General Hospital's Kirsten Storms Previews What's Next for Maxie!

On the heels of facing her own mental-health issues in 2017, GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Kirsten Storms felt empowered, centered, and ready for some on-screen drama — and she sure got it when a pregnant Maxie lost her beloved spouse, Nathan! “That is going to go down as one of my favorite storylines and I can’t thank the writers enough for making me feel like such an actor,” she raved to Soaps In Depth. “I’d spent a lot of that year wondering who I am and experiencing heavy things that left me a little confused about my purpose. Being able to dive right into that story was huge for me.

Of course, I had my own feelings about Ryan Paevey leaving,” she said of Nathan’s portrayer. “But I had a great time challenging myself. Maxie’s got a lot of sass and she talks a lot, but I don’t always get emotional stuff to play. So I wanted to do the best that I could do, for myself, and I also wanted to show them I could still do it — that when called, I will answer!”

Filming Nathan’s funeral, Storms admitted: “I was hyperventilating while crying most of the time.” (Photo Credit: ABC)

In an interesting twist, Maxie faced her loss with the help of Wes Ramsey’s Peter — which meant Storms was working with a brand-new GH co-star! “The thing is, I felt super comfortable in all my scenes with Wes, like I’d worked with him forever — he’s just that good,” contended Storms, who sees potential for an on-screen romance. “Peter cares about Maxie a lot… Now we just have to see how Maxie feels. I will say, she spends a lot of time defending him when he’s not around!”

Of course, once the widow is ready for a new relationship, Peter may have competition. Many fans are rooting for Michael to woo Maxie. And there’s also the PCPD’s hot new detective. “Wes was watching me tape scenes with Josh Swickard (Chase) and said, ‘I don’t know how I feel about this!’” Storms laughed. “They’ve given me too many random scenes with Chase for it to not mean something — and the fact that Maxie’s still hanging around and he hasn’t been shirtless? That says something!”

The one place Storms can’t see Maxie going is back to Spinelli. “That was such a great thing in its time, so I would like to leave it as something we all look back on fondly — and not something we continue to force,” she said of Spixie. “And what’s not great about showing exes who share a child and actually get along?”

“He’s the sweetest guy,” Storms said of co-star Ramsey. (Photo Credit: Steven Bergman)

Since Nathan’s passing, Maxie has also forged a deeper relationship with her sister-in-law. “I’m a little worried for Maxie with Nina’s protective side,” Storms grinned. “But I love the way they’ve grown close — and I love Michelle Stafford. When she first got to GH, I literally begged [executive producer] Frank Valentini to put me in a scene with her, so to be family now? It’s awesome.”

Storms is also thrilled to see Maxie and Lulu mending fences — as is her bestie, Emme Rylan! “When we found out that was going to happen between the characters, Emme cried,” Storms revealed with a laugh. “We knew from the beginning we’d eventually be friends again, but that didn’t stop us from asking every time we worked together if this next episode was the one where we would make up. We care too much about this! But it was fun — especially the part with the noodles and pool toys. We could barely keep ourselves together.”

“We just love that Lucy-and-Ethel comedy,” Storms admitted of working with Rylan. (Photo Credit: ABC)

With Maxie and Lulu having made peace, Storms teases there may be a story coming for them. “I’ve heard rumors,” she admitted. “I’m not sure if we’re going to be fighting or not… but as long as I get to work with Emme, we don’t care!” In fact, in general, “I’m content in the way they’re writing for Maxie now,” she reflected, “and really excited to see where they’re going to take her!”

For more on your favorite GH stars, keep reading the ABC edition of Soaps In Depth magazine!

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