“General Hospital” star Kate Mansi is saying goodbye to Port Charles after an emotional run on the long-running soap. The 38-year-old actress confirmed she is leaving the ABC daytime drama in an Instagram Story shared Sunday, May 24.
Deadline reported that Mansi reposted an interview with “Soap Opera Digest” editorial director Stephanie Sloane, where she opened up about her decision to step away from the series.
Kate Mansi Explains Why She Made the ‘Very Difficult’ Decision to Leave
Disney“I’ve made the very difficult decision to leave ‘General Hospital,'” Mansi told Sloane for her newsletter, “SoapSteph’s Soap Dish.”
“I have a few new projects that require my full attention and with my husband [Matt McInnis] currently producing a series filming primarily abroad, I needed the flexibility to travel while continuing to develop and work in Los Angeles.”
Looking back on her time with the series, Mansi shared heartfelt thanks for the opportunity.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Frank, ABC, and our writers for the care they gave Kristina,” Mansi said, as quoted by TV Insider.
“It’s been such a meaningful and unforgettable ride. I’ve loved being a fiery Corinthos-Davis girl in such a phenomenal family.”
Mansi Joined ‘General Hospital’ in 2023 as Kristina Corinthos-Davis
DisneyMansi joined General Hospital in 2023 as Kristina Corinthos-Davis, the daughter of mob boss Maurice Benard’s Sonny Corinthos and attorney Alexis Davis, portrayed by Nancy Lee Grahn.
Mansi said two parts of the role immediately stood out to her when she was first approached about joining the soap.
“When [executive producer Frank Valentini] first approached me about the role, two things deeply resonated with me: the opportunity to show my support for the queer community by playing an LGBTQ+ character, and to help tell an endometriosis storyline,” Mansi shared.
The actress said she is proud of the stories the show was able to tell during her time in Port Charles.
“Together, I truly feel we honored both of those stories in a way that mattered,” she said, per Deadline. “And the fact that I got to direct was simply the icing on the cake. Now, it feels like the right time for both Kristina and me to step into new adventures.”
The Actress Directed a ‘General Hospital’ Episode About Endometriosis
GettyFor Mansi, the endometriosis storyline on General Hospital held deep personal meaning.
The actress previously revealed that she was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2015 while working on “Days of Our Lives”. Mansi recalled experiencing severe pain while filming scenes on set.
“I’ve never gone through childbirth, but it felt like I was having extreme contractions,” she shared with People magazine. “They would say action, I would do my scene, and then the second they said cut, I was literally doubled over in pain.”
Mansi shared that her stepfather, an OB-GYN, eventually stepped in after becoming frustrated with the medical care she was receiving and performed surgery himself. The actress has credited him with saving her life.
Before her exit from “General Hospital,” Mansi also directed an episode centered around Kristina’s endometriosis journey, something she described as especially meaningful.
“The attention and care that they put into this story was so meaningful,” Mansi told People.
As a director, Mansi said she wanted the episode to capture both the emotional vulnerability and quiet resilience many people living with endometriosis experience every day.
“My approach as a director, I really wanted to focus on Molly’s vulnerability, but her strength and how so many people with endometriosis often hide behind the strength and resiliency so that we don’t look weak and we just can make it seem like everything’s fine,” she explained.
“And then matching that with Cody’s sensitivity and his care and love for his partner.”
