General Hospital’s Alexa Havins Talks Lulu Spencer Recast – “It Was Not On My Radar”
General Hospital (GH) spoilers note that after four long years, Lulu Spencer has finally awakened, and it looks like the legacy character is jumping right back into the Port Charles’ action, both feet in.
Recast Alexa Havins made her GH debut during the week of November 18-22, taking on the role from Emme Rylan, who played Lulu from 2013 until 2020 when the character fell into a coma.
The actress caught up with Soap Opera Digest (SOD) to chat about re-entering the land of daytime drama, making Lulu her own, and so much more.
GH’s Alexa Havins Took Some Time Off From Soaps
It’s been a hot minute since fans have seen Havins in a soap opera, with her last appearance taking place on All My Children (AMC) in 2007, playing Babe Carey.
She placed her daytime drama career on hold to raise the four children she shares with husband, fellow AMC alum, Justin Bruening (ex-Jamie Martin). The two met in 2003 on the show.
Havin tells SOD it was “very flattering” that GH thought of her to play Lulu, as the role was, “… not on my radar in any way, shape or form.”
In fact, she reveals that since she and Justin aren’t on social media, she had no clue that Lulu was set to return on GH or that her name had been thrown into the proverbial ring.
Havins does say that when this came to be and she learned more about Lulu, she began to see that it all did make sense since her GH character had, “… a little of an essence of Babe.”
She also had an interesting story about how GH reached out regarding the Lulu role. The show’s casting director, Mark Teschner sent her an email. Still, Havins tells SOD, “I literally told Mark, ‘One, I never check my email, and two, I saw your name and was like, “Oh, this has gotta be spam.” ‘ I seriously almost didn’t open the email! I told Mark, ‘I’m happy I did open your email, and of course, let’s talk.’ ”
GH’s Alexa Havins On Making Lulu Spencer Her Own
Havins notes during her SOD interview that she’s been on both sides of a recast, as she originated the AMC Babe role, only for actress Amanda Baker to take over.
She goes on to say, “You’re happy for the next actress and you wish them well, but you’re kind of protective of your character, and it was my choice to go, so it was a happy occasion. And then this is interesting, stepping in to [as Lulu]. I think you just have to take it and run with it and make it your own.”
The actress reveals that she did conduct research online and asked colleagues about what fans loved most about Lulu. Still, she points out the obvious – that she’s neither Julie Bergman (OG adult Lulu) nor Emme Rylan; however, Havins notes, “I still want to have that spark in her …”
Havins also adds, “I feel like there’s so much to explore with Lulu, so many places to go. She’s got to pick up the pieces. How does she move forward? Where is her heart, what is her love going to be other than her children and her family?
I’m excited to find out where the writers take me. I’m along for the ride and the adventure and just trying to bring the words off the page and hopefully bring the audience what they’re wanting to see.”
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