t explore the fullest extent of myself, I would not be proud.’”

Mazza noted that he didn’t know he had it in him to create such an emotional and explosive scene. “I sort of connected to that feeling of vulnerability, of the rug being pulled out from under me, and I built up all the momentum and then I just let it go, and whatever happened happened.”

The actor also recalled the moment he shared with Setton when filming wrapped. “Amanda came up to me, she gave me the biggest hug.”