Here’s Exactly When General Hospital’s Kelly Thiebaud Returns and Why She’s ‘Nervous to See My First Couple of Episodes!’

More than two years after General Hospital killed off Dr. Britt Westbourne, portrayer Kelly Thiebaud is returning to Port Charles. And while there are big questions remaining as to exactly who she’ll be playing, the folks at TVInsider tell us that the actress will first be seen by viewers during the episode airing on Friday, July 18.

“When I left the show,” she says, “I felt like I was at the height of the work that I had done, and my acting was growing ane expanding so much.” Having stepped away to do other projects — including a stint on Station 19 — she’s trepidatious about walking the hospital corridors again.

“I feel like I have to rebuild all that all over again and get somfortable performing the way that you do for daytime in the dialogue and the blocking and the props and everything,” she admits. “I’m a little nervous to see my first couple of episodes, but I’m sure it will be fine!”

But who, exactly, will she be playing? If Britt is being resurrected after dying at the hand — well, the hook — of Heather Webber, she would hardly be the first character to make a round trip to the hereafter. (Look at all the others — including her former lovers, Nikolas Cassadine and Jason Morgan!) But General Hospital has a habit of rehiring actors for entirely new parts.

Consider: Michael Easton played One Life to Live’s John McBain on General Hospital, then Dr. Silas Clay, then Dr. Hamilton Finn. Roger Howarth played One Life to Live’s Todd Manning on General Hospital, then Franco Baldwin, then Austin Gatlin-Holt. Tamara Braun played Carly Spencer, then Dr. Kim Nero. Sarah Joy Brown played Carly, too, then Claudia Zacchara.

Heck, even Anthony Geary once played a character other than Luke Spencer; he was Luke’s cousin, Bill Eckert. So it’s been done… a lot. (Check out the long list of stars who tackled two roles on the same show.)

Whomever it turns out that Thiebaud is playing, she’s been taken aback by the response to the news that she’ll be playing anyone. “You guys rock!!!” she exclaimed on social media. “I am blown away by the outpouring of love and [excitement] from y’all! You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you.”

In a later TikTok video, now that “the cat’s out of the bag,” Thiebaud promised that “it’s gonna be a wild ride. I’m so excited for y’all to see what the storyline is and how they’re bringing me back, in what capacity — all of the things I can’t talk about.” Yet!