General Hospital comings and goings: Emma Samms returns as Holly

General Hospital's Emma Samms brings Holly back to Port Charles

Emma Samms, who originated the role of Holly Sutton on General Hospital in 1982, is heading back to the soap, according to Variety She will return in September after she appeared for short-term stints in 2022 and 2023.

Samms first appeared on the Port Charles scene as a new love interest for Luke after he believed his beloved Laura had died. After Luke was presumed dead, Holly learned she was pregnant. She married Robert Scorpio to give her baby a father. Holly lost that baby, but she and Robert fell in love.

Holly has popped in and out of Port Charles through the years. The last time we saw her, she helped the crew in Greenland bring down Victor Cassadine as he tried unleashing a deadly toxin on the world. She tried rekindling her romance with Robert but soon left town to help her son, Ethan.

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This is the fourth big return announced by the soap this summer. Bryan Craig is set to bring Morgan Corinthos back for one episode in August. Jonathan Jackson (Lucky Spencer) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing) are also returning in August on a more long-term basis.

While not on GH, Samms has been an outspoken advocate for people suffering from long COVID. The actress contracted the virus near the start of the pandemic in her native England.

In April, Samms offered an update on her health on her blog:

"Please don’t tell me I look well, or, even worse, tell me that you’re glad to see that I’m feeling better," she wrote. "I haven’t figured out how to respond to that. Do I just say 'Thanks', or do I tell you about the chest pain I’m experiencing but haven’t mentioned? Do I explain that the tinnitus in my ears means that I’m often lip-reading what you say? Do I point out that I didn’t smell or taste the meal we just ate? If I’m standing when we’re talking, do I tell you that I’m feeling dizzy and nauseous? Do I tell you that the consequence of this charade of health that I’m performing for you will have me struggling to get out of bed tomorrow?"

There is no word on how long Samms's latest GH stint will last. Will Robert once again be drawn to Holly, despite his romance with Diane? Time will tell.

You can catch all-new episodes of General Hospital weekdays on ABC and Hulu.