Emma Samms Returns to “General Hospital” as Holly Sutton

Emma Samms is set to return to ABC’s beloved soap, “General Hospital,” in early September, reprising her role as Holly Sutton. This fan-favorite character was last seen in 2023 when she, along with Anna (Finola Hughes) and Scott (Kin Shriner), thwarted Victor Cassadine (Charles Shaughnessy) from unleashing biological warfare to wipe out 80% of the global population. Following this intense plot, Holly went back to Australia after failing to reignite her romance with Robert (Tristan Rogers).

Holly’s latest reappearance coincides with the return of another cherished character, Lucky Spencer, played by Jonathan Jackson. The show, helmed by executive producer Frank Valentini, remains tight-lipped about the specifics of their comebacks. Adding to the excitement, Rick Hearst announced his return to “GH” as Ric Lansing, after an eight-year hiatus. The soap opera, with 14 Daytime Emmy Awards for outstanding drama series, continues to delight long-time fans by bringing back its most significant stars. Along with Jackson and Hearst, notable returns include Genie Francis (Laura), Steve Burton (Jason), Vanessa Marcil (Brenda), and Rena Sofer (Lois) over the years.

When Samms joined “General Hospital” in July 1982, the show was enjoying immense popularity, following the iconic Luke and Laura era. Holly’s introduction was memorable; she met Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) while skinny dipping in the woods at a time when he was mourning Laura’s mysterious disappearance. Following typical soap opera flair, Holly and Luke shared a one-night stand, which later led to a complex storyline where Holly was initially seen as a con artist but ultimately fell in love with Luke.

As the storyline progressed, Luke was presumed dead, and Holly discovered she was pregnant. In a dramatic turn of events, Luke’s best friend, Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers), married Holly to provide a father for the unborn child, leading them to fall in love. However, it was later revealed that Luke was actually alive.

With Luke now confirmed deceased (this time possibly for good), the potential for a heartfelt reunion between Holly and Robert in September sparks some hope among fans.

In recent years, Samms has been open about her struggle with long COVID, a condition she has been dealing with since March 2020, which has kept her homebound in England. Earlier this year, Samms expressed her challenges in a heartfelt blog post, sharing the complexity of responding to well-meaning inquiries about her health.

“Do I just say ‘Thanks,’ or do I tell you about the chest pain I’m experiencing but haven’t mentioned? Do I explain that the tinnitus in my ears means that I’m often lip-reading what you say?” she pondered. Samms detailed her experiences with dizziness, nausea, and serious heart and lung issues due to myocarditis and ongoing microvascular disease.

She also praised her husband, Simon, for his unwavering support, both practically and emotionally. “My wonderful husband, Simon, whilst doing so much on a practical level to keep our household running smoothly, also has the exceptional level of emotional intelligence to say the right thing; ‘I know you’re feeling rubbish, but you look beautiful.’ How lucky am I?”

Source: Variety