Big casting news! Cynthia Watros is the new Nina on GENERAL HOSPITAL! With Michelle Stafford exiting the soap, fans wondered if the character would be written out or recast, and the soap finally announced that daytime alum Watros will be taking over the role. “It’s a bittersweet day,” tweeted GH executive producer Frank Valentini when the news broke online. “I love Michelle Stafford and wish her all the best. I’m also really excited about Cynthia Watros joining the GH family and continuing Nina’s legacy.” Entertainment Tonight later revealed that Watros would make her debut in the episode airing on Monday, June 17.

Soap fans will remember Watros as Annie Dutton on CBS sudser GUIDING LIGHT, a role she played from 1997-98, earning a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in the process. She also briefly took over the role of Vicky on ANOTHER WORLD in 1998. Then Watros moved on to primetime, starring in the sitcoms TITUS and THE DREW CAREY SHOW as well as dramas LOST and HOUSE. In 2013, she returned to daytime to play Kelly Andrews on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS.

Nina first appeared on GH in May of 2014 with Stafford making a surprise appearance as Silas’ ex. And while she started out as an obsessed psycho, she eventually matured into a strong, independent businesswoman who loved adopted daughter Charlotte as her own. Watros took her GL character of Annie in the opposite direction, growing more psycho as time went on, so we know she can handle both sides of Nina’s personality. Although when speculating about who could possibly step in as a Nina recast, Watros didn’t even make our list!

Stay tuned to see how Nina’s storyline will continue with Watros in the role, and for more GH casting news, keep reading the ABC edition of Soaps In Depth magazine!

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