No other combination in showbusiness is as valuable to an actress as beauty and talent, and Finola Hughes is showing American audiences that she certainly has both. It was evident in her American film debut, "Staying Alive," that she was a beatuiful, gifted dancer. Now she has further proved her acting talents on ABC's daytime hit, "General Hospital," as well as other televisions series such as "Jack's Place," "Blossom," and "Pacific Palisades." As the mysterious Anna Devane, Finola steadily gained the awareness she's hoped for when she came over from England. Born in London and educated in Norland Place, an English private school, Finola enrolled at Art's Educational, a theatrical school where she studied ballet from age 10 through 17. While there, she participated in various television plays and ballet performances, making her first public appearance at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden at age 11.

Finola then joined a ballet company for 12 months before returning to London, where she worked as a dancer in television and had occasional small parts in films.

In 1980, she originated, and portrayed for one year, the role of Victoria, The White Cat, in the London-based original company of "Cats." Andrew Lloyd Weber interviewed each member of the original cast to incorporate bits of their personalities into their characters, thus leaving a little bit of Finola in every Victoria that plays around the world. Next came a stage production of "Song and Dance," which was followed by "Nutcracker," a British film that starred Joan Collins.

It was because of her impressive performances in "Cats" and "Song and Dance" that actor/director Sylvester Stallone received a video tape of Finola's work and cast her in her first American motion picture, "Staying Alive," opposite John Travolta and directed by Stallone. Playing opposite Travolta in a steamy love triangle had tremendous impact for Finola, helping to make her a familiar face to audiences here and abroad.

Finola later returned to London, where she starred in the television series, "The Hot Shoe Show," for nearly a year. Her other television credits include the mini-series, "Master of Ballantrae," "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (BBC), "Grace Kennedy," and "The Monte Carlo Show." She also appeared in the Berlin based film "The Apple." Her American television movies include "Haunted By Her Past" and "The Bride In Black."

Finola keeps in shape by swimming and doing aerobics. She also enjoys reading and viewing MTV and feature films. She is now married to photographer Russell Young and they have sons Dylan and Cash.

Credit: finolahughes.com