Brennan is the latest character to be recast. Can fans embrace him?
It was a difficult week for General Hospital fans because of Charles Mesure’s departure as Jack Brennan. This is not the first time a new actor has taken over a beloved character. Sometimes, it just takes some getting used to.
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Charles Mesure made a great Brennan. Among other things, he was loved because of his chemistry with Carly. But let’s not forget that Laura Wright is the fourth actress to play the role.
Sarah Joy Brown was the original Carly. Fans loved her for the five years she resided in Port Charles, and she won three Emmys. It was hard to imagine anyone else playing Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) wife, but Tamara Braun stepped in and made the part her own.
Jennifer Bransford was the next version of Carly, but viewers did not embrace the actress, and she was let go after a few short months. That is when Laura Wright stepped in and is the force to be reckoned with we know and love today.
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The very first Trina has almost been forgotten because she only played the part for three episodes. Tiana Le was the troublemaker Trina who hid condoms in Joss’ (Eden McCoy) backpack.
Sydney Mikayla came to GH as the Trina who was Joss’ bestie and first fell for Spencer (Nicholas Alexander Chavez). Fans were upset when she decided to leave the soap to concentrate on her college studies. Tabyana Ali stepped in during a major Trina storyline but handled it well. She has more than held her own during her character’s constant drama.
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It is a huge responsibility to play the daughter of the legendary Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis). The Lulu character first appeared in 1994, and many child actors played the role.
Julie Berman stepped into the Spencers’ daughter’s shoes as a more mature Lesley Lu. She became an integral part of GH and was the actress in the role when she fell in love with Dante (Dominic Zamprogna). Berman was a fan favorite, but she left the show after eight years.
Emme Rylan played the new Lulu until she fell into a coma. Lulu recently woke up and returned to Port Charles with Alexa Havins playing the part. So far, so good.
Getting used to a new actor in a beloved role takes some time. Fans loved Mesure, so it is hard to see Chris McKenna as Brennan. But more often than not, a new actor can become the “new normal” if given a chance. Do you think Chris will make Brennan his own? Let us know in the comments.
