GH Star Rebecca Budig Speaks Out on Her PC Exit!

Rebecca Budig, beloved daytime star, opened up about the end of her character’s storyline and more!

Abrupt End During a Promising New Beginning

Budig says she initially “struggled with” how to portray Hayden as someone fans would take into their hearts.

But eventually, she did, as fans know, and Hayden became wildly popular with viewers. That popularity, along with Budig’s off-the-charts screen charisma makes GH’s decision to let her go all the more perplexing!

When Budig’s firing became public, fans expressed their displeasure on social media and wrote messages of love and support to her.

Related: Did you heart his GH star is staying in Port Chuckles after extended, contentious contract negotiations.

“When I saw that [comments on social media], all I felt was very humbled by it, and incredibly flattered,” she said. “It felt really nice that people cared so much about me as an actress,” Budig told our friend Michael Fairman during the recent General Hospital Fan Club Weekend.

Rebecca Budig’s Real Life Bond

We at Soap Cities agree that Budig’s wonderful performance ultimately made us invest in, and care about, the character. Credit must also go to her onscreen partner, Easton, with whom Budig bonded in real life as a dear friend.

“Michael Easton has changed my life,” she said. “Our friendship has inspired me to do things in my life, and he is a really great guy. You don’t come around people like that very often,” Budig said.

Don’t Miss: Another beloved GH star was just given the pink slip–but you can help bring him back!

Art Imitating Life

Like Hayden, who was afraid that she didn’t have maternal instincts when she found out she was pregnant, Budig herself experienced similar feelings before she gave birth to daughter Charlotte, now three.

“I was terrified to have a baby in my real life,” she said. “I had waited so long until I was older to have a kid, and it’s life-changing. I really loved that in the relationship between Finn and Hayden, because to me it was very honest.”

In Conclusion…Or is There a New Chapter Ahead?

Much has transpired since Hayden dropped into Port Charles two years ago, posing as Jake Doe’s (Billy Miller) wife. We got to see her complicated back story take shape, witness her fall in love with the equally complicated doctor, Finn, and rooted for them to find happiness, only for it to be derailed by the emergence of her ex-husband, Jared, (Matt Corboy), facilitated by Finn’s nemesis Dr. Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) and the grim secret he was holding over her head.

The Webber Connection

Most importantly, the show missed the boat on what we call The Webber Connection. The writers  tried to anchor Hayden by tying her to one of GH‘s original core families the Webbers. We at SC loved the idea of Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Hayden being half-sisters.

Imagine the sisterly love, bonding and the fights we could have had between Liz and Hayden! There was even speculation and talk the show was looking to cast their father, Jeff Webber (last played by Macgyver star Richard Dean Anderson).

We at SC believe the storyline possibilities are endless with Liz and of course, #Fayden. In our eyes, Hayden was just starting to show her potential when Budig was unceremoniously sacked.

And to quote famed SOD columnist Carolyn Hinsey, “that’s only [our]opinion!”

Must-Read: This GH villainess recently celebrated her Port Chuck anniversary.

Never Say Never!

That all said, since Hayden ran out on Finn on their wedding day and her whereabouts are currently unknown, that scenario does leave open the possibility for a return. Would Budig be open to reprise the role at some point?

She told our friends at Soap Opera Digest, “Of course. If I had the chance to work with Michael Easton and Becky Herbst again, it would be an easy decision.”

Parting on Good Terms

Not only that dear readers, but she parted on good terms with Executive Producer Frank Valentini!! Budig has already stated they are good “friends,” and at the end of the day, he’s running the show, and he has to do what’s right for the show, and I’m appreciative to him for bringing me over there at a time when I needed it, when I needed to go and work,” she told SOD.

What is she most grateful for?  Making lifelong friends with Michael Easton and Jane Elliot!

Let’s not forget ABC Daytime fans, the network is in serious talks to bring All My Children and One Life to Live back to our screens!  AMC is where fans, including us, first fell in love with Budig as the inimitable Greenlee Smythe Lavery. So, she might even reprise that role in the near future! One of the wonderful things about daytime is…anything is possible!

What do you think dear readers?

Many of you have spoken out in favor of Hayden and Rebecca returning to  ASAP!!  Would you prefer to see Rebecca return to the show ASAP as Hayden or would you rather see her back on a future AMC reboot as Greenlee??

Give us your input in the comment section below. Check back with Soap Cities for more AMC/OLTL news, updates, fun, and more! Follow us on Twitter at @soapcities, on Instagram at @soapcities, and come chat with us in our Facebook group. All My Children and One Life to Live will one day be back on-screen—never doubt! If you want more soap action 24/7, go to Soap Fans United!