General Hospital is saying goodbye to one of its cast members.
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PEOPLE reported that Kate Mansi, who plays Kristina, is leaving the popular ABC soap opera after three years. The 38-year-old actress confirmed the news on Instagram Stories, calling her exit a "very difficult decision."
Why Is Kate Mansi Leaving "General Hospital"?
Mansi explained that she has several new projects that need her "full attention." Additionally, her husband, producer Matt McInnis, is producing a television series being filmed overseas.
Mansi added, "I needed the flexibility to travel while continuing to develop and work in Los Angeles."
Fans of her character needn't worry. General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini shared that the "door is always open" for Mansi's return.
"We love Kate and support her decision to leave," he said. "We appreciate all that she added to the show these past three years."
Mansi Called Her Time on the Soap "Meaningful"
Mansi joined the cast of General Hospital in 2023 and went on to star in over 200 episodes. She thanked Valentini, ABC, and the show's writers "for the care they gave Kristina" and called her time on the show "such a meaningful and unforgettable ride."
The two things Mansi loved about playing her character were "the opportunity to show my support for the queer community by playing an LGBTQ+ character, and to help tell an endometriosis storyline."
"Together, I truly feel we honored both of those stories in a way that mattered," she added. "And the fact that I got to direct was simply the icing on the cake! Now, it feels like the right time for both Kristina and me to step into new adventures."
Mansi parlayed her own experience with endometriosis into her portrayal of Kristina. It is a reproductive condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. Symptoms include cramping and chronic pain. In 2015, Mansi's stepfather, an OB-GYN, found an 11-centimeter mass in her abdomen and performed a surgery that saved the actress' life.
Mansi shared that it was "so meaningful" to explore the condition onscreen after her own personal experience with it.
"As someone who's been in this industry for a while, I've never even read a script in my life to this day, apart from here, that even mentioned endometriosis," she said. "So I was so proud of ABC and Frank Valentini and the writers for telling this story. I was so honored, and it should be something that is represented more."
