Erika Slezak’s ‘General Hospital’ Character Revealed! Meet Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Bard, Monica’s Secret Sister
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After months of speculation, Erika Slezak‘s character on General Hospital has been revealed. She’s playing Veronica Bard – a.k.a. Ronnie — Monica’s (Leslie Charleson) never-before-mentioned younger sister.
Though best known as One Life to Live‘s Victoria Lord Buchanan, a role she played for 42 years, Slezak welcomed the chance to create something entirely new with her GH debut. “Because she’s a brand-new character with no mention of her ever in the past, it was kind of up to the writers to tell me her background,” explains the six-time Daytime Emmy winner.
To make that transition smoother, executive producer Frank Valentini got her up to speed about Ronnie before she arrived on set. “Frank was very kind and sent me the first five unedited scripts, just so that I would have an idea of what I was doing,” she explains. “He sent them to me [in advance], so I was able to read them and learn them. So, I was pretty comfortable with the first five scripts, and I was able to, in my mind, figure out exactly who Ronnie is, how she behaves.”
Disney/Bahareh Ritter
The tale of two sisters is full of emotion and depth. “Ronnie and Monica were orphaned as children and placed in an orphanage shortly after their parents died,” Slezak recounts. Dr. Gail Adamson Baldwin (Susan Brown) became a foster mother to Monica, but Ronnie was put into a different foster home. While Monica flourished, Ronnie wasn’t as fortunate.
“It was just horrible, and she hated it, and it was awful, and the people were mean, and only did it for the money,” Slezak details. “So, when Ronnie turned 16 and was able to get out of the foster care system, she found Monica where she lived because they’d sort of lost touch. She showed up on her doorstep, hoping that Monica would say, ‘Oh, my God, yes, come live with me.’ Monica did the exact opposite. She said, ‘Sorry, there’s no room for you here,’ because she didn’t really want any embarrassing reminders of her past. Ronnie kind of said, ‘OK, if that’s the way you feel, I’ll see you.’”
The rejection didn’t break her, however. Ronnie returned to Durham, North Carolina, where she had been raised and worked as a waitress. “She enjoyed it. She met people. She was nice,” adds Slezak. “She realized that her upbringing had been very meager in the sense of education, so she decided to teach herself. She went to community college, she started reading, she educated herself. She’s dealt with a lot of difficulties. She’s still a very nice person, but when threatened, she’s tough.”
That will become evident in the weeks ahead. Her showdown with Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) in the Quartermaine crypt only marked the beginning of a heated storyline between the two. “When Ronnie arrives in Port Charles and she goes to the crypt to pay her respects to Monica, Tracy walks in, and is so appallingly awful to her,” says Slezak. “Jane Elliott said, ‘That’s the only reason you’re here, so I can be mean to you for three weeks.’”
Disney/Bahareh Ritter
For Slezak, working opposite Elliot has been a thrill. “Jane is a master class in acting,” Slezak praises. “She is fabulous about running lines and rehearsing. Every time she steps on the set, she is remarkable. I work with her a lot, and boy, you really have to bring your ‘A’ game for that. When Frank said, ‘You’re going to be working a lot with Jane Elliot,’ I went, ‘Yes, I will do it, yes, because that would be such a treat, to work with such a talented, terrific lady.”
Fans can expect plenty of fireworks as the tale unfolds. “Ronnie is constantly confronted by Tracy, who just won’t let it go,” teases Slezak, whose alter ego is like a fish out of water among the wealthy Qs. “She’s a poor kid who’s worked all her life and had to teach herself everything, and she’s very unused to all this money and everything that’s going on.”
For Slezak, that’s part of what made Ronnie such a compelling role. “If I were playing Viki, it would be quite different, because Viki was confident and strong,” notes Slezak. “But Ronnie is so out of her depth and doesn’t know what the hell’s going on when she steps into this town. It’s all she can do to sort of hold on and not let Tracy bully her around. It’s a different character completely and delightful to play. She has a lot of levels.”
General Hospital, ABC, Weekdays
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B
She's only going to be one for a few weeks. I'm Betting Monica leaves her the mansion. To get it back Tracy and the other Q's will have to pay her a LOT of money. I might be wrong but it's the vibe I'm getting. Especially with her short storyline
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That was my first thought too!
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O
How would she get it before Monica kid? I think she's going to team up with Drew in some way.🤦🏾♀️
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G
Looks like that might be the storyline ticket. Hope not!
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G
I am so glad that Erika is back on TV once again. This storyline is one that I feel will appeal to many fans. Welcome back. Love your work.
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P
I think she really, held her own. With Tracey being so tuff.
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J
Been watching since the 90s n always interpreted Tracy & Monica's relationship as that of sisters. I have 2 sisters who fight like cats & dogs but at the end of the day, they're ride or die n are the 1st to have each other's backs.
Tracy & Monica's relationship was similar in that, though often antagonistic as they drove each other crazy, they spent the majority of their lives as family living under the same roof. They knew each other better than most n though they didn't admit or SAY they loved each other, they SHOWED it when it really mattered; a beautifully complex relationship typical of the Qs.
