Thursday, February 12, 2009 2:41 AM EST | By Scotty Gore

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(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “One Life to Live” hires former Playboy centerfold Daphnée Duplaix Samuel as the next Rachel Gannon.

Less than a month after “OLTL” releashed a casting call for Hank and Nora’s bi-racial daughter Rachel, the long-running ABC daytime drama has found their woman.
Daphnée Duplaix Samuel, ex-Hugh Heffner model and July 1997 Playboy Playmate, has become the fourth actress to tackle the reformed character, whose teenage years
were consumed with sex, drugs, and murder. Ellen Bethea portrayed Rachel when she was last seen in Llanview in 2006, checking in on her comatose mother Nora Hanen.

The 32-year-old Samuel is no stranger to Daytime, having spent nearly four years (2004-2008) portraying the hermaphrodite Valerie Davis on “Passions.” The actress has also guest starred on such series as “Dharma & Greg,” “Just Shoot Me!,” “My Wife and Kids,” “Felicity,” and “The District.” And in 2001, she entered the game show world as the card dealer in the pilot for “Card Sharks;” however she was replaced with Tami Anderson in subsequent episodes.

Look for Samuel to first air as Rachel on April 2nd, one day after her father Hank returns to Llanview.

“One Life to Live” airs Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Check local listings.

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