One of General Hospital’s most popular leading heroines might look a little different when the show returns with new episodes. According to published reports, Kelly Monaco is taking a break as Sam and a familiar face will be stepping in to play the role.
Daytime Confidential reports that soap hopper Lindsay Hartley will step in for Kelly Monaco as Sam for a few weeks. No word on when the unconfirmed switch will take place or why Monaco, who joined GH in 2003, is temporarily stepping away from the show.
An original cast member of Passions, Hartley played Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald, who was relentless in her quest to win the heart of Ethan Crane (Travis Schuldt; Eric Martsolf, now Brady, Days of our Lives). The series concluded with Theresa and Ethan marrying.
Next, Hartley went to DAYS to play the ill-fated Arianna Hernandez. Next came a stint on All My Children where she played Dr. Cara Castillo. Hartley reprised Cara for the revival of AMC on The Online Network in 2013.
In 2015, she appeared with a series of other familiar faces from daytime in the reality Pop TV series Queens of Drama. The limited series featured Donna Mills (ex-Abby, Knots Landing; ex-Madeline, GH), Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda, GH), Crystal Hunt (ex-Lizzie, Guiding Light), Hunter Tylo (ex-Taylor, The Bold and the Beautiful), and Chrystee Pharris (ex-Simone, Passions).
The move to GH will reunite Lindsay Hartley with Brook Kerr (Portia), who played Theresa’s BFF Whitney on Passions. Familiar faces stepping in for regular players who take a brief break from GH are not uncommon. Molly Burnett (ex-Melanie, DAYS) took over for Kirsten Storms as Maxie in 2016. Martha Madison (Belle, DAYS) subbed for Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth) in 2011.
More recently, Hartley has amassed a variety of credits in the films Dawn of 5 Evils, Deadly Daughter Switch, Terrified at 17, Deadly Exchange, The Wrong Nanny, Love Exclusively, Dying to Be Loved, and Nightmare Nurse, among others. General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. Check local listings for air times.
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