While As the World Turns welcomes several veteran performers back to the canvas and makes room for some new faces, the long-running CBS soap will also have to prepare for the send-off of an Emmy-nominated performer. Meredith Hagner (Liberty Ciccone) will exit As the World Turns early next year, Soap Central has learned.
A relative newcomer to the fictional town of Oakdale, the 22-year-old actress debuted in As the World Turns in April 2008. It marked her first professional acting gig. In hinting last month that Hagner might be leaving As the World Turns, TVGuide Canada indicated that the actress was being courted for several unnamed opportunities in primetime. Since then, Soap Central has learned that Hagner filmed a pilot for a series called Lights Out. The FX cable network recently greenlighted the show, ordering up 13 episodes that are slated to air in late 2010.
Earlier this year, Hagner received a nomination for Outstanding Younger Actress at the Daytime Emmys.
A spokesperson for As the World Turns would not confirm Hagner's departure. The role will be recast.
