General Hospital
Cynthia Watros Recalls Her Wild Ride as GL’s Annie Dutton and Playing the Wedge Between Her Favorite Soap Couple Josh & Reva
Long before Cynthia Watros took on the role of General Hospital’s Nina Reeves, daytime fans first got acquainted with her back in 1994, when played Guiding Light’s Annie Dutton. That part would make Watros a household name for soap fans and for those who tuned-in to the drama of the beloved CBS soap.
Recalling her humble beginnings in Springfield, Watros shared how an acting choice led from saccharine sweet Annie to her quickly becoming “crazy” and villainess Annie with Rewind Magazine.
Speaking of an early GL scene, Watros remembered, “I added in that I had a terrible headache. I don’t know what what made me so brave to say, ‘I have a headache,’ and I kind of grabbed my head. The writers wrote in that Annie starts taking pain medication for her headache, and then I started getting addicted to pain medication, and then it just spiraled to where I was doing all sorts of crazy stuff, and that was a blast.”

Photo: CBS
Guiding Light put Annie right in the path of supercouple Reva and Josh played by four-time Daytime Emmy winner, Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman. Being put in a triangle, or the thorn in the couple’s side was more than you can even possibly imagine for Watros who revealed that working with Kim and Robert was full-circle for her.
“When I was in high school, Josh and Reva were my favorite couple,” admitted Watros. “I watched Guiding Light, and they were my go-to couple. If they had good day, I had a good day. So, I was in the rehearsal hall, standing in between Robert and Kim as Josh and Reva, yelling at one of them, and I was like, ‘This is so crazy. This is a couple that I love and now I’m playing the wedge between them.’”

Photo: CBS
In 1998, Watros ended her run as Annie, but not before picking up her much-deserved Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress that same year. Speaking on all the things Annie Dutton had perpetrated, Watros expressed, “She started off nice and sweet and ended up kidnapping people, drugging people, throwing people down stairs, and then finally, just parachuting out of a plane with a gun and a video camera and saying, ‘I’ll see you, Springfield.’”
So, did you watch Cynthia Watros as Annie Dutton on Guiding Light? What was your favorite performance of hers from her run in Springfield? Here’s a few below, then weigh-in with your picks!
I loved her as Annie from the very beginning and she got even better and funnier right before she left so it was disappointing to see her leave.
I remember when she was a day player and played a different character who played a waitress and hooked up with Matt Reardon. She was then later hired to play Annie Frickin Dutton. She was soooooo good. Guiding Light was on fire then. Good memories.
I’m a Johnny come lately to the Cynthia Watros fan club as I never saw her playing Annie in Guiding Light. She won me over playing the clumsy, awkward, vulnerable, funny and lovable Nina Reeves on General Hospital. Unfortunately, the writers do not give her the quality material she deserves. Somehow she manages to rise above it.
Harry
How did you feel about Stafford as Nina?
I thought the character had run its course when Stafford left (and never quite fit on the canvas).
Watros made me care about Nina. While I’m tired of the granny wars, she plays exceptionally well with costars like Wright, Mathison, Gati, and even Benard.
I was not a fan of Stafford’s Nina as she seemed to be still playing Phyllis from Y&R. The way that Nina would taunt the likes of Willow and romantic rival sounded just like Phyllis when she went after her romantic rivals like Sharon or Cricket. Like you, I didn’t care about Nina until Watros fleshed her out showing her vulnerability, her messiness her sweetness and her humor.
She was wonderful in that role with a well deserved Emmy.
Agree that her portrayal of Annie on GL got her the much-deserved Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress. I had hoped she would win in 1998. Her acceptance speech was the best! Glad she is with GH now but needs a better storyline, writers!
She was brilliant as Annie Dutton! Every minute was relished.
General Hospital
Kate Mansi Wraps On-Screen Run as ‘General Hospital’s’ Kristina Corinthos-Davis
The Friday, June 12 episode of General Hospital marked the last for Daytime Emmy winner, Kate Mansi as Kristina Corinthos-Davis. As previously reported, the character was accepted to medical school at UCLA in California, making the end of the run for Mansi who played Kristina for three years.
The decision to depart GH was all Mansi’s decision and as also previously reported, GH executive producer Frank Valentini had left the door open for a return down the line and is currently not planning on recasting the part.
In story, in her final episode, having already said goodbye on Thursday’s show to her parents, Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn), Kristina meets up with her siblings, Molly (Kristen Vaganos) and Michael (Rory Gibson). The three have a chat at the Metro Court Gardens.

