Sydney Mikayla Talks ‘General Hospital’ And Voice Acting

My mother used to joke that I was a fan of General Hospital in the womb. Needless to say, this was her way of rationalizing it was okay for me to watch while doing my homework at an early age. Probably earlier than I should have been allowed to watch, but General Hospital became a staple in my life nonetheless. Port Charles, NY, always has something up its sleeve involving complex and exaggerated storytelling, but storytelling that rings true to their viewers all the same. Storytelling that allows the viewer to enter into this world and never want to leave, maybe even take up residence in the city along with the players we have known and loved over the years. 

Those who are currently watching the show will need no introduction to the young woman I had the pleasure of speaking to recently. Sydney Mikayla plays Trina Robinson on the hit daytime soap opera. We enjoyed talking about her current lines, past episodes, and what she wants for Trina’s future in various scenarios.

Michelle Patterson: Trina started as the so-called bad girl among her friends once upon a time; she was dating an upperclassman and throwing unsupervised parties with drinking and boys. Later on, during the Niagara Falls trip, she admitted that her reputation wasn’t as real as she made it out to be. Are you happier playing her as a good girl? Or would you rather amp it up at times as the bad girl persona?

Sydney Mikayla: I think a little bit of both. I always have this dream of Trina avenging her father’s reputation even though now that he’s back, she’s feeling a little bit differently. Initially, though, she did want to improve his reputation and make everyone stop believing that he had done all these illegal things to get Cyrus Renault in jail. So I think it would be cool if she did some bad things for a good cause in the audience’s eyes, instead of just being bad for bad’s sake. So you know, doing the drugs, doing the parties, it was kind of for no reason. But to do something to try and get Cyrus Renault arrested, something kind of crazy like getting a mobster’s help or something…I think that would be fun to do because the audience would understand her intentions. 

MP: Yeah, I think it would be interesting to get a mob intent. I could see a Trina and Jason scene, and that would be a fantastic turning point.

SM: Me too! I think that’s something the audience would not expect.

MP: And she has Josslyn’s connections, so why not!

SM: Exactly, exactly! 

MP: And speaking of Taggert, when the reveal that Trina’s father was Marcus Taggert (Réal Andrews) occurred last year, the internet blew up. Were you excited to have your character linked to a fan favorite of the series back in the nineties? 

SM:  Absolutely! He’s so incredible, so professional on set. He was so ready to work, and I was ready to work with him. I know he has a daughter as well, so we already had that connection. He has a kid, and I have a dad, so it was easy to make that connection. And he’s a really personable guy, so it was great working with a legend and great working with him in person because he’s a wonderful actor– so it’s really fun.

MP: Since the reveal, Trina has gone through the wringer! She was part of the now-infamous shoot out that supposedly killed her father, she had to deal with her father’s death, and now she has to deal with the fact it was a vast cover-up. Although she has not yet been to visit him now that he’s in jail, what do you think is the most important thing she could convey to him during that inevitable visit? 

SM: I think just how hurt she is, I guess. Before, she was really angry and hurt. I think if she is just a little bit more vulnerable with her dad and shares how she really feels…that she felt she could be trusted a little bit more and that her dad didn’t believe in her. I think she’s really hurt more than Trina really wants to show because she’s not a very vulnerable person. So, I think that would be an interesting thing to play, and maybe then they could try to avenge Cryus together. I think that would maybe be the best plan. That would be really fun to play.

MP: That would be so interesting to see, especially since Taggert is already in on the whole Sonny and Jason scene. Make it a whole family ordeal.

SM: Yes, exactly, exactly. And my mom’s a doctor, so that would work. We could make it work.

MP: Yes! Portia can hide some more details for everyone. It will work. And when it comes to vulnerability and Trina. On Monday, February 1st, I thought the scene between Trina and Ava Jerome was an excellent segway into getting her to open up eventually. Ava also plays a considerable part in Trina’s life and has since Trina started her internship at her gallery. In a way, she is like a second mother to Trina despite Portia not approving that. Do you think their talk about Ava overcoming her hurt and anger toward Nicholas to genuinely loving him and being happy will help push Trina to have that talk with her father?

