Every daytime TV watcher knows soap operas are mainstays of daytime television.
While many shows can last a decade or many decades, the actors that play pivotal characters come and go.
That remains true to this day as one “General Hospital” actor has just walked through the doors of General Hospital.
Goodbye, Natalia
Eva LaRue has officially left the world of “General Hospital” as of the June 30 episode of the show. Her character’s – Natalia Ramirez – final moments were explored in the very episode. Natalia was introduced as the homophobic mother of Jacqueline Grace Lopez’s Blaze was in a relationship with Kate Mansi’s Kristina Davis.
LaRue told Soap Opera Digest about the exit saying “I was originally only supposed to be on the show for a couple of months.”
“And it ended up being a much longer run, which was great — and really fun because there are so many All My Children actors there and so it felt like home,” she added.
LaRue originally started her soap opera career as Maria Santos Grey on “All My Children.” That role took her through several runs including 1993 to 1998; 2002 to 2005; 2010; and 2011.
“All My Children’s” fictional Pine Valley, Pennsylvania location is in the same universe as “General Hospital’s” also fictional Port Charles, New York.
LaRue was sure about Natalia’s fate early in 2025.
“I started to feel it in January. They tried to rehabilitate my character and then all of a sudden, I have these scenes in January where, because Natalia had lied about her ex-husband and broken his trust Sonny was like, ‘We can’t be friends anymore,’” she told Soap Opera Digest.
“And I thought, ‘Uh-oh, there we go,’ because that [relationship with Sonny] was kind of my character’s only lifeline.”
Discharged
LaRue was excited to join the show back in February 2014 when she was tasked with sharing emotional moments with Maurice Benard’s Sonny Corinthos.
She told TV Insider “We’ve never worked together before, but we’re acquaintance friends. But it felt so legit, so iconic. When I told all my ‘mom friends’ who are huge ‘General Hospital’ fans that I had scenes with Sonny, they were like, ‘No way!’ That was really fun. And our scenes together were great.”
Even though Natalia wasn’t exactly loved by all fans, the actress notes she didn’t take it personally. In fact, she had a lovely time throughout her scenes on the show.
“I had a blast at ‘General Hospital,’” LaRue told Soap Opera Digest. “I loved being there and I had a lot of really great scenes and I loved everybody that I got to work with. It was just an awesome experience, and I was really glad that I got to stay longer than I was supposed to.”
Executive Producer of “General Hospital” “Frank Valentini said in a statement: “Eva’s been a dear friend for years, and I am so pleased we found an opportunity to work together! What originally was meant as a guest star arc turned into a longer and more satisfying arc, thanks to Eva’s terrific work and chemistry with our cast. I was thrilled Eva was available to us in this extended role. I wish her all the best in her upcoming projects.”
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Eva LaRue’s ‘General Hospital’ Exit Explained: What Happened to Natalia?