Casting
The character was initially portrayed by child actors Chelsey and Kahley Cuff from 1990 to 1991, Ashley and Jessica Clark in 1992, and Elaine and Melanie Silver from December 1992 to 1993. Robyn Richards assumed the role in 1993. Nine years later in March 2002, ABC announced their decision to let Richards go in order to rapidly age the character with former Passions actress Danica Stewart. In July, ABC again announced their decision to bring Richards back to the cast following the poor reception Stewart had with fans of the soap.
In March 2005, it was confirmed that General Hospital and ABC made the decision to once again recast the role, this time with actress Kirsten Storms. Storms was best known for her role as Zenon Carr on the Disney Channel movie, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century and had just completed her role as Belle Black on NBC's Days of our Lives months earlier. Richards made her final appearance in July 2004, when Storms taking the role over in May 2005.
In September 2011, it was announced that Storms would take a brief medical leave for an undetermined amount of time, leaving the role of Maxie to undergo an emergency recast. Actress Jen Lilley was hired into the role as a result of Storms' unexpected exit. Storms last aired on September 27, 2011 and Lilley first aired the subsequent day, September 28, 2011.
In January 2012, it was confirmed Storms would return to work by the end of the month, for a February return ending Lilley's run as the character. However, it was announced on January 21, 2012 that Storms' return would be delayed again, furthering Lilley's portrayal of Maxie for the foreseeable future.
On February 14, 2012 Lilley announced that she would be staying in the role of Maxie Jones for the foreseeable future. On June 22, 2012, it was announced by Soap Opera Digest that Storms was in potential talks to rejoin the soap, with no official confirmation from the series nor the star.
During an interview with Dan J. Kroll of Soap Central Live, Lilley spoke about how she had no idea about her being a recast for Storms or the character of Maxie. She stated:
| “ | I was absolutely terrified, because I didn't know that I was auditioning for the role of Maxie the day before, and they kind of came out of the room after the audition and they're like, 'OK, by the way, it's the role of Maxie - you have a two-hour orientation, it starts right now. And then I just remember sitting in my dressing room the next morning, having memorized 30 pages but being freaked out, and I remember thinking, 'There were two other girls at the callback, and I bet that they would want to do this role, and I don't know if I can do it, and I'm so scared.' I'm sitting in my dressing room sweating, and I remember thinking, 'I should go up to casting and just tell them to give it to one of the other girls, because I don't know if I can do this.' And then I Googled it, and it was all over Google that I was the replacement, and I was like, 'Oh God, I'm stuck! I'm stuck! I'm stuck!' | ” |
In July 2012, at the General Hospital fan club weekend, Lilley announced that she had completed filming in the role of Maxie, confirming her exit. In a personal YouTube video, Lilley tearfully thanked her fans, saying, "Thank you for making my departure from GH easier. And even though I'm crying, they are happy tears." A spokesperson for ABC had yet to confirm Storms' expected return to the series, with a press statement expected in the coming days and weeks. Lilley last aired in the role on August 10, 2012.
Storms returned on-screen on September 5, 2012.
Read more about this topic: Maxie Jones
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