Everyone is glad to see Natalia Livingston back on the air at GENERAL HOSPITAL, even if she is most definitely not playing Emily. But why, exactly, is she back? We ask the lady behind Rebecca what lured her back to daytime.
Soap Opera Weekly: Why come back now?
Natalia Livingston: Well, what lured me back was [head writer Robert Guza Jr. and executive producer Jill Farren Phelps] and a great storyline idea. Also, remembering the five years I had on the show previously, and how much I loved it.
Weekly: Was the new character your idea?
Livingston: It was their idea.
Weekly: Are you glad for that, or are you going to miss Emily?
Livingston: No, I am so happy to be playing a new character. I definitely miss Emily. I played her for five years and it was a character I grew to really love playing. But this is so challenging and really exciting. It’s a team effort, trying to build a new character. I am so happy that they called with this great storyline. It’s going to be great to do something completely different.
Weekly: So they approached you?
Livingston: Bob and Jill called me in, and I met with them on a Thursday. We talked about the character, and they told me what they had been thinking for this storyline. Basically, I had that one night to absorb what they had said about this character and get a completely different look, and be ready for work the very next morning at 7 o’clock! So it was less than 24 hours to get ready.
Weekly: Are you on contract now?
Livingston: Yes.
Weekly: Is it good to be back?
Livingston: Yeah, it’s really wonderful to be back at GH again, with all of the same people, but with a new character. It’s really challenging, and I love that.
Weekly: Did you get the same dressing room?
Livingston: Yeah, the same one. I guess it was Vanessa Marcil‘s (ex-Brenda), then Amber Tamblyn‘s (ex-Emily), and then mine.
Weekly: Is everybody welcoming you back to open arms?
Livingston: Yeah, so far (laughs); I didn’t get any tomatoes thrown at me, or anything like that. Everybody was really great and welcoming.
Weekly: Anybody around the set still calling you “Emily”?
Livingston: For sure. In the hair or makeup departments, [they say] “Oh, Emily’s here; we’ve got to do her hair.” Everybody will pounce on that person right away: “No, she’s Rebecca. She’s very different.”
Weekly: Did you keep in touch with anybody while you were away?
Livingston: I did, but I was really busy. I definitely kept in touch with quite a few people on the show, like Steve Burton (Jason) and Becky (Herbst, Elizabeth). Kelly (Monaco, Sam) and I have an exercise class together. Also, a lot of people from the hair department.
Weekly: What kind of feedback are you hearing from the fans so far?
Livingston: Some fans have sent me messages saying that they really love Rebecca, that it’s sort of a dream role for me; it’s something really fun and different. They’re really happy that I get to play that. It’s been really good and positive.
Weekly: Should your fans set their watches in anticipation of Rebecca being paired up with Nikolas?
Livingston: I don’t know. It’s very unpredictable, with the new character and who she’s going to be with. Basically, time will tell.
