Genie Francis, one half of daytime’s famed duo ‘Luke and Laura’, is returning to General Hospital, albeit briefly.

Francis will reprise her role as “Laura"on the ABC soap beginning August 26. Francis told the Associated Press the stint will be short and will deal mainly with her relationship with daughter Lulu Spencer (played by Emmy-nominated actress Julie Marie Berman). Genie Francis also indicated that she would resurrect her role as Laura on a more permanent basis if offered. “I would stay on, but General Hospital honestly doesn’t seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment. They want little short doses during sweeps periods. It’s not entirely up to me. I’m thrilled and delighted my audience stands behind me. If they didn’t, you can be sure I wouldn’t get to come back for these visits.”

Francis, who is now 46-years-old, began playing Laura in 1976. In 1981, 30 million people watched her character’s storybook wedding to Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary). Genie Francis left General Hospital in 1982 in search of bigger and better opportunities, but nothing seemed to match the popularity she gained on the soap. She returned to GH for a year in 1983, then again in 1993. Francis left for good in 2002 after a contract dispute.

The actress has also appeared on Days of our Lives, All My Children and the now-defunct soap Loving. She recently starred in the Hallmark Channel movie “The Note.”

General Hospital fans were thrilled when Francis reprised her role as “Laura” in October of 2006 to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Luke and Laura’s wedding. Laura came out of a catatonic state thanks to a miracle drug. She was only awake long enough to re-marry Luke Spencer and get reacquainted with her three children. The drug didn’t work and Laura soon relapsed and went away. But that sweeps stunt did earn Francis a Daytime Emmy.

It is unclear what the future will hold for Genie Francis on General Hospital. Producers will only say that her character will not be killed off during this upcoming guest visit. Again, Genie Francis reprises her role as “Laura Spencer” beginning August 26 on ABC.