Claire Dawson
Kirsten Storms, who plays Maxie Jones on 'General Hospital', announced in July 2025 that she would be taking a break from the show. Storms shared in an Instagram video that she was excited to be moving to Tennessee with her daughter, Harper, and appreciated the support from the show's executives and producers. This is not the first time Storms has taken a break from the show, as she previously took a leave of absence in 2021 to focus on her health after brain surgery. While the actress has taped her final episode for now, she hinted at a possible return in November or December and teased an incredible storyline during her absence.
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What You'll Learn
Kirsten Storms is taking a break from General Hospital
Kirsten Storms, who plays Maxie Jones on "General Hospital", has announced that she is taking a break from the show. In an Instagram video message, Storms revealed that she will be taking a temporary hiatus while she moves to Tennessee with her daughter, Harper. Storms, who shares her daughter with ex-husband and former "General Hospital" star Brandon Barash, taped her final episode before her move and hinted that she could return to the show in a few months.
Storms expressed gratitude to the show's producers and network executives for accommodating her request for time off and allowing her to take this break. She also addressed online rumours about her departure, stating that people tend to "say a whole bunch of stuff". The actress assured fans that she would provide updates on her social media, documenting her new journey as she embarks on this exciting chapter.
During Storms' absence, the role of Maxie Jones will be temporarily filled by actress Nicole Paggi, known for her appearances on "CSI: Miami", "90210", and "The Rookie: Feds". This is not the first time Paggi has stepped into the role, as she previously filled in for Storms in 2023. Storms herself has taken several breaks from the show in the past, including a leave of absence in 2021 to focus on her health after undergoing brain surgery.
While the specifics of the storyline during Storms' absence are yet to be revealed, she has teased that it will be incredible and has expressed excitement for fans' reactions. Storms' temporary departure follows that of Eva LaRue, who also recently announced her exit from "General Hospital".
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Storms is moving to Tennessee with her daughter
Kirsten Storms, who plays Maxie Jones on "General Hospital", is taking a break from the show to move to Tennessee with her daughter, Harper. Storms, who shares her daughter with ex-husband and former "General Hospital" star Brandon Barash, has already filmed her final episode of the year and has made the trip to Tennessee. She has expressed excitement about this new chapter in her life and plans to document her journey on social media.
In an Instagram video message, Storms clarified that her departure from the show is only temporary and that she intends to return to "General Hospital" once she and her daughter are settled in their new home state. She expressed gratitude to the show's producers and network executives for granting her time off and allowing her to take this step. Storms also addressed online rumours about her break, urging fans not to believe everything they read or hear unless it comes directly from her.
During Storms' absence, her character Maxie Jones will be temporarily played by actress Nicole Paggi. This is not the first time Paggi has filled in for Storms; she previously stepped into the role in 2023. Storms herself has taken several leaves of absence from the show in the past, including a break in 2021 to focus on her health after undergoing brain surgery.
Storms has been a fixture on "General Hospital" since her debut in 2005. She has hinted that her character's storyline during her absence will be exciting, and fans can expect some intriguing developments. While she initially suggested a possible return in November or December, the exact date of her comeback to the show remains unknown.
The move to Tennessee marks a new beginning for Storms and her daughter. It is a dream come true for Storms, and she looks forward to settling into her new home and community. As she embarks on this new chapter, she invites fans to follow along on her social media platforms as she documents her journey and shares glimpses of her new life in Tennessee.
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She thanked the showrunners and network executives for allowing her time off
Kirsten Storms, who plays Maxie Jones on "General Hospital", took a break from the show to move to Tennessee with her daughter, Harper. Storms shared that she had asked for time off and was grateful that the showrunners and network executives had allowed her to take a hiatus. She also addressed rumours about her departure, emphasising that she was only taking a break and moving to Tennessee.
In an Instagram video message, Storms expressed her appreciation for the show's flexibility and support. She said, "I really want to thank 'GH,' the ABC network executives, the writers for agreeing to let me take this time. I know Frank and the producers there know my reasons, and I am so grateful that they understand and are supportive". Storms acknowledged that her job could have been terminated when she expressed her desire to move, but she was grateful that the show accommodated her request for time off.
Storms' break from "General Hospital" was not the first time she had taken a leave of absence. In 2021, she took time off to focus on her health after undergoing brain surgery. On previous occasions, her character, Maxie, was played by other actresses, including Jen Lilley in 2011 and Nicole Paggi in 2023. During her 2023 break, Paggi filled in for Storms once again, appearing in two episodes while Storms moved and settled into her new home.
Storms emphasised her excitement about her move to Tennessee and her plans to document her journey on social media. She also hinted at an incredible storyline for her character during her absence, teasing fans about upcoming developments in the show. While she initially suggested a possible return in November or December, there is no confirmation of when or if she will return to "General Hospital."
Throughout her break, Storms remained grateful for the opportunity to take time off and thanked the showrunners and network executives for their support. She also kept fans engaged with glimpses into her new life in Tennessee and hints about the show's storyline during her absence.
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Nicole Paggi will fill in for Storms during her absence
Kirsten Storms, who plays Maxie Jones on General Hospital, took a break from the show to move to Tennessee with her daughter. She taped her final episode of the year a couple of weeks before her announcement, and hinted that she could return in a few months. Storms also took a leave of absence in 2021 to focus on her health after undergoing brain surgery.
During Storms' absence, Nicole Paggi will fill in for her. Paggi, who grew up just outside of Austin, Texas, moved to Los Angeles after college to pursue acting. She booked her first job as a series regular on the critically acclaimed FOX television series "Pasadena", directed by Diane Keaton and created by Mike White. She has since appeared in several television series, including CSI: Miami, 90210, Rizzoli & Isles, 9-1-1, and The Rookie: Feds. Paggi has also appeared in theatre, receiving rave reviews and an Ovation Award nomination for her performance in "Girls Talk".
Paggi is no stranger to the role, having previously filled in for Storms back in 2023. She temporarily played Maxie Jones on the soap opera, with the change lasting only one day. Storms is expected to return to "General Hospital" during the week of August 18.
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Storms has taken breaks from General Hospital before
In July 2023, Storms announced she would be taking another break from the show. In an Instagram video, she explained that she was moving to Tennessee with her daughter, Harper, and that she was "very excited" about the move. She added that she couldn't "wait to return to GH once [they were] settled." During her absence, Nicole Paggi would take over the role for two episodes, after which pre-filmed episodes of Storms would air.
In an Instagram caption, Storms also expressed her gratitude towards the show's producers for allowing her to take time off and shut down any rumours about her departure:
> "I really want to thank ‘GH,’ the ABC network executives, the writers for agreeing to let me take this time. I know Frank and the producers there know my reasons, and I am so grateful that they understand and are supportive... If you don’t read about it or watch a video on it from my page, take it with a grain of salt. People like to say a whole bunch of stuff."
Storms also hinted at an "incredible" storyline during her absence, teasing that viewers were "going to freak out." She added that she couldn't "wait to see the comments online about that."
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Frequently asked questions
Kirsten Storms took a break from General Hospital to move to Tennessee with her daughter.
No, Kirsten Storms' break from General Hospital is only temporary. She has expressed her desire to return to the show.
Nicole Paggi replaced Kirsten Storms on General Hospital during her break.
