Lindsay Hartley will once again step in for Kelly Monaco on “General Hospital,” appearing as Sam McCall over “a handful of episodes” beginning Thursday, February 3.
According to Soap Opera Digest, which first reported the news, Monaco took a brief break from the role in January but has already returned to the show’s Prospect Studios set and is back taping.
Since scripts are written well in advance of production, it was impossible for the show to write out the character even temporarily, requiring the need for a substitute.
Hartley had already portrayed the part in August 2020 when Monaco was unavailable after she reportedly was forced into a 14-day quarantine following a breathing problem related to a mask on the first day back shooting after the show got the greenlight from Los Angeles County during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monaco praised Hartley’s portrayal of Sam, giving thanks for “stepping in and doing a beautiful job playing Sam. Girl.. you kicked ass. Way to go.”
In addition to “General Hospital,” Hartley has also appeared on the soaps “Days of our Lives” and “Passions.” Behind the scenes she’s become a staple at Lifetime, directing several movies for the network including “Killer Ambition” starring “The Bold and the Beautiful” actor Sean Kanan (Deacon Sharpe).