Courtesy/ABC
SIBLING ADVICE
Before she leaves Port Charles, Kristina tells her brother and sister, she wants them to be there for each other, while each is managing their personal relationships: Molly with Cody (Josh Kelly) and Michael with Jacinda (Paige Herschell). Kristina thanked them for taking her to the airport and urged them to lean on each other while she was gone.
In her last scene, Kristina tells Molly and Michael right before they head for her flight, “I want each of you to be the person the other can call. OK? To show up for each other, no questions asked. Because that’s what you’ve been for me.”
KATE’S NEXT MOVE
Speaking with TV Insider, Mansi shared what she is up to next which has included accompanying her husband, Matt McInnis to Europe. Kate explained she had made the decision a few months back to exit GH. “I knew my contract was up in April and I wanted to give them the proper notice so that they could plan their future storytelling.” Kate added, “Given that my husband is working in Europe predominantly and I’ll be traveling so much, that’s what this next chapter of my life will be.”
Kate expressed that the news of her exit was hard to share with people, because she would feel sad when talking about it. Ultimately, the first to know were Nancy Lee Grahn, Kristen Vaganos, and Rory Gibson. She chose not to tell Maurice Benard, because she was so close to him in real-life, until they filmed their last episode together which aired yesterday.
There’s more! Kate gave a final tease that she has project in the works sharing, “I’m excited to have booked a short-term project in the fall that works within my schedule.” As to a future return to GH, Mansi doesn’t rule it out, “It’s Port Charles. Anything is possible.”
So, what did you think of Kate’s final scenes as Kristina with Sonny, Alexis, Molly and Michael? Do you hope Kate come back in a few years time? Weigh-in via the comment section. In case you missed it, you can catch the scenes where Kristina tells her parents she is leaving Port Charles below.
General Hospital
Troy Lennon Appel Joins the Cast of ‘General Hospital’ in Contract Role of the Mysterious ‘Hudson’
There are even more newbies coming to General Hospital with the news today that Troy Lennon Appel is joining the cast of the ABC daytime drama series in the contract role of “Hudson.” Look for Appel to make his debut on the July 30th episode.
What we do know is that Hudson is a business executive with mysterious ties. As first reported by TV Insider, Troy has already been enjoying his time on the legacy soap opera. He enthused, “Working on GH has been nothing short of an incredible, fast-paced experience, Everyone is very professional; they’re on top of every intricate part of this very established, well-oiled machine, and I’m just trying to keep up and not halt the process in any way.”
In a statement, General Hospital executive producer, Frank Valentini expressed: “Troy is a terrific guy, and we are excited to have him join our cast. And fans will be intrigued to see how his character fits into the story.“
FOUR NEWCOMERS IN SHORT ORDER
Appel’s casting comes on the heels of three other major additions coming to Port Charles, and all should be landing on-air next month in July. As previously reported, Dean Geyer has joined the cast as Tristan Robert and is set to debut on the July 13 episode. Daytime vet, Kelly Kruger (ex-B&B and Y&R) has signed on to play the new Serena Baldwin and Kayden Brenna Tokarski is the new Scout Cain, the daughter of Drew (Cameron Mathison) and the late Sam (Kelly Monaco).
Apple added on his GH experience thus far, “So many of the cast and crew have gone out of their way to welcome me, and I am immensely grateful for how simple and easy this transition has been. I owe it all to them. They know what they’re doing, and I hope to learn as much as I can and add to the show, to the best of my ability.”
Troy’s previous credits have included: Revenge Best Served Chilled, Blackmail, Lies and Murder, and Lethally Blonde. Finding Master Right and Menflix, and he appeared with The Goldbergs star Hayley Orrantia’s music video for her single, “Find Yourself Somebody.”
So, what do you think about the casting of Troy Lennon Appel to General Hospital? Who will Hudson actually have ties to, since it is a contract role? Will you be intrigued to see all the new arrivals next month in Port Charles? Let us know via the comment section below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Avery Pohl Joins Cast of Netflix’s ‘Scooby-Doo Origins’ Series
Previously on General Hospital, Esme Prince caused so much trouble for Spencer Cassadine (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) until the character went overboard and was presumed dead back in January of 2024.
Esme’s portrayer, Avery Pohl was heralded by GH fans as one of the great young baddies in recent memory. And now, Pohl is taking her talents to the new Netflix series, and joining the Scooby-Doo universe in an undisclosed role in the upcoming show, Scooby-Doo Orgins!
News of Pohl’s casting came via Deadline when they revealed 12 actors joining the upcoming live-action series which also includes notables: Sara Gilbert (ex-The Talk and The Connors), and Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks), plus previously announced, MacKenna Grace (ex-Faith, The Young and the Restless) who plays the central role of Daphne Blake. Tanner Hagen takes on Shaggy Rogers, Abby Ryder Fortson plays Velma Dinkley, Maxwell Jenkins is Fred Jones, and even Paul Walter Hauser also appears in a secret role, and not to be left out, Scooby-Doo himself.

Courtesy/ABC
ZOINKS, RUH-RO AND JEEPERS!
Avery Pohl took to her Instagram upon the reveal of her new project and said, “Dog’s outta the bag. So grateful to work with so many talented and kind individuals.” Immediately many of her former GH castmates congratulated the actress including: Tabyana Ali and her predecessor in the role of Trina, Sydney Mikalya and Eden McCoy (Josslyn).
According to the official loglines for Scooby-Doo Origins, its a, “Modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog. During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets.”
The series, which introduced supernatural mystery-solving teens Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers and their talking Great Dane Scooby-Doo, originally aired on CBS from 1969-76. It then moved to ABC, where various versions of the show aired until 1986. The Scooby-Doo franchise has also released three movies more than adozen animated series, and over 40 animated home entertainment movies.
WILL ESME PRINCE RETURN TO GH?
Pohl received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2025, in the Outstanding Guest Performer category and initially debuted on GH back in 2021.
In case you missed it, Avery participated in a livestream chat last year along with GH’s Katelyn MacMullen (Willow) and their acting coach and soap alum Holly Gagnier (ex-Days, GH, and OLTL) on the Michael Fairman Channel. You can check it out below.
Now, share your congrats for Avery on landing her upcoming role in ‘Scooby-Doo Origins’ Let us know, if you hope GH brings back Esme one day and Spencer Cassadine via the comment section.
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