Q: I admit it — I was living in a cave when Laura first came on "General Hospital." Can you please tell me about the character's younger years? — Yvette, Provo, Utah.

A: Laura first came to the town of Port Charles in 1974. For two years, Stacey Baldwin played her. The first time Laura came on air, she was looking at a magazine rack dreaming of being a movie star. Genie Francis (then using the name Genie Ann Francis) later took on the role.

Until she was 12, Laura thought her parents were Jason and Barbara Vining. In fact, she was the biological daughter of Lesley Webber. Lesley was pregnant by her college professor and thought the child she gave birth to had been stillborn. In truth, Lesley's father arranged for the Vinings to adopt Laura. Lesley discovered her daughter was alive. Feeling she had been denied her child for over a decade, Lesley insisted Laura move to Port Charles. Laura spent many years resenting Lesley and wanting to be with Barbara. Laura's adoptive sister, Amy, loved Laura, but was glad when she did not have to share her home with her preteen sister.

Laura eventually went back to the Vinings, but that relationship was very edgy. Laura was close to adopted dad Jason, but had issues with her adoptive mother. Laura joined a commune. After been taken from the commune, Laura went back to Port Charles. She then wed Scott Baldwin. Laura loved the heroic Scott, but she was too young and emotionally unequipped to be a wife. Laura went to work for demi-mobster Luke. Luke raped her. Luke was to be a short-term character, but the magic created by the acting duo was palpable, and the historic soap couple "Luke and Laura" was born. Laura fell in love with Luke. She tried to rebuild her marriage to Scott, but after leading him on, she decided she could no longer live without Luke. Ever since then, Scott has hated Luke. Laura's early years include committing two murders, several bad relationships and a few nervous breakdowns.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.