Word just got out that long-running General Hospital star Kelly Monaco had to take a brief break from the ABC soap opera in January, and the show once again called on Lindsay Korman-Hartley to step into Sam McCall's shoes.
The multi-soap vet will appear as Alexis and Julian's daughter for a handful of episodes beginning Thursday, February 3. Monaco has already returned to the studio, which means she'll be back in the role of Sam in no time.
In an Instagram post, Hartley thanked GH "for trusting me again with such a special character that Kelly has created for the soap community and for the genre that is forever dear to me."
I am very thankful for this opportunity. I am grateful to @GeneralHospital and @kellymonaco1 for trusting me again with such a special character that Kelly has created for the soap community and for the genre that is forever dear to me????
— Lindsay Korman-Hartley (@L_Hartley) February 2, 2022
As fans may recall, this is the second instance in which Korman-Hartley has stepped in for Monaco. The first was in the summer of 2020, when Monaco experienced a breathing problem on her first day back at work after GH resumed production following its COVID-related shutdown. Korman-Hartley briefly filled in while Monaco quarantined and took several COVID-19 tests (all of which came back negative).
Korman-Hartley has a long history in soap operas, beginning with her 1999 to 2008 run as Passions' Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald. She also played Days of our Lives' Arianna Hernandez from 2009 to 2010 and All My Children's Cara Castillo from 2010 to 2011 and again in 2013. She has since gone on to work on several Lifetime films, both in front of and behind the camera.
Monaco has been playing the role of GH's Sam since 2003. The reason for her January absence has yet to be announced.
How do you feel about Lindsay Hartley once again filling in for Kelly Monaco in the role of GH's Sam? Why do you think Monaco stepped away from the ABC soap last month? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
