General Hospital’s Erika Slezak reveals why she was nervous about her soap comeback

Ronnie Bard has had a lot on her plate lately on General Hospital. After inheriting Monica’s house and trying to piece together long-held family secrets, she’s turned to Tracy for answers about her sister — a storyline steeped in Quartermaine history and emotional weight.

Tracy thinks Ronnie’s a con artist and has not given her any info about her long-lost sister. But for the woman stepping into this legacy, it’s been extraordinarily meaningful behind the scenes. Soap legend Erika Slezak recently opened up about joining the show and why she was initially nervous about taking on the role.

A warm welcome with a few butterflies

In a new video on General Hospital's YouTube channel, Slezak spoke about stepping into the world of Port Charles and the mix of excitement and nerves she felt at the start. It’s been more than a decade since her last daytime appearance, but walking onto the GH set felt surprisingly familiar thanks to the warm welcome she received from the cast and crew.

“It is such fun to be here with a lot of the actors that I had worked with before, and actors that I had never worked with before, like Jane Elliot, who is just the queen,” she said.

The Port Charles newcomer praised Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine) and her castmates for going out of their way to make her feel right at home. Of Elliot, she elaborated, “She’s just fantastic, and we’ve had a lot of scenes together, which is lovely,” she shared.

While her first week on the show could have been daunting, it was refreshingly full of friendly faces, easy conversations, and instant camaraderie. “The first day I thought, okay, I know so-and-so, but everybody became my friend like right away,” she gushed.

It’s been over a decade since the actress appeared on One Life to Live, and her return to the soap world had some challenges. The production pace had gotten faster and Slezak explained that she had to adjust to that. “The schedule is so different from what I’m used to. You jump back and forth and back and forth. From one script to 12 scripts later, and it’s something you just have to get used to. I’m still kind of going, ‘Uh, what day is it?’”

Respecting Monica’s legacy on General Hospital

One of Slezak's biggest concerns going into the role was what it would mean for longtime fans of Leslie Charleson and Monica Quartermaine. She was candid about her initial nerves when she first spoke with executive producer Frank Valentini about the storyline. “When Frank asked me to come here, I said, ‘I’m not going to replace Leslie.’”

That worry was quickly put to rest. Valentini assured her that she wasn’t stepping into a recast, but rather helping honor and wrap up Monica’s story with respect. “He said, ‘No, no, no.’ And that’s nice because it’s wrapping up Monica’s story. I think she would be pleased with it. I hope she would be,” Slezaks said.

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With the fans’ love for the Quartermaine legacy, Slezak is both grateful and mindful of the weight of the role. Her warmth, humor, and respect for the show’s history have already made her a seamless fit in Port Charles — nerves and all.

General Hospital can be seen weekdays on ABC and Hulu.

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