Kelly Thiebaud Reveals Brutal Modeling Struggles & GH Return

General Hospital (GH) fans love Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) on his State of Mind podcast, and his latest chat with Kelly Thiebaud (Dr. Britt Westbourne) seemed very special. Read on for more details about what went down.

The Time Before Her Return

Remember, many ABC daytime soap fans hated it when Dr. Britt Westbourne apparently died a horrid death a few years ago. However, miraculously, the “Britch” made a return to Port Charles in July last year.

Now that she’s back, the real-life Britt opened up with Maurice Benard on Sunday and talked about the torrid two years that finally ended when she returned. Notably, some mental health issues were discussed, because, well, that’s the point of the podcast.

A Lighthearted Start

Maurice Benard kicked off the podcast by praising Kelly Thiebaud to the high heavens. Plus, he noted that she’s not just a great looking model, but she can also “act her a** off.”

Briefly amusing, the GH duo chatted a bit about how the heck people pronounce her surname. But then, they took a dive into her upbringing in Texas. Next, as they often do on the podcast, things got a bit more serious.

Years Of Struggle

ABC fans saw that about midway through the interview, Kelly Thiebaud opened up about modeling. In fact, she described it as “brutal,” especially when doing it internationally.

Apparently, she battled with the need to keep her weight down and the pressure seemed incredible. Look, all GH fans know filming for the General Hospital soap brings huge pressure, but it seems modeling is even worse.

She told the real-life Sonny Corinthos that she struggled with disordered eating and laxatives during her time in Milan and London. “I was starving myself… my stomach is caved in and I’m starving,” she recalled.

Actually, she seemed very candid about her vulnerabilities back in those bad old days.

Blowing Up Her Life at 40

Perhaps the deepest revelation arrived when Kelly Thiebaud discussed her decision to leave the ABC soap back in 2022. Clearly, feeling that something was missing in her personal life, she hoped for a family.

Interstingly, as a teen and younger adult, her mom never let her date.  So, she moved to London, and a new relationship. Lock, stock, and barrel, she sold off her property, including her car and her home. At the time, she explained:

I was really restless personally and professionally… I was like I have to have a baby. I’m turning 40.

Sadly, the relationship failed, so she returned to LA. Back to square one, she dealt with the uncertainty of restarting her life. But fortunately, she ended up back on GH.

Maurice Relates His Own Uncertainties

Maurice Benard also shared some of his struggles. Once again, he talked about his bipolar and intense anxiety. Recently, he talked more about that with Jonathan Jackson, (Lucky Spencer).

That was when Jonathan and Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) prayed with him throughout the night during a very dark time.

Thinking back, Maurice told Kelly that when he melted down, he felt “like a failure as a husband [and] a father.” The inference is that the rest of the cast members seem kind, and that’s great for Kelly as well.

Fans React In The Comments

State of Mind viewers seemed very good at offering their own support as well. Speaking about Kelly Thiebaud and Maurice Benard, one person wrote, “The connection between these two is so genuine. This was more than an interview; it was a healing session.”

Here are a few more responses from the discussion:

• I am so happy Britt is back! Kelly brings such a spark to the show that was missing.
• Kelly is living her best life. Love this for her. You deserve all the beautiful things, especially after that return episode!
• This is such a wonderful interview! Love her ” realness ” and sense of humor. I’m so glad Kelly came back to GH .

Finding Peace In The Present

Like other guests, Kelly Thiebaud finds that being in-the-now helps her feel happy. For example, she spoke about embracing her independence after two years of being single. “I love being with myself… I can travel alone, I can go to dinner alone,” she noted.

At the end of their talk, Maurice Benard opined that their chat felt like a “spiritual communion.”

What did you think of the honestly raw interview? Are you thrilled that Britt Westbourne returned to Port Charles? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your General Hospital cast news and updates.