Also, up to now, Tracy & Monica were the closest thing they had to a sister. So I can see Tracy being triggered & threatened by Monica's sister suddenly appearing, esp while she's in so emionally raw. Tracy is complex n doesnt let ppl in easily. So while logically it doesnt make sense, I can def see Ronnie's presence threatening the memory of her relationship w Monica. Like "no! She was MY sister for 40 yrs! You're a stranger!" That's why I love Tracy. Her pain is always just below the surface.
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G
Incredibly well-stated! Thank you. I agree. 👍
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Its great to see Erika Slezak on tv again after so long. She is so talented and a veteran of tv. I will be tuning in just to watch the show down with her and Traci!!
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R
FV IS TRASH FOR THIS. We had 2 wait 8 months for Monica's funeral all to coincide with ES arrival AH. LC deserves better than this all most 5 decades of this show, to be basically reduced to a day player . ES only filmed 3 weeks of episodes.#FVis TRASH
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What's AH?
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O
What is AH, LC and FV???? Using real words would be great!!!
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R
AH is asshole
LC is Leslie Charleston Monica
FV is Frank Valentine the executive producer of General Hospital that used to be for One Life to Live
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O
Good lord, you need to calm down.
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LMFAO who says I'm not you. Go sit down somewhere cup cake .
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R
Seriously you didn't LC was Leslie Charleston monica like how. Her name is in the article.
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J
Agree to a point. Frank V has ALWAYS prioritized hiring actors from other soaps to play new characters over the actors & characters specific to GH. It's how we got stuck w Drew, Finn, Franco & Austin, Kiki, Hayden, Kim, Margeuax, Claudette, Drew, Cody, Nina, Julian, Portia, Dustin, Martin...
Erika Slezak is great but with as long as it took GH to write Monica's death, I'd have much rather seen the time used to get bacl Robin Christopher & Annie Ilonzeh who played Skye & Maya, cast Skye's daughter Lila Rae & Maya's mother Faith Ward, a bio Quartermaine & Monica's niece who hasn't been seen since the 90s.
And no Dillon?! In the 9 months since Leslie C's passing, GH could've worked out an arrangement with B&B to borrow Scott Clifton to bring Dillon back for Monica's funeral eps, or recast him at the very least. Skye, Maya & Dillon are Quartermaines who had history & screen time w Monica while playing her stepdaughter, great niece and nephew. Lived under her roof for years. Their returns, even if temporary, would've added so much more to Monica's tribute, the Q fam & the show instead of having ANOTHER OLTL actor play ANOTHER new character for 3 weeks who never shared scenes w Monica or was even mentioned til now.
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Agreed I hate the fact that when FV brings his favorite on . That the character is a failure instead of just ending & letting them go like ever other show. He doubles down then he Shackled them to Legacy characters completely rewriting their history.
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O
I cried when we learned Monica died on the show, I thought it was done well.
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C
Well, feel that way if you must, but all of those actors ADORE Frank Valentini, whether you like it or not.
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B
It is great to have the wonderful Erika Slezak on the show. I wish she had been on Blue Bloods more b because just as in GH she was so good and compelling. The woman is amazing and hopefully she as Ronnie will teach the Q's so n thing about hiw the v other 88% of the country live along with teaching all of PC some manners!
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Ronnie should be spelled "Roni". Many Veronica's and Ronda's nickname use Roni as as a aecondary name.Ronnie is a more masculine form. Just a suggestion. 🙂
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G
In that generation that was the way most people spelled it.
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P
So nice to see Erika Slezak. She looks great. Miss one life to live.
Great actress.
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R
Dottie did they shut down her soap??
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Must be one of martins ex wives! Hopefully she is not a con artist.
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Didn't Monica's have a biological daughter played by Jessica Tuck ?
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Ya Dawn but she was murder. Sharon Case played her.
Jessica Tuck played oltl Vicky daughter
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G
I say Booo. I don't like the character.
It's like they tool Vicky and slapped a new name on her.
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G
I don't think thats Vicky she reminds me of Nicky Smith
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O
Please take Vicky off. I listened to her holier than though voice for a minute and had to turn gh off. WTF. How could you do this, Ive been watching GH all my life. Not OLTL. OLtTL is off the air for a reason. SHE IS ONE OF THEM.
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Loved Vicky, but her alter ego Nicky was something else!!
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I miss OLTL and AMC
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Well do not look at it keep turning your tv
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Have your rant.... but leave OLTL out if it!!!
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R
Wow That's kind of cheezy🤬
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All dead people back that's funny
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G
What the hell?? What is wrong with you?? Did they offend you by adding Erika Slezak to GH? Shes a great actress, a TV veteran and she's not the reason why OLTL is not on TV anymore. Once reality TV became popular folks wasn't watching Soap Opera's like that anymore, thats why most of them are not on anymore. I think she's a great addition to GH, because I dont watch GH anymore but when I saw her showdown with Traci, I was locked in. Two great actresses feuding, it dont get no better than that.
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No You're WRONG and that was just COLD!
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