In some of the most shocking soap opera casting news of the decade, General Hospital fans were surprised to learn that Michelle Stafford would be leaving the role of Nina Reeves to return to her role as The Young and the Restless' Phyllis Summers, while former Y&R star Cynthia Watros (ex-Kelly Andrews) would be stepping into the shoes of the Crimson magazine editor. And now GH and Watros are revealing some interesting details about the big switcheroo.
Watros, who viewers also know from her role as Libby on the ABC series Lost, will be making her debut as Nina on Monday, June 17. The first official photos of the actress in her GH role, released by Entertainment Tonight, show Nina offering to help cover the costs of Jordan's (Briana Henry) mounting medical bills, with Curtis (Donnell Turner) politely declining her offer. The outlet reports that Nina then talks to Valentin about Curtis (James Patrick Stewart), and he might have a better idea...
As for what made Watros want to return to daytime, the star tells TV Insider that it was all about the character and what Michelle Stafford was able to build.
"I'd done Another World for a week [as Vicky in 1998]. I had a really good time. Outside of doing Y&R, I didn't have another opportunity. I'd been immersed in primetime stuff," she shares. "What made me want to play Nina is I looked into the character. Michelle is brilliant in the way she portrays her. I fell in love with [Nina's] vulnerabilities and her strengths. Deep underneath, she has these hidden, compressed, unresolved feelings from being in the coma. Things will bubble up as those secrets start to come out. That's what I love to play. I said yes very quickly. Nina's complex and everything I like to play in a character."
In early May, Stafford and Watros both posted a photo together on the General Hospital set. "Just 2 actors talkin about acting today," wrote Stafford, who originated the role of GH's Nina in 2014.
Just 2 actors talkin about acting today ❤️@watroswatros #Nina #GH pic.twitter.com/maUF8LfoYo
— Michelle Stafford (@TheRealStafford) May 7, 2019
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