Although from a storyline perspective it would make more sense for her to join the cast of “General Hospital” as her former “One Life to Live” character, a “rumor report” shared by Daytime Confidential last week indicates that Erika Slezak could be playing someone other than the iconic Victoria Lord Buchanan when she lands in Port Charles later this year.

According to the outlet, while ABC remains mum on Slezak’s upcoming role on the long-running drama series, the actress will be playing a brand new character when she returns to soaps. In this case, appearing as the long-lost sister of Dr. Monica Quartermaine (played until 2023 by the late Leslie Charleson).

Should Slezak join the cast as a relative of Monica’s, it would mark the first time since the character’s introduction in 1976 (then played by Patsy Rahn) that the soap opera would establish a sibling for her, considering Monica was known to have been an orphan raised by Gail Baldwin (played by the late Susan Brown) with no direct family ties introduced beyond her cousin Lorena Sharpe Barrington (Shelley Taylor Morgan).

Word of Slezak joining “General Hospital” first came to light last month when the six-time Emmy Award winner announced her return to soaps on her website.

“Erika has just informed me she has signed a short-term contract with ABC’s ‘General Hospital,’” read a statement released by Slezak’s official fan club president at the time. “At this time, Erika does not know which character she will be playing or when her scenes will air, but is excited to be working again with Executive Producer Frank Valentini and the cast of GH!”

Valentini later confirmed the news on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I am thrilled to confirm that my dear friend and former ‘One Life to Live’ colleague, Erika Slezak, will appear on @GeneralHospital this Fall. Stay tuned as we prepare to introduce another daytime legend to Port Charles.”

It’s unknown when Slezak will begin taping episodes at Prospect Studios in Hollywood, where the show’s production is based. A first air date was also not revealed at press time.

In the years since “One Life to Live” went off the air in January 2012, Slezak went on to reprise her role from the show for the short-lived 2013 online revival that was produced by Prospect Park Networks, which at the time had landed the exclusive licensing rights to the show’s characters. The company went on to sue ABC, accusing the network of looking to create a “mega soap” scheme following the network’s use of key “One Life to Live” characters on “General Hospital.”

Prospect Park Networks had been seeking more than $95 million in damages. By December 2012, the lawsuit had been dismissed, with the rights to both the “One Life to Live” brand and characters returning to ABC, along with the rights to the “All My Children” brand and characters.

Playing Viki on “One Life to Live” for more than 40 years, Slezak won six Emmy Awards, each in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, earning the most wins of any individual actress.

By 2018, Slezak would make her first appearance after the dual cancellations of “One Life to Live,” playing the role of Helen in an episode of “The Resident.” She followed that up with an appearance in the May 3, 2019 episode of “Blue Bloods, playing the role of Donna Duvall. She again reprised the role in the January 6, 2023 episode

In 2021, Slezak made her Hallmark Channel original movie debut, appearing alongside soap alums Lyndsy Fonseca (“The Young and the Restless”) and Chandler Massey (“Days of our Lives”) in “Next Stop, Christmas.” Lea Thompson (“Back to the Future”) and Christopher Lloyd (“Back to the Future”) also starred in the holiday movie.

Slezak and her husband, Brian Davies, sadly lost their daughter, Amanda Elizabeth Davies, in January 2024.

Note: The post REPORT: Erika Slezak To Play Monica Quartermaine’s Sister On ‘General Hospital’ appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website.

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As a non-OLTL fan, I say this: it'd be dumb for her to be playing anyone but Victoria, especially considering where we are in-story where Lulu is concerned.

2 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

As a non-OLTL fan, I say this: it'd be dumb for her to be playing anyone but Victoria, especially considering where we are in-story where Lulu is concerned.

So Frank can decimate her history like he's done all the OLTL'ers? Hard pass, thanks

20 minutes ago, dragonflies said:

So Frank can decimate her history like he's done all the OLTL'ers? Hard pass, thanks

Then she shouldn't be coming on, period. 🤷🏻‍♂️ It'd be like Susan Lucci coming on as anyone but Erica Kane (and please, she can stay gone!).

This rumor has been around since casting was first announced 
I hope it's false
You have ES. ABC owns Viki Lord. In GH,the storyline Lulu works for Viki. So ES playing anyone but Viki makes zero sense to me. 

30 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

Then she shouldn't be coming on, period. 🤷🏻‍♂️ It'd be like Susan Lucci coming on as anyone but Erica Kane (and please, she can stay gone!).

200%

Ohhh goody. Can not wait.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHH??????????

2 hours ago, John said:

This rumor has been around since casting was first announced 
I hope it's false
You have ES. ABC owns Viki Lord. In GH,the storyline Lulu works for Viki. So ES playing anyone but Viki makes zero sense to me. 

200%

The actual rumor was that she'd be playing Monica herself, more so than her playing a sister. The sister rumor gained more traction in the days following the news rather than a straight up recast of Monica.

Yawn and a total waste. Leslie/Monica deserved better than a reconned relative played by a Friend of Frank. 

I do remember the sister rumors being around for a while. 

Whatever happens, I will always associate Daytime Confidential with the dregs of their "Cartini" and MAB sycophancy, along with praising ATWT's awful final run...

I'll just mostly xerox what I said in the other thread: I would've preferred to see Viki, but I cannot fault them for bringing in Monica's family to honor her given her origins. It's a nice touch. And Erika will get to play something different.

What does the Lulu character have to do with Viki/Erika Slezak?  I'm confused.

I'd rather have Dorian Lord come to town any day, but if they're writing a storyline around Monica's death, having a sister or some other family member show up for the funeral would be nice.  I doubt they'd recast Monica.

2 hours ago, BrendaB said:

What does the Lulu character have to do with Viki/Erika Slezak?  I'm confused.

Lulu, in story, is doing freelance work for Victoria at The Banner.

Please GH don't be so stupid and have Erika Slezak NOT play Victoria "Viki" Lord Buchanan.  I think it would be also a slap in the face to ONE LIFE fans, Erika Slesak, and to Leslie Charleson.  The tribute to Leslie Charleson and Monica Quatermtaine should be just that.