Laura Wright stepped into the role of Carly Spencer on General Hospital in 2005, and it didn’t take her long to make it her own. She is the fourth actor to portray Carly, but many fans love her best.
Key Takeaways
- Laura Wright has portrayed Carly Spencer on General Hospital since 2005, making the role uniquely her own.
- Carly remains one of GH’s most dynamic and polarizing characters, balancing business success with personal chaos.
- 2024 tested Carly’s strength as she mourned her mother Bobbie’s death and coped with Jason’s presumed loss.
- Jason’s return brought emotional healing, while her breakup with Drew opened the door to new feelings for Jack Brennan.
- Wright’s powerful performances have earned her seven Daytime Emmy nominations and one win for Outstanding Lead Actress.
Laura Wright As Carly Spencer
Carly arrived in Port Charles in 1996, looking for the mother who gave her up for adoption. She made life miserable for Bobbie (Jacklyn Zeman), her birth mom, but later they became true mother and daughter.
Carly and her family have become a focal point of GH, and she has had her fair share of trouble through the years. She has been married to the mob multiple times, kidnapped, shot, put in more than one mental institution, suffered the death of her son, and so much more.
Carly is the powerhouse business owner of both the Metro Court Hotel and Bobbie’s. She is also a great mom and grandmother who fiercely loves and protects her family at all costs. Her best friend is Jason Morgan (Steve Burton), and there is nothing the two wouldn’t do for each other.
Carly In 2024
2024 was a difficult year for Carly. She suffered the sudden loss of her mom, which brought back many feelings about their complicated relationship. Wright’s emotions during these scenes were beautiful, and we saw how she was mourning Zemen’s actual death. She dealt with that heartbreak without the support of her BFF Jason because he was “presumed dead”.
A short while later, Jason returned to Port Charles very much alive, which was a wonderful gift for Carly. She is never the same without him. Drew (Cameron Mathison) ended their relationship because of his jealousy towards his brother, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Towards the end of 2024, she began to have feelings for Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna).
Carly is a polarizing character, and fans have strong feelings about her, both positive and negative. Love her or hate her, the character and the actress are the cornerstone of GH, and Port Charles would not be the same without her.
Wright’s Daytime Emmy History
Wright earned seven previous Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress. She won the award once in 2011 for her performance as Carly.