SM: I think it did. I think that Trina takes Ava’s advice very seriously– not only because Ava is this mother figure to her but also because Ava shares similar interests with her, as we see in the first interaction between the two characters. Trina is really inspired that Ava has gone through all this crazy stuff with Kiki getting killed and everything, and Ava still continues to love art, which I think Trina can connect with as well. When the rest of the world is crazy, she can still lean on artwork to pull her through. So, I think that Trina hearing Ava’s advice will hopefully push her to talk to her dad because Trina only has one dad, so she has to appreciate him while he’s here. 

MP: That’s a very true statement and sentiment. So no matter how inevitable it seems to all of us, as fans, we are all sitting back and agreeing with Trina that we’d be a little pissed too. 

SM: I’m glad she got her words in because I felt for her. 

MP: I kept wondering when it would happen because she should have ripped him a new one.

SM: Yes, yes! Trina does not hold back! 

MP: That is one of the things that I, along with other fans, love about your character. She’s such a strong female presence on the show and proven even more so in the women’s suffrage episode last year—the older characters with the newer personalities, and characters, blended with all this American history. What was your favorite part of filming that episode?

SM: My favorite part of the voting episode definitely has to be the costuming. I’ve never done a piece like that, and to wear these pieces that were from the twenties was absolutely insane. It was so delicate, and I remember the buttons– there weren’t any zippers back then, so no zippers on any of the dresses. And I was just thinking, I don’t know how these women got ready in the morning– no zippers, no zip ties, just button after button after button after button. But it was really fun to do, and I really enjoyed that costuming. Shoutout to the costume department! Hopefully, they get an Emmy win for that because that was some serious work.

MP: It paid off in such a huge way too! But I’d be remiss if I did not bring up what I call the show’s trio, which consists of you, Cameron, and Josslyn. It’s been one of the best groupings of teens and young adults.

SM: Thank you!

MP: You guys exude all this chemistry together, especially at the Nurse’s Ball this year. 

SM: Oh, that was so fun!

MP: What was your favorite part about that?

SM: Well, the Nurse’s Ball was the first thing we shot when we got back from the COVID break. We were one of the first shows to go back after the big COVID quarantine break, so that was a really fun way to come back. It was really enjoyable. William [Lipton] wrote an absolutely incredible song, so to be able to sing it, to be able to harmonize with it–I think he really liked the way it turned out, and that’s really what mattered to me because it was his piece. Just seeing the happiness on his face, and the fact he was pleased and the audience loved it…that is the best feeling.

MP: It really was so well respected and received. I remember going online and seeing that scene everywhere because it blew up online. It truly resonated with the fanbase and so many people. 

SM: Yes. It was so much fun to shoot! 

MP: With the fun of that scene in mind, what kind of adventures would you like to see for that trio coming up?

SM: That’s a good question. Well, since a lot of these bigger scenes where we used to have school dances and stuff can’t really happen anymore because of COVID, I guess I would like to see a fun sleepover type thing. I wouldn’t say kidnapping again. Not again, not again. That would be Cameron’s third kidnapping.

MP: Exactly! We are good on kidnappings.

SM: But I will say some fun sleepover stuff. Some more bonding scenes. I think sometimes you nip that between the teens because they all have so much trauma to deal with, but if we can take a break from the trauma, some fun bonding scenes would be really cool.

MP: And it hasn’t always just been about the trio. There have been many hints here and there of the connection shared between Cameron and Trina. Ultimately, the two decided to remain friends. Do you wish that line had developed more, or do you think Cameron and Trina are better off as friends?

SM: I don’t wanna drop any spoilers, but I will say that I think there is a lot coming up for each individual character, so I think a romance storyline would have been a bit much right now. It would have been superficial in a way. So I think it was good for it to end the way it did, especially since it ended just before Trina found out her dad was alive. I think it would have been weird for them to push a relationship or anything in that regard when they’re all dealing with so much. So that’s my answer to that!

