‘General Hospital’ Tabs Nicole Paggi To Temporarily Replace Kirsten Storms – Deadline

Nicole Paggi has agreed to temporarily become Maxie Jones on General Hospital. She takes over the role from Kirsten Storms, who will be out for a few days.

Soap Opera Digest first broke the news of the casting switch.

Paggi — who played Kelly Ripa’s niece/Faith Ford’s daughter Sydney in the ABC comedy Hope & Faith — debuted today on the ABC daytime soap.

Days of Our Lives vet Storms joined General Hospital in 2005 after playing Isabella “Belle” Black on the NBC drama from 1999 to 2004.

This is the second such switch of this character. Storms’ Maxie was temporarily recast in 2011, with Jen Lilley taking over the part until Storms returned in 2012. Storm also took temporary leaves from the show in 2016, 2017 and 2018, ranging from a couple days to a several-months hiatus, with Molly Burnett frequently filling in.

In addition to her General Hospital character, which she also portrayed on the offshoot General Hospital: Night Shift, Storms is known for Disney Channel’s Zenon TV movies and her voice work on Kim Possible.

Paggi’s recent TV credits include episodes of The Rookie: Feds and 9-1-1. She previously co-starred on the UPN sitcom One and One.