Sam I Am

GH’s Kelly Monaco Marks Her 13th Port Charles Anniversary.

- Mara Levinsky

After becoming a breakout star on PORT CHARLES, where she played vampire bride Livvie Locke from 2000-03, Kelly Monaco made the move to GH to play con woman Sam McCall, debuting on October 1, 2003. On the occasion of her 13th anniversary, she reflects on Sam’s evolution.

Soap Opera Digest: You’ve been playing the Sam/Jason story since very early in your time on the show, first with Steve Burton (now Dylan, Y&R) and now opposite Billy Miller. Do you feel a different energy, actor to actor, with Billy in the role?

Kelly Monaco: Oh, yeah, with a different person, it’s a whole different rhythm that you have to get used to, a whole different communication, a whole different language. Billy speaks a different language than Steve, and our chemistry is completely different, our friendship is completely different, our working relationship is completely different. These are all things you have to figure out along the way, and incorporate the best of what you can for Billy, first, to make the character his own. As his scene partner and co-star, I thought it was really important to allow him to find his footing and allow him to make Jason his Jason, and not Steve Burton’s Jason.

Digest: How has the recast altered the “JaSam” dynamic for you?