Inside the Rise of Gio & Emma, ‘General Hospital’s New Emmy-Nominated Couple

General Hospital‘s Braedyn Bruner (Emma Scorpio-Drake) and Giovanni Mazza (Gio Palmieri) were in Las Vegas when they learned they had both been nominated for Daytime Emmys as Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series.

The duo was at an early morning soundcheck ahead of a violin performance Mazza was preparing for when their executive producer, Frank Valentini, called. “Our boss called at 7:45 in the morning, and we initially missed it,” says Mazza. “We called him back thinking there was some storyline thing he wanted to talk to us about. We had no expectation that it was going to be about the nominations.”

When they discovered the reason for his call, they couldn’t have been more thrilled. “I just kept saying, ‘No way, no way,’” recalls Bruner. “I was jumping up and down, and we were both just so excited and thrilled.”

Disney / Christine Bartolucci

The rest of the day became an impromptu celebration. “The entire staff that I was working with for the performance I was doing found out and they got me some really nice goodie bags and congratulated me,” reports Mazza. “It was just a good feeling walking around saying to myself, ‘Oh, I’m a first-time Emmy-nominated actor.’”

Beyond the excitement of the moment, the nomination also represents a personal milestone for Mazza. “It was my big goal when I first got on the show to strive for excellence,” he says. “And in my mind, the Emmy represented the excellence, so to be nominated is a very special privilege.”

Having navigated so much of their GH journey together, marking this milestone together made the achievement even more meaningful.

“It’s incredibly cool and so special that we get to share this,” says Bruner. “Not only a lot of our scenes together on the show, but also how many people can say they got nominated for an Emmy with their best friend? I don’t think that happens. Also, it being our first time ever being nominated is insane. It’s just the most unique experience, and we get to experience it together. It’s incredible.”

Adds Mazza, “Obviously, that was probably the best part because we got to spend the entire day together. To be in the company of all the fellow nominees is fantastic, but to share it with Braedyn, who’s my best friend, and the person that I love very much, we were able to have a fantastic day.”

After celebrating together, they shared the news with the people who had supported them long before the Emmy recognition arrived. “I was so excited to call my parents and tell them,” notes Bruner. “Because as much as this feels amazing for me, those are the people that have supported me my entire life and made my dream possible. So, I was so excited to tell them, but I think they found out before I did, so my dad called me; he was like, ‘Congratulations,’ and my mom was crying, and they were both just so excited for me, so that was really, really special.”

Mazza had an emotional call with his own family. “They were overjoyed,” he reports. “We all got on the phone, and it meant a lot to me because my grandfather is sort of having a rough time with his health. I was able to tell him that I was nominated, and he was just so proud. That was probably the most meaningful thing because he was just so happy, and he’s always saying stuff like, ‘You’re taking over Hollywood,’ and, ‘California loves you.’ Part of the nomination is an element of validation of your work and a very public one at that for my family also. Their support is the reason I’m here, and they were very happy to share this moment with me.”

Disney / Michael Le Brecht II

The excitement extended to his GH family as well: his on-screen mom, Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn Quartermaine), also earned a nomination in the Supporting Actress category. “She was with her husband at a spa, so they were getting a foot massage or something while she was calling me,” he relays. “We have such a fantastic relationship that when she answered the call, I screamed, ‘My TV mom got nominated!’”

For both actors, the nominations serve as a reminder of how far they’ve come in a relatively short time in Port Charles. “It’s everything,” says Bruner. “This is my first soap opera, and a whole different genre than anything I’ve ever done before, and I was automatically welcomed with open arms by the cast and crew. I’ve been so fortunate to have a character that’s been so incredibly nuanced. I feel in this past year, Emma has just had this beautiful growth, and it’s been really fun to play.”

Disney / Kat Nijmeddin

Mazza says his time on GH has changed him both professionally and personally. “The most important thing has probably been my own process of self-discovery,” he reflects. “Last year was the first year that I really explored the unknown parts of myself for the work, and I learned a lot about myself. It was in the most rewarding way possible because I’ve come out of it, and I can walk into this new phase of my life with the lessons that I learned and the experiences that I’ve had. I just feel like I’ve grown and matured and progressed in every single way that I possibly could.”

Now, their attention turns to Emmy night on October 30, and Bruner is already thinking about what she’ll wear. “Oh my gosh, I’ve been planning this for months, actually,” she reveals. “I don’t want to give too much away, but I’m all about the red carpet looks. It’s one of my favorite parts about the ceremony.”

Win or lose, Mazza says the nomination itself already feels like a victory. “I’m just proud to be in good company,” he explains. “Regardless of winning or not, I’m just so happy to be a part of the greater legacy of General Hospital and all that it’s accomplished. If anyone wins, I’m just proud. If Steve [Burton, Lead Actor nominee] wins, I feel like I win. If Amanda [Setton] wins, I feel like I win. I feel like I’m a part of a team that is respected and honored, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”

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