Kirsten Storms Replaced as ‘General Hospital’s Maxie Jones

Kirsten Storms - 'General Hospital'
Disney/Christine Bartolucci

As viewers saw on the July 3 episode of General Hospital, the role of Maxie Jones, played by Kirsten Storms for the past 20 years, was recast with Nicole Paggi.

Paggi, who has guest-starred on 9-1-1, The Rookie: Feds, and 90210, knows her way around Port Charles: She previously filled in for Storms in December 2023. This time, Paggi was called to pinch-hit when Storms had a scheduling conflict. A spokesperson for the show confirms it’s only temporary.

Storms, who marked two decades on General Hospital on May 23, has been replaced before: Jen Lilley (ex-Theresa Donovan, Days of our Lives) stepped in for her from 2011-12, and Molly Burnett (ex-Melanie Jonas, Days) did the same in 2016 and 2018. Plus, Storms herself is a recast — Robyn Richards played Maxie before Storms took over. While recently reflecting on her GH milestone, Storms recalled how she approached the role in 2005.

 

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“I think I knew I was going to just do it very differently than the actress before, and she was much younger, so I knew that the way the producers and writers were planning on taking the character was going to be different than what Maxie had been,” she explained. “I thought fans would be a little bit upset about it initially, sure, but I thought if I do my best, I can win that group over. I try not to think very negatively with situations like that.

“But also, as a young twentysomething, the Internet is such a powerful place where criticism is concerned,” she continued. “And I did grow thicker skin in those years, because now I don’t take the mean comments personally as much. But I didn’t go into it thinking, ‘This could be a mistake. They might not enjoy this.’ I thought, ‘All right, if I do my best, bring 100 percent, I think they might like it.’”

Because the soap films multiple episodes a day, Paggi will appear again as Maxie on July 30 and August 13; Storms will return on air during the week of August 18.

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  1. O

    OliveBoomerang

    Kirsten Storms is an awesome actress!! Love her as Maxie. One of those that are iconic.

    122 2

  2. C

    CyanFries

    As long as it's not permanent.... I'm tired of losing family members like Sam and Micheal....!

    114 3

    1. P

      PurpleAnchor

      I am with You on loosing family members I also are tired of it.

      9

    2. P

      PurpleTrumpet

      Totally agree. Still not over Sam's death.

      2

  3. G

    GreenToast

    I love Maxie o. GH. I. Wish for her to become more lines and appear more offen.

    78 1

  4. O

    OrangeController

    I hope Kirsten will be back sooner than soon!!!

    72 1

    1. G

      GoldSubmarine

      She is going to be gone 6 months. Medical leave plus moving to Nashville because Brandon Baresh has moved down there, with their daughter and his wife, to focus more on his music. So, she’ll be closer to her kid and be able to co-parent.

      73 9

      1. P

        PurpleAnchor

        Where did you read that?

        2

        1. C

          CyanPopcorn

          People like to just say thing with out knowing, but she not going to be gone that long.

          8

        2. R

          RedGoggles

          It's right in the article

          1

      2. O

        OrangeController

        It appears that the gap is more like three weeks instead of 6 months.

        10 1

      3. C

        CyanPopcorn

        No body said she was moving the kid can live with her, and she only gone just over a month maybe up to some thing or away summer break some where.

        5

      4. P

        PurpleTrumpet

        Wherever did you get the idea she'd be gone six months? She's coming back in August. I've searched the internet high and low and there's no mention of Brandon Baresh moving anywhere. Kristen and Brandon share custody and if he's still working on Days, he's in Cali. Why do people have to make up stories and start unfounded rumors? Attention, I'm guessing.

        8

        1. B

          BWD15

          Brandon Baresh was fired from Days in Oct 2024.

          1

    2. B

      BlueBox

      Me too

      1

  5. R

    RedElephant

    Schedule conflicts happen. Sometimes an actor/actress needs a break. Understandable.

    64 3

    1. P

      PurplePuzzle

      But when they announce it, they sometimes make it sound like she got her pink slip, not just the actress will be off the canvass for a short time.

      1. B

        BlueSnow

        Kristen will be back in the week of August 18

  6. B

    Blue8Ball

    Please come back Kristin, we love you so much, I’ve watched your character grow and become the fun and funny Maxie, that we love… Thank You for always making us laugh and cry…. Come back soon….❤️❤️❤️

    44

  7. P

    PurpleTrumpet

    There's no replacing Maxie, especially with someone so young. Did they forget Maxie has 3 children. The replacement is a decent actress but, the temp should have been a little older and look like she could be Georgie's mom. Either way, glad Maxie's coming back in August.

    36

    1. P

      PurpleCorn

      This woman is 47 years old she just looks young

      1

  8. G

    GoldPopsicle

    Well I fell for that headline that made it seem like she was off the show permanently

    31 2

    1. B

      BlueSnow

      She will be back in August

      2

  9. P

    PurpleWheel

    They said “Temporarily”. I hate it when print media intentionally misleads.