MP: And I think it goes back to them going through the trauma together. You see this instance where these two people have bonded because of what they went through together. In their case, it would be a superficial thing to throw them together. Of course, there’s this extra bond there for the time being. Because who else are they going to talk to about that moment, honestly? Who else will understand? 

SM: Exactly, I agree.

MP: I agree with everything you said. It makes perfect sense for them to be friends right now. 

SM: Exactly. I think if they can mature a little bit more and develop a little bit more, then they can go back to the drawing board. But I think as of right now, with them being seniors and them each dealing with the family stuff, they need a break! They need to breathe, and they might need therapy. Each of those characters are going through a lot.

MP: And even more so than they realize because recently they did this reveal of Cameron getting into Stanford. I feel like that is going to throw a monkey wrench into the situation. I think all fans are interested in what will come of that soon.

SM: It’s going to be very interesting! Stay tuned. That is going to be a very good episode. That’s all I can say about it, but it’s going to be really good.

MP: I’m so excited to hear that, and I know that all GH fans will be too! Some GH fans might not know, though, that you aren’t just playing Trina. You are lending your voice to the character Wolf in Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. What has been your favorite part of voicing this character?

SM: I love doing a completely 180 from Trina. Trina is closer to me in a lot of ways. We are both very studious. We both care about the people we love. But Wolf is the girl I play on that show, and she’s an action-packed ten-year-old who lives in a post-apocalyptic world, so that is fun to play. She’s pretty cold and heartless until this last season. I think playing that character arc and being tough and gruff and playing in an action-packed show–I guess I want to call her a superhero because she’s got some crazy feats in there. It’s really incredible and fun, and I really enjoy it.

MP: How does voicework compare to on-screen acting for you? Do you prefer one over the other, or do you feel they are both such different beasts to tackle overall?

SM: I love them equally for sure, but I will say with COVID, I’m really glad I was in the voiceover industry before COVID started. The animation industry has not stopped. I also guest star on Craig of the Creek, which is on Cartoon Network, and the work just does not stop. Those animators are just at it! So I think it’s really fun and it allows you to really be anyone. I’ve played different genders, different ages, and it is really fun to be able to do that. You don’t have to just play someone who looks like you, and I think that’s really great.

MP: I think that is part of the greatness of the animation world. It’s limitless.

SM: Exactly! There are no limits. If you can change your voice, you can do it!

MP: On a completely different note, I also noticed that Monday was your birthday, so Happy Birthday! How did you end up spending your birthday?

SM: I didn’t really do too much. I had a friend come over, and we got tacos, so that is good for me. I don’t need too much to please myself. I know we’re in COVID, so I wasn’t hoping for too much, but those tacos were good, and I’m eighteen now. It’s crazy! It was a very interesting way to spend my eighteenth, but I loved it. 

MP: We’ve all, unfortunately, had to have our COVID birthdays this past year and this year, and it’s all about making the most of it, which it sounds like you did! 

SM: Yes, yes. Thank you, thank you.

MP: And last by not least, is there anything you want to relay to your fans?

SM: I would love to say thank you for all the support. Thank you for tuning into General Hospital and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. I have some super cool stuff coming up that I wish I could say, but it will be coming soon, and I will let everyone know when those come out. I’m super excited for this year and what’s to come! 

MP: I’m excited to see what you’re up to this year, and thank you for your time today with us!

SM: Thank you! 

You can catch Sydney Mikayla as Trina Robinson on General Hospital, Monday through Friday at 2 pm EST. She also lends her voice to Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts as Wolf on Netflix and Craig of the Creek on Cartoon Network as Maya, Cherry Blossom Kid, and Merchant. A new episode is available this month on Saturday, February 13th. 

To connect more with Sydney Mikayla, follow her on Twitter and Instagram.