General Hospital was forced to make a super last minute recast earlier this spring when star Leslie Charleson (Monica Quartermaine) was unexpectedly sidelined due to a leg injury. Lucky for the ABC soap, talented actress Patty McCormack was able to step into the role the very next day.
Though both the actress and viewers have been enjoying her portrayal of the iconic Port Charles character, she admits the job hasn't been without its challenges.
"It was like jumping into ice water at first," the veteran screen and stage performer shared with Soaps In Depth about adjusting to the soap opera filming pace with literally just twenty-four hours notice.
It was helpful, however, to have both her theater experience and her previous experience filling in for a soap opera actress under her belt.
"I stepped in for Kathryn Hayes (ex-Kim, As the World Turns), who had an incidence of Bell's palsy," she explains. "It was way back in the late ‘70s for about three months."
As for whether or not she'd consider a more permanent role in daytime, McCormack enthuses that she'd accept one in a heartbeat.
"It's sort of a high to do something by the seat of your pants like this," she says. "It reminds me of how fun it is to belong to a group."
Fans don't have to worry that she'll take over for Charleson, however. McCormack reports that she hopes the injured actress will make a speedy return because so many fans loves her. And Charleson herself promises that she's doing everything she can to get back to set.
"I'll do my best to heal quickly because there's nothing more I'd like to do than to get back on my horse and back in the Quartermaine living room!" Charleson shared on social media following her injury. "My love and thanks to you all!"
What do you think about McCormack's portrayal of Monica? Would you like to see the powers that be find a way to bring her to the screen full time? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