    28

    1. P

      PurpleTrumpet

      It is temporary. Where was the article misleading? The article was more about her replacement

      2

  10. R

    RedCupcake

    I like the old maxi much better. Stop switching people

    23 10

    1. P

      PurpleTrumpet

      Only temporary

      2

  11. B

    Blue8Ball

    I’ll be sooo glad when the week of August 18 comes. I thought that this was the first time this young lady had ever acted!!!

    19 8

    1. C

      CyanFries

      I think she was very good

      7 2

    2. P

      PurpleTrumpet

      She's ok. Just too young and not Krisreb Storms, who will be back in August

  12. O

    OrangeBottle

    I miss Kirsten Storms.

    4

  13. G

    GreenCloud

    I hope she does come back. It wouldn’t be the same without Maxie

    3

  14. B

    BlueLocomotive

    It’s a temporary replacement why doesn’t the articles just say that!

    3

    1. P

      PurpleTrumpet

      It does. It says Kristen Storms will be back in the middle of August. She's already filming, I think

  15. G

    GreenCloud

    It is only temporary I thought the announcer said at the start of her scene

    3

  16. C

    CyanCandy

    Love Kirsten as Maxie. Hurry back. Hope everything is good with you.

    2

  17. G

    GreenPlane

    I think Nicole Paggi is going to ok playing Maxie. Maxie is a hard act to follow for anyone. She did a great job yesterday and I am sure she will be a good fit.

    3 1

    1. P

      PurpleTrumpet

      It's only temporary

  18. R

    RedCloud

    I think Kirsten Storms has been and still is an awesome Maxie!

    2

  19. P

    PurpleGlasses

    A spokesperson for the show confirms it’s only temporary.

    1

  20. G

    GreenSushi

    Everyone needs a break , especially in the grueling world of acting. I'm so happy to hear its just a break because I wouldn't want to see another one of GH's icons gone forever!

    1

  21. B

    BlueLocomotive

    Hope she is not sick,if she is hope she is better soon 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

    1

  22. O

    OliveUmbrella

    I don't think the Character would fit anyone else, like Storms. I do hope she will not be Permanently replaced...

    Too many characters have already been replaced and it takes away from the show.

    1

  23. O

    OliveSnow

    Yes, it's understandable when characters have to take off for certain things, they're people like we are and they deserve time off. The young lady they have filling in for our Maxie is a good fit, I think she started off doing a good job.

    1

    1. B

      BlueBox

      She talks too slow . I miss kirsten

      20 2

      1. R

        RedBee

        I think they should keep the new girl she is much better looking and she looks more like the mother on the show

        7

        1. P

          PurpleTrumpet

          The replacement actress is too young to have 3 children. Georgie, I think, is around 11 or 12 yrs old

          1

  24. G

    GoldWheel

    Nobody can replace Kirsten as Maxie, no matter how good they are

  25. B

    BlueFan

    I sure hope Kristen (Maxie) is just on a vacation i really hope she’s not being replaced for good. I’ve watched this soap since I was a kid and I’ve watched all the actors grow. No one can play the role like she does. Please let this new young actress only be temporary.

  26. C

    Carol

    I love Kirsten as Maxie! I loved her on Days a long long time ago.

  27. G

    GreenBone

    Hurry back ,I can't take your replacement

  28. G

    GoldWheel

    I think she is absolutely a doll and great actress.Frank should find. Place for her at GH just not Kristen's job We love Kristen.🇺🇸♥️

  29. O

    OliveFlower

    Agree with previous comment, "this young lady seems to be a good actor,". That said she's a little too young to be playing a Mom of 3. Kristen Storms is undeniable "Maxie", but conflicts happen. All the the best to the 'Maxie re-cast"!!!

  30. C

    CyanPumpkin

    I love Kristen Storms and I hope that she can return soon as Maxie because she has become the person who tells you to your face what you need to hear cutting through all the bull and this recast actress while younger, because she's here for a short time I will give her a past

  31. P

    PurplePuzzle

    Your headline is extremely MISLEADING.

    She was temporarily recast. Ugh

  32. A

    Aileen

    She's too dry. She sounds like she's reading a script. Kristen is bubbly. Every time she speaks you're like oh my goodness, what has she got to say about this, but in a good way. You don't know whether you'll like it or not, but you still want to hear it. 🤭 Love you Kristen! 🥰

  33. P

    PurpleRing

    Hope she comes back soon!

  34. O

    OliveBeer

    This move to Tennessee is going to be a tough one. They just had a story about the Jason Morgan character moving there because his ex moved with the kid(s). He settled down over there and realized the commute was a challenge. Everyone is different and maybe Kirsten has it all figured out.. I hope she doesn't leave GH She's a firecracker!

  35. G

    GoldRing

    I miss the original girl

  36. P

    PurpleBattery

    When does LuLu get a headshot on the openers

  37. O

    OliveCactus

    Bring back Kristen!!!!!!!!

  38. R

    RedBone

    Im.hoping it only temporary

  39. P

    PurpleDucky

    What is happening with all the black marks on everyone's cheeks on GH? Makeup artist is going cray cray. One would think they all were in that fire at Charlies! Jason's and Granny's are the worst.

  40. C

    CyanFries

    Refreshing change from the whiner.

    8