GH Boots Wagner, Recasts Felicia
by Dan J Kroll
Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005 8:17:18 PM

What is your reaction to the news that Kristina Wagner is out as GH's Felicia? I'm furious. Wagner IS Felicia and shouldn't have been fired 77% I'm pleased. I'd like to see a new actress tackle Felicia. 14% I find it hard to believe that GH couldn't accommodate her. 4% Honestly, if she couldn't be there to work, GH had to recast 3% I actually would prefer if Felicia was just written out. 1% It doesn't really matter to me who plays Felicia on GH. 1% Other 0% Poll Posted: May 25th, 2005

In what can only be called a bizarre casting decision, General Hospital has booted Kristina Wagner (Felicia Jones) from the role of Felicia. The role will, however, be recast.

Wagner joined the cast of General Hospital in August 1984 and remained a popular part of the cast through February 2003 when the actress and the show parted ways. At the time, a show spokesperson said that Wagner's exit from the show was "an amicable split." Wagner issued a statement that she had decided to leave because of her lack on on-screen time. Indeed, Wagner had little if any story in the months leading up to her exit.

Shortly after Wagner's exit, rumors began to surface that General Hospital was mulling the possibility of recasting Felicia. The rumors were short-lived.

In March 2004, Wagner returned to General Hospital in recurring capacity. The show's executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps, touted "an upcoming main storyline" as the reason for bringing the character of Felicia back to the canvas. It was believed that Wagner's character could help re-establish some of the other characters in its younger set.

Now, as Kirsten Storms has taken over the role of Maxie Jones, the opportunity was presented for Wagner's character to have a significant increase in on-screen time. Because Wagner's personal schedule - she has re-enrolled in college -- conflicted with some of the tape times, the actress reportedly was unable to guarantee that she would be available for the show. Since Wagner was not on contract with the show, be technically was not obligated to be available for the scenes. Wagner then is said to have offered to make herself available to the show if she were given a short-term contract. The network refused.

"There's no animosity on either side," a show spokesperson asserts. "Kristina has decided to go back to school. She's going her way, we're going ours. We wish her well."

Officially, word is that Wagner quit the show. She last airs June 8th.

Beginning June 9th, soap veteran Sandra D. Ferguson will assume the role of Felicia. Ferguson is best known for her work as Amanda Cory on the long-running NBC soap Another World.

It is unclear if Ferguson was offered a contract with the show.

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RELATED STORYKirsten Storms joining GH as Maxie Jones
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Related Information
News Archive: Kristina Wagner to return as GH's Felicia. [Mar 10th, 2003] About The Actor: Learn more about Kristina Wagner. Who's Who: Read a biography of Felicia Jones. More Archived News: Review more past GH news headlines. News and More: Return to soapcentral.com's GH FrontPage.