GH Enemies Dish Their Real-Life Friendship

Rebecca Budig (Hayden) and Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) have been at each other’s throats on GH for a good while now, but in real life, the ladies have a warm friendship that stretches back over 15 years. “But when I really bonded with Becky was when I was dancing with her little Ethan for hours at Super Soap” in 2004, reports Budig. “How could we not bond after that night?” Herbst chuckles. “My kid was attached to her hip!” They were delighted at the prospect of spending more time together when they became castmates in 2015, and for her part, Herbst was thrilled that they had so many scenes together, saying, “I would have been annoyed if she was working with other people.” They both think their real-life camaraderie makes for an interesting dynamic as on-screen rivals. “We have these intense scenes and I think that there is more depth to them because we like each other,” Budig offers. “But today she almost made me cry and I was like, ‘I can’t cry. My character would not cry in front of her!’ ” For more with the actresses (including how they navigate the on-set confusion that stems from them sharing the same first name!), check out the new issue of Soap Opera Digest.