General Hospital Spoilers: Kelly Kruger Reveals Why She Almost Said No to Serena Baldwin
General Hospital spoilers and updates reveal Kelly Kruger, who debuted as Serena Baldwin on July 30, nearly turned down the role; years prior, she submitted an audition tape to GH.
However, by the time the offer came in, she had moved on from actively seeking acting roles, focusing instead on her successful career as a beauty influencer on social media.
Kelly Previously Played On The Young And The Restless And The Bold And The Beautiful
Kruger previously portrayed MacKenzie Browning on The Young and the Restless from 2002 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2019, as well as Eva on The Bold and the Beautiful.
“I wasn’t really auditioning,” Kruger shares with TV Insider. “I was turning down many offers. I didn’t want to take on guest roles or pilots. I felt finished”. Then one day, I started to question all my life choices, and my phone rang; it was my agent saying, ‘Hey, General Hospital wants to offer you a role based on a tape you submitted three years ago.’
I get chills just thinking about it because at that moment, I realized I might not be done with acting as I thought. This feels right to me; I want to pursue this-daytime television holds a very special place in my heart.”
She Always Wanted To Work On GH
The opportunity was more than just a return to soap operas; “I’ve always wanted to work on General Hospital,” Kruger says. “I was really close friends with Kelly Monaco [Sam McCall] when I first arrived in L.A.; she was on Port Charles [as Livvie Locke] and acted like a big sister to me.
I drove her to work and slept on her couch since I had no place to stay; she played a huge role in my early days here.
I remember helping her practice lines for Port Charles before I joined Young and the Restless, so I learned about the soap world through Kelly. This was the first set I ever visited, making this a full-circle moment for me.”
Kelly Talks About Joining An Established Show
The stars aligned, they decided to bring back the character, and everything fell into place perfectly; even so, joining an established show brought its own set of challenges. “I was definitely nervous being the new girl,” Kruger confesses. “
The way they operate there is entirely different from the other soaps I’ve worked on, so it took me a little while to get accustomed to the environment.
One thing I must mention about the cast of GH is that every single person has approached me to introduce themselves and welcome me to the show. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a group of individuals who are all this friendly together.
Lynn Herring Has Been A Big Help
One person who particularly helped make the transition smoother is her on-screen mother, Lynn Herring (Lucy Coe). “Lynn and I met, and it was an immediate connection; it felt like we had known each other for ages,” Kruger shares.
“She quickly took me under her wing, and we had such great chemistry right from the start. I thought, ‘This is my mom. I’m so thankful.’ After being away from the soap for a while, finding your rhythm can be challenging, so having someone like her was truly a blessing.”
Working With Rory Gibson Helped Her Feel Like She Belonged, And Reconnecting With Kelly Thiebaud
Working with Rory Gibson (Michael Corinthos) only deepened my feeling of belonging. “The second person I collaborated with was Rory, and I couldn’t be luckier to be included with these individuals,” Kruger expresses. “Rory and I had never actually met, but he was on Y&R [as Noah Newman], I was on Y&R, and we share many mutual friends, so it felt like reuniting with old friends.
Once I arrived, I thought, ‘This truly feels like home to me.'” and she also reconnected with someone she had known for decades.
“Kelly Thiebaud [Britt Westbourne] and I have been friends since we were 18 years old,” Kruger shares; “We used to model together, and we’ve crossed paths throughout the years, so reconnecting here was incredible.”
The Character Has Been Just As Fulfilling As The Setting
Kruger notes that the character has been just as fulfilling as the setting. “This is my favorite character I’ve ever portrayed,” she states. “I’m still discovering her, but I’m eager to see how the writers develop her. She’s a good person who may have made some poor choices. Ultimately, she wants to do good and be good, but her love for her family and her upbringing suggest that sometimes you have to make tough decisions to survive and see where it leads you.”
Kelly Is Excited To Reveal New Sides Of Serena With Each Script
Kruger is excited to reveal new sides of Serena with each script. “There wasn’t much time between learning about my role and starting work, so I’m gathering insights as I proceed,” she shares.
“Serena has been off the radar for a long time, so there are many mysteries about what she’s been up to and where she’s been, which is great because we can develop that as we move forward.”
Looking to the future, Kruger expresses her desire to share scenes with Serena’s father, Scott Baldwin (Kin Shriner). “I would love to work with him,” Kruger says enthusiastically. “I would love to delve into that father-daughter relationship.
Kelly Noted She Doesn’t Have A Real Life Father-Daughter Relationship
I don’t have a real-life relationship with my dad, so whenever I get to explore that dynamic, especially in a fun story, I would really appreciate the chance. Now that Serena is finally back in Port Charles, Kruger is excited to leave her mark on this legacy role while respecting the character’s past.
“I’m thrilled and a bit anxious because I tend to be my own toughest critic,” she says. “I hope the audience will embrace me. Since the announcement of my casting, the initial reactions have been very positive about having the character return, and I just hope I can do it justice and meet their expectations.”
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with GH right now. Come back here often for General Hospital spoilers, news, and updates.