So, you’re watching General Hospital and realize the face of Kristina Corinthos-Davis looks a little different—or maybe a lot different depending on how long it’s been since you tuned into Port Charles. Honestly, keeping track of soap opera recasts is a full-time job.
Currently, the actress Kate Mansi plays Kristina on General Hospital.
She stepped into the high-profile role in May 2023, taking over for a fan favorite who had been in the shoes of Sonny and Alexis's daughter for years. If you’re a long-time daytime viewer, Mansi probably looks familiar because she spent years as Abigail Deveraux on Days of Our Lives.
The Big Recast: Why Lexi Ainsworth Left
For a huge chunk of the audience, Lexi Ainsworth was Kristina. She played the part off and on starting in 2009. She grew up on the screen. When news broke that she was leaving and Kate Mansi was coming in, the "Soap Twitter" world basically exploded.
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Ainsworth later called the departure "mutually beneficial," but it still stung for those who loved her chemistry with the Davis girls. The show writers wanted to take Kristina in a "grittier" direction. They needed someone who could handle heavy, front-burner drama, especially with the surrogate storyline and the subsequent tragedy that followed.
The Women Behind the "Mob Princess"
Kristina hasn't just been played by one or two people. She’s had a few faces over the decades.
- Kate Mansi (2023–Present): The current powerhouse. She’s brought a certain maturity and an "edge" to the character.
- Lexi Ainsworth (2009–2011, 2015–2023): The longest-running Kristina. She won a Daytime Emmy for the role in 2017.
- Lindsey Morgan (2012–2013): Before she became a sci-fi star on The 100, she had a brief, fiery run in Port Charles.
- Kali Rodriguez (2005–2008): Played the younger version of Kristina before the character was "SORASed" (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome).
It’s kinda wild to think about how much the character has shifted. Under Mansi, Kristina has evolved from the girl always looking for her father’s approval to a woman dealing with profound grief and complicated family loyalties.
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Who Plays Kristina on General Hospital Right Now?
Kate Mansi is firmly on contract. Entering 2026, her version of Kristina is more central to the plot than ever. Recently, the character has been leaning into her darker instincts—very much her father's daughter.
Mansi herself has joked in interviews that Kristina's New Year's resolution for 2026 should be to "play it a little less safe," because making bad decisions is basically her brand.
If you’re wondering if Lexi Ainsworth is coming back, there’s no sign of it. Recasts are usually permanent once they stick for more than a year. Mansi has developed a distinct rapport with Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis) that feels very settled.
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What to Watch For Next
If you’re trying to keep up with the latest casting changes or just want to see where the Davis family drama is headed, here is how to stay in the loop:
- Follow the Credits: Soaps move fast. Check the end credits if a character looks like a "temporary" recast (sometimes they swap actors for just a week if someone is sick).
- Social Media Hints: Kate Mansi is pretty active on Instagram. She often shares behind-the-scenes clips that give away who she’s filming with, which is a great spoiler indicator.
- Watch the Chemistry: Pay attention to the scenes between Kristina and her sister Molly (now played by Kristen Vaganos). The friction there is where the real story is hiding right now.
The transition from Ainsworth