Erika Slezak’s Heartwarming Goodbye
TL;DR: Erika Slezak has completed her three-week General Hospital guest arc as Veronica Bard, sharing her actual farewell message that calls Jane Elliot “positively brilliant” and describes her Port Charles experience as “an incredible yet exhausting journey” with “amazing, friendly, and lovely people.”
Erika Slezak’s Beautiful Farewell Message
Erika Slezak shared her unfiltered thoughts about wrapping her General Hospital experience on her Fan Club website, stating: “The past three weeks have been an incredible yet exhausting journey. I worked every day with amazing, friendly, and lovely people—not just the actors, but everyone involved, from the hair and make-up team, including Angela, Wendy, and Karol, to the crew and the fabulous Bruce Cooperman, who I have known for over 30 years since his days as a cameraman on OLTV, and the security guard, Emma. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and incredibly helpful. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Her praise extended beyond just the famous faces to include every person who made her General Hospital experience memorable, showing the depth of appreciation she developed during her brief but intensive stay in Port Charles.
Emotional Reunions with Former Colleagues on General Hospital
Slezak described the personal highlights of her time on set: “Reconnecting with Chris McKenna (my Joey) and his lovely family was wonderful. Seeing Marianne, Chris’s mom, was a special moment, and it was a delightful surprise to see Jessica Tuck. Spending time with Tuc Watkins and his children, as well as with Roger Howarth, provided a wonderful break.”
These reunions with her former One Life to Live family clearly provided emotional anchors during what she acknowledged was a challenging adjustment period to a new show’s rhythm and schedule.
Frank Valentini’s Support and Patience
Slezak credited executive producer Frank Valentini with making her transition smooth: “Adjusting to the different schedule has been a challenge, but Frank Valentini, ‘the boss,’ has been very helpful and patient. He’s a dear old friend and a highly skilled executive producer. Many others I knew from OLTV have helped make the transition to GH less stressful.”
This acknowledgment highlights how Valentini’s decision to bring Slezak to General Hospital wasn’t just about casting a legend—it was about creating an environment where she could do her best work.
Special Praise for Jane Elliot
Slezak reserved her most effusive praise for Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine): “A very special thank you to Jane Elliot, who was as wonderful, delightful, and challenging to work with as I had imagined. She’s positively brilliant!”
Given that Veronica Bard and Tracy Quartermaine share what appears to be contentious scenes involving the Quartermaine family crypt, this mutual admiration between the actresses suggests their on-screen conflict will be elevated by genuine professional respect.
Ready to Return Home
Despite her positive experience, Slezak was honest about missing her personal life: “It’s been great to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. While this has been such a terrific experience, I am very happy to be heading home. I have missed my family, my puppies, and my pussycat so much.”
She concluded with encouragement for fans: “Working on GH was a wonderful experience, and I hope all of you will tune in tomorrow to watch me in Port Charles!”
The Veronica Bard Mystery Unfolds
Slezak’s debut as Veronica Bard occurs during Monica Quartermaine’s memorial service, with her character appearing at the family crypt where Tracy confronts her as a trespasser. The mysterious nature of Veronica’s connection to the Quartermaine family promises to create lasting ripple effects throughout Port Charles.
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