While the name of the character she’ll be portraying remains under wraps until her first episode airs on Friday, September 26, it looks like Erika Slezak‘s time in Port Charles is already coming to a close, according to an update by her official fan club.
In a post shared by her fan club president, Walter Miller, the same day Slezak makes her debut in Port Charles will also mark the conclusion of her stay in Los Angeles. He also included a statement from Slezak, talking about her three weeks of taping at Prospect Studios in Hollywood.
“The past three weeks have been an incredible yet exhausting journey,” said Slezak in a statement released to the fan club. “I worked every day with amazing, friendly, and lovely people—not just the actors, but everyone involved, from the hair and make-up team, including Angela, Wendy, and Karol, to the crew and the fabulous Bruce Cooperman, who I have known for over 30 years since his days as a cameraman on ‘OLTL,’ and the security guard, Emma. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and incredibly helpful. I couldn’t have done it without them.
Reconnecting with Chris McKenna (my Joey) [now appearing as Jack Brennan] and his lovely family was wonderful. Seeing Marianne, Chris’s mom, was a special moment, and it was a delightful surprise to see Jessica Tuck [ex-Cassandra Pierce; ex-Megan Gordon, ‘One Life to Live’],” Slezak continued. “Spending time with Tuc Watkins [ex-David Vickers, ‘One Life to Live’] and his children, as well as with Roger Howarth [ex-Austin Gatlin-Holt; ex-Franco Baldwin; ex-Todd Manning, ‘One Life to Live’ and ‘General Hospital’], provided a wonderful break.
“Adjusting to the different schedule has been a challenge, but Frank Valentini, ‘the boss,’ has been very helpful and patient. He’s a dear old friend and a highly skilled executive producer. Many others I knew from ‘OLTL’ have helped make the transition to ‘GH’ less stressful.”
Shout-Out To Jane Elliot / Return Home
“A very special thank you to Jane Elliot [Tracy Quartermaine], who was as wonderful, delightful, and challenging to work with as I had imagined. She’s positively brilliant!” said Slezak of her scene partner. “It’s been great to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. While this has been such a terrific experience, I am very happy to be heading home. I have missed my family, my puppies, and my pussycat so much. Working on ‘GH’ was a wonderful experience, and I hope all of you will tune in tomorrow to watch me in Port Charles!”
Different Type Of Character
In a recent interview with TV Guide Magazine, on newsstands now, Slezak recalled her journey to Port Charles, beginning with a phone call from the show’s executive producer, Frank Valentini, who also held the same position at “One Life to Live” until the show’s conclusion in 2012.
“He filled me in on what he wanted for the story arc, and I said, ‘That’s very interesting, because it’s completely different from what I played on ‘One Life to Live,'” said Slezak. “I was always Viki [Lord Buchanan], confident and strong. This is a totally different character. It’s an exciting, wonderful change.”
Final Episode
Although she is wrapping her stint at “General Hospital,” having taped for just three weeks, it’s unknown when Slezak will make her final appearance on the daytime drama series. That said, her character plays a significant role in a story arc tied to the recent passing of the Monica Quartermaine character, played for nearly 50 years by the late Leslie Charleson.
Check out a promo featuring Slezak below.
