Former General Hospital star Natalia Livingston is joining the cast of NBC's Days of our Lives. The Emmy-winning actress has been hired to play the contract role of Taylor Raines, a character not seen on-screen in more than a decade.
Taylor, Nicole Walker's sister, was last seen in Salem from August 1998 to May 1999, when actress Katherine Ellis played the role. During Taylor's brief run in Salem, the character became enamored with Eric Brady, sparred with Nicole, and ultimately left town to attend college. Taylor's return seems to bolster claims that the NBC soap is also quietly preparing the reintroduce Eric Brady.
Livingston, meanwhile, joined the cast of General Hospital in April 2003, taking over the role of Emily Quartermaine from fan-favorite Amber Tamblyn. Livingston remained with the ABC soap for five years, but her exit was not as smooth as the actress might have wanted. In June 2007, Livingston rejected claims that she was leaving the show. In a statement, the actress blasted what she called "sensationalist" web sites and print publications for making up stories about her status with the show. Shortly thereafter, Emily was killed off, but the actress stuck around for a few more months, appearing as a ghostly image. Livingston made her final appearance as Emily in May 2008.
In 2009, Livingston returned as Rebecca Shaw, an Emily look-alike who later turned out to be Emily's long-lost twin sister.
During her tenure with General Hospital, Livingston earned a Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2005.
Livingston makes her Days of our Lives debut on January 28, 2011.
