Martha Byrne Debuts on 'General Hospital'

Martha Byrne debuted on ABC’s ‘General Hospital’ today, furthering along their murder mystery storyline.

After a whirlwind year, Martha Byrne has settled into a new role over at “General Hospital”. The Daytime Emmy winner debuted as Andrea Floyd, wife to Port Charles mayor Garrett Floyd (John Bolger) on today’s episode of General Hospital.

Byrne described to Soap Opera Weekly a little about her story in their June 23, 2009 issue. “Andrea comes onto the canvas during a medical scandal involving her husband, and she comes in loaded; ready to defend and help her husband. In the beginning, she is all about the image of her husband and has a career goal for him.” She goes on to suggest Andrea’s determination to “fix” things might be more to protect her image than her husband’s.

Andrea’s motives will become clearer sooner than later. Next week it is revealed that Andrea and Ric (Rick Hearst) have formed some sort of alliance. Eventually this story will involve Nancy Lee Grahn’s character, Alexis Davis. Though we can’t give away too many details, we can reveal that Robin (Kimberly McCullough) and Patrick (Jason Thompson) begin to become suspicious of Andrea’s actions and she sets out to protect herself…at any cost.

Fans were shocked when Byrne announced she would be leaving “As the World Turns”, handing her signature role of soap heroine Lily Walsh Snyder off to a recast after playing the role on and off for nearly twenty years. Shortly after Byrne’s departure, ATWT’s Executive Producer Chris Goutman issued a statement, saying that they had made every effort to keep the actress. In response, Byrne retorted that she had only asked to work the same amount of days as she had worked the previous year, a plea that was refused to her.

Early in the year, Byrne announced that she would be penning scripts for another CBS soap, “The Bold and the Beautiful”. So far, Byrne has written numerous episodes of the daytime soap. Although the actress will be tackling a new role on “General Hospital”, she still plans to write for B&B when needed.

Byrne started taping for “General Hospital” in May. Although the role is recurring, a show source has hinted that the role is “open-ended”. Byrne herself has already taken to her Facebook page to brag, “GH is going great, this part is very different from Lily..hold on to your hats.”