Logan Reid
Kirsten Storms, who has played Maxie Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital since 2005, has taken a temporary hiatus from the show. This is not the first time Storms has taken a break from the show, having taken time off for medical reasons in 2011, brain surgery in 2021, and maternity leave in 2014. During her absence, which is expected to last a few days, actress Nicole Paggi will take over the role of Maxie Jones.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Kirsten Storms |
| Age | 39 |
| Character Name | Mariah Maximiliana "Maxie" Jones |
| Temporary Replacement | Nicole Paggi |
| Previous Replacements | Jen Lilley, Molly Burnett |
| Reason for Absence | Health |
| Return Date | Not Announced |
| Previous Absences | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
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What You'll Learn
Kirsten Storms' temporary replacement on General Hospital
Kirsten Storms, who portrays Maxie Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, is taking a break from the show. Storms, who has played the character since 2005, has taken leaves from the show before. In 2011, she took a medical leave and was replaced by Jen Lilley. She returned in 2012 but took additional temporary leaves in 2016, 2017, and 2018, when Molly Burnett took up the role. In 2021, Storms took another leave to recover from brain surgery.
In 2023, Storms took another brief hiatus from General Hospital, during which her character was temporarily played by actress Nicole Paggi. Paggi, known for her role as Sydney on the ABC comedy Hope & Faith, made her debut as Maxie on December 27, 2023. This was not the first time Paggi stepped into the role, as she had previously played Maxie in July 2023 when Storms was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts.
In an Instagram video posted in July 2023, Storms announced that she would be taking a few months off from General Hospital while making a permanent move to Nashville, Tennessee, with her 11-year-old daughter, Harper. She expressed her gratitude to the show's executives and writers for allowing her to remain on the show despite her relocation and for granting her time off. Storms also addressed rumours of her permanent departure, stating that fans should "take it with a grain of salt".
Storms returned to General Hospital in August 2023, appearing in pre-taped scenes to fulfil her current story. It was announced that Nicole Paggi would once again reprise the role of Maxie on July 30 and August 13, with Storms set to return the week of August 18.
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Storms' previous hiatuses from the show
Kirsten Storms, who has portrayed Maxie Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital since 2005, is currently on a hiatus from the show. This is not the first time Storms has taken a break from the show. Here is a list of her previous hiatuses:
2011–2012:
In 2011, Storms vacated the role of Maxie Jones due to endometriosis. She was temporarily replaced by Jen Lilley and was originally scheduled to return to work in February 2012. However, her illness prevented her from returning on time, and Lilley remained in the role for longer than expected. In July 2012, it was announced that Storms would be returning to the series, and she reprised the role on-screen on September 5, 2012.
2014:
Storms took maternity leave on January 2, 2014, and returned to the show on April 8 of the same year.
2016–2018:
Storms took additional temporary leaves from the show in 2016, 2017, and 2018. During these absences, Molly Burnett stepped into the role of Maxie Jones.
2021:
After undergoing brain surgery in 2021, Storms took time off from the show to recover.
2023–2025:
In 2023, Storms announced she would be taking an extended break from General Hospital as she relocated from Los Angeles to Nashville with her daughter, Harper. Storms shared that she had already filmed her final scenes for the time being and that her hiatus would last until at least the end of 2025. During her absence, Nicole Paggi has been playing the role of Maxie Jones.
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Storms' personal life and relationship with a former co-star
Kirsten Storms, born on April 8, 1984, in Orlando, Florida, is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Zenon Kar in the Zenon trilogy, Emily in Johnny Tsunami, and Bonnie Rockwaller in Kim Possible. Storms played Isabella "Belle" Black on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1999 to 2004. In 2005, she was cast as Mariah Maximiliana "Maxie" Jones on the ABC soap opera General Hospital.
Storms has had several relationships with her co-stars. She dated Ben Hogestyn, an actor and model, in 2004. They met during a soap shoot but separated in 2005 due to personal reasons. In 2013, Storms married her former General Hospital co-star, Brandon Barash. The couple had a daughter, Harper Rose Barash, in January 2014. However, they filed for divorce in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences, but they continue to co-parent amicably. Storms has also been linked to several other celebrities, including Josh Henderson and Erik-Michael Estrada. Since 2018, she has been in a relationship with Elias Paul Reidy, and the couple plans to marry soon.
In addition to her romantic relationships, Storms has also formed close friendships with her General Hospital co-stars. She is particularly close to Kelly Monaco, who has appeared on short-lived E! projects. Storms has also taken several hiatuses from General Hospital for various reasons, including health issues, maternity leave, and personal reasons. She underwent brain surgery in 2021 and has also struggled with endometriosis. Despite these challenges, Storms continues to be a dedicated mother to her daughter and an advocate for animals, often rescuing local shelter dogs. She is also a talented crafter, selling handmade woollen dresses through her Instagram account.
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Storms' career before General Hospital
Kirsten Storms' career began at the age of five when a talent scout suggested she join a children's acting class in New York. This led to her first television role as a recurring part on the ABC drama Second Noah. After the series was cancelled, the Storms family moved to Los Angeles, where Kirsten landed the recurring role of Laura Cummings on the WB drama 7th Heaven. She appeared in three episodes between 1998 and 2001, playing the girlfriend of Simon, played by David Gallagher.
Her next role was as Zenon Kar in the Disney Channel original movie Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. The film was the network's highest-rated original picture at the time and spawned two sequels, Zenon: The Zequel and Zenon Z3. Storms later reprised her role as Zenon in two more sequels.
In 1999, the same year Zenon was released, Storms signed on to play the teenage Belle Black on NBC's Days of Our Lives. She played the role until 2004, when she joined the cast of CBS's short-lived drama Clubhouse. During this time, she also appeared in a string of family shows and television movies, including The Trojan Horse, a Hallmark production.
In 2000, Storms added voice-over artist to her resume with the animated series Kim Possible The Series, followed by two Kim Possible TV movies.
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Storms' character's current storyline
Kirsten Storms is taking a break from her role as Mariah Maximiliana "Maxie" Jones on General Hospital. Storms has portrayed Maxie Jones on the ABC soap opera since 2005. In her recent storyline, Maxie welcomed a son, James, with her on-screen love interest, Nathan (Ryan Paevey).
Storms has taken breaks from the soap opera in the past as well. In 2011, she took a leave of absence due to endometriosis. She returned in 2012 but took additional temporary leaves in 2016, 2017, and 2018. After brain surgery in 2021, Storms took another break to recover.
In a recent interview, Storms revealed that she was surprised to be temporarily replaced but understood the need to keep her character, Maxie, relevant in the storyline. She also shared her long-held dream of moving away from Los Angeles and expressed gratitude for the support and understanding of ABC and the General Hospital team.
Storms' character, Maxie, is expected to continue appearing in the show, with actress Nicole Paggi stepping in during Storms' absence. While the exact duration of Storms' break is unknown, she hinted at a possible return in late fall, teasing that Maxie's storyline will take some exciting turns during her absence.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Kirsten Storms is currently on a brief hiatus from General Hospital.
Actress Nicole Paggi will be playing Maxie Jones during Storms' absence.
Storms' exit is due to health reasons. She is taking time off to recover from surgery.
Yes, Storms has taken breaks from the show several times since she was cast as Maxie in 2005. Her previous leaves include health-related breaks in 2011, 2016, 2017, and 2018, as well as a maternity leave in 2014.
It is expected that Storms will return to General Hospital after her recovery. This is not the first time she has taken a temporary break from the show, and she has returned to reprise her role on previous occasions.
