General Hospital welcomes back Lindsay Hartley

General Hospital temporarily replaces Kelly Monaco

General Hospital fans were shocked when baby Irene Marie's funeral began and Sam walked in with a different face. The voiceover reported what viewers already knew—that Lindsay Hartley was once again stepping in for Kelly Monaco as Sam.

While there's no word why Hartley had to pinch-hit for Monaco, Soap Opera Digest reports that this stint is not long-term, and Monaco will be back soon.

That doesn't mean that Hartley didn't have a blast on set, reuniting with her BFF. The actress took to Instagram after her scenes aired on August 22 to share her excitement at bringing Sam to life again. She also got the chance to share scenes with Brook Kerr (Portia Robinson Ashford).

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Lindsay Hartley's on-set reunion

"I’ve been part of daytime television since I was 21, and it holds a special place in my heart, for countless reasons," Hartley wrote alongside a series of photos of her and Kerr. "I’m grateful to step into such big shoes again -especially when I get to do it alongside my bestie @brookkerr."

The snaps Hartley shared look like they were taken on the set of Ava's gallery. Does that mean Hartley will have scenes there before her latest GH stint ends?

Hartley first stepped in to play Sam in 2020 when Monaco wasn't available. She returned in 2022, and she filled in for Monaco again earlier in 2024. However, she got her soap start on the defunct NBC soap Passions, where she met Kerr. Hartley played Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald on Passions while Kerr played Whitney Russell Harris.

Passions may be where Hartley began her daytime career, but she also played Arianna Hernandez on Days of our Lives from 2009 to 2010, as well as Cara Castillo on All My Children from 2010 to 2011, and again in 2013 when the soap was briefly rebooted for streaming.

Hartley, who was once married to former The Young and the Restless star Justin Hartley (ex-Adam Newman; ex-Fox Crane, Passions), with whom she shares a daughter, was thrown into some dramatic scenes. Sam and her family had to say goodbye to the baby Sam's sister Kristina was carrying as a surrogate for Sam's other sister, Molly.

Catch all-new episodes of General Hospital weekdays on ABC and Hulu.