General Hospital's Laura Wright wants Jacklyn Zeman’s spirit with her on Emmy night

Carly Spencer has never been one to shy away from chaos, and this week on General Hospital is no exception. With the walls slowly closing in on Jack’s secrets, and Josslyn’s involvement in a deadly WSB mission hanging over everything, Carly is navigating complicated personal and legal terrain. Off-screen, Laura Wright has her mind on something far more personal: honoring the legacy of Jacklyn Zeman on one of the biggest nights of her career.

Choosing a General Hospital reel — and carrying Jackie with her

General Hospital’s Laura Wright spoke with Michael Fairman TV ahead of the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, where she’s once again nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress. She opened up about the pressure of selecting the perfect Emmy reel — and why this year, it carries a special meaning.

“It’s always so daunting and so nerve-wracking to create your reel,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to come up with 15 minutes because the poor people that have to watch all the nominees.” She added that when it comes time for her to review a reel and vote, she feels, “That better be the best 15 minutes of my life!”

Her reel ultimately came out to about nine minutes and was mainly comprised of her scenes with Steve Burton’s Jason, in which Carly refuses to let him walk out of her life again. Wright felt the scenes captured her favorite parts about playing Carly: vulnerability, raw emotion, and strength. “The episode had every single thing that I am proud of who I am as an actor,” Wright reflected.

But for Wright, the reel is also a tribute. She made sure to include moments from the memorial episodes honoring Jackie Zeman, who passed away in 2023. “There’s a little bit of Bobbie’s death at the beginning of the reel as I really want to honor Jackie,” she explained. “There was a flashback of me and Jackie, and that was really important to me to have her face seen in my reel. We lost her so suddenly.” She then explained her rationale, stating, “Losing anyone anyway isn’t easy, and I really wanted Jackie’s spirit with me.”

Friendship, legacy, and a night to remember

For years, one of Carly’s most defining relationships has been with Jason. Wright credits her long history with Burton for the natural energy they bring to every scene. “It’s not work with Steve,” she said. “We just kind of lean into each other. Steve and I rehearse, and if there’s something we want to tweak or change, or if there’s something we want to bring even more to it, we discuss it.”

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As the Emmy ceremony approaches, Wright isn’t just focused on the outcome — she’s focused on presence, memory, and carrying someone who meant a great deal to her. “I knew I wanted to use the Bobbie material,” she said, adding that Jackie’s spirit is something she’ll take with her into that auditorium. Win or lose, honoring that connection makes this year’s nomination feel a little more meaningful. (Check out Carly’s most heartbreaking moments.)

General Hospital can be seen weekdays on ABC and Hulu.

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