GH's Eden McCoy Opens up About Her Heartbreaking Storyline

When GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Josslyn learned that boyfriend Oscar was terminally ill, she was devastated… but her portrayer couldn’t wait to dive into the drama! “When I was just cute little Josslyn, I wanted to cry and be able to really act,” Eden McCoy — who was only 12 when she joined the show — recalled to Soaps In Depth. “Now I’ve been diving into it for six months straight, bawling my eyes out at work every single day. It’s been challenging and dark, but I love doing the heavy stuff. You learn so much, and I’m grateful that the writers trusted me with this storyline. It’s touching so many people and so many lives. That’s what’s really special.”

Having gone through a lot with the Corinthos clan already, McCoy is enjoying GH’s new teen scene. “For so long, I was surrounded by adults — which is fantastic,” the 15-year-old maintained. “I really appreciate any advice they have to offer, and Laura Wright (Carly) is literally my mentor and one of my very closest friends. But there’s less pressure with the kids when we’re all together. We just feed off each other’s energies and abilities and try to do our best. It’s been refreshing.”

McCoy calls her powerful storyline “something special.” (Photo Credit: ABC)

It’s also been a lot of fun behind the scenes. “Garren Stitt (Oscar) has a really tough story to play, so he’s doing his best to stay light when the cameras stop rolling,” McCoy revealed. “And William Lipton (Cameron) and I just laugh doing our scenes. The cameras stop, and I can’t even breathe. He’s the complete opposite of Cameron. He’s so innocent and sweet, so it’s just so funny to see him completely become a totally different person when the cameras start.”

McCoy is having a blast in Port Charles but she has to admit that Joss’ emotions can take their toll. “When I get home, I can’t smile or cry for the life of me,” she confessed. “I don’t care about anything. I’m just a potato.”

“If you’re portraying a character well and something happens, your body doesn’t know it’s fake,” the young star revealed. (Photo Credit: XJJohnson/jpistudios.com)

And as exhausting as playing Joss can be, McCoy also clocks in at a full-time prep school and is so fierce at beach volleyball that she’s already landed a spot at the University Of Southern California. “I feel lucky and privileged to live two lives,” she said. “My parents are really traditional and strict about grades, sports and those important aspects of life that children growing up in this business don’t always get. So I’m this kid growing up in Hollywood with an audience watching, but I also have this amazing private life. I’m just going to normal school, playing in normal sports tournaments and being a normal person. I’m doing what every other sophomore is doing — the good things, at least!”

If McCoy’s being honest, it can be a bummer when she has to prioritize her less-than-normal day job over going to a party or just hanging out with her pals. “But then I remind myself how freaking cool what I’m doing is — and they’re not doing any of it, so whatever!” she grinned. “This is the life I chose. I love it, and I’m proud of the work I’m doing.”

For more from your favorite GH stars, keep reading the ABC edition of Soaps In Depth magazine.