Cameron Mathison, who plays Drew Cain on General Hospital, recently appeared on the final episode of the Soapy podcast. There, he shared more about the despicable character of Drew, but he also talked about how his personal issues in life helped him play the unpopular character. Read on for more details.
Understanding Nasty Drew
Speaking with host Rebecca Budig, Cameron openly shared about his life’s most difficult time. Mathison explained how real tragedy helped him understand his character’s nasty view of the world in Port Charles. In fact, he revisited the various tragedies he went through, and revealed some deep-seated anger at the unfairness of life.
While he didn’t ask for Drew Cain to become a despicable character, Cameron Mathison can now relate to him after his own experiences. For example, he spoke about how he battled kidney cancer. Additionally, he lost his mom to brain cancer and watched a close friend struggle with addiction. Then, he lost more. So, he said, “and that was just the beginning.”
Separation, Kids, & His Burned House
General Hospital fans had already heard about much of the pain in Cameron Mathison’s life, and he reminded them again that he and his wife, Vanessa, separated. Then he related how his dog passed away.
Additionally, his kids left for college and, during the LA wildfires, his house burned down. “I lost everything that I have ever owned and every evidence of my life and my kids’ lives,” he shared.
However, after all that loss, it may have made it easier for him to play Drew. Surviving such a lot of loss changed his approach to a complicated and universally disliked character.
Channeling the Darkness
Mathison admitted that acting as Drew, who seems angry and selfish, now comes from a place of real grief and fury. “You go through that much loss, and you find out what bitterness, grief, and loneliness really feel like,” he said. So, in a way, when Drew is lashing out, it’s not about acting mean. It’s about showing what pain can do when it’s left unresolved.
Previously, he joked that the writers made Drew “an absolute douchebag jerk.” On the Soapy podcast, however, his tone seemed more reflective. Is it possible that he now sees the character’s darkness as part of a larger story regarding his own life?
Fans React In The Comments
In the discussion area, many ABC fans reacted to what Cameron Mathison had said. One of them penned,:
Cameron is so resilient! He is very grounded and still holds his head up high. I wish people could separate the actor from the character! I am a viewer of GH for the last 47 years I am hoping they explain Drew’s drastic personality change soon!
Here are a few more responses:
What do you think about Cameron Mathison’s perspective? Do you believe his own sad story makes it easier for him to channel anger into Drew? Share your thoughts in the comments. Check back soon for more General Hospital news and updates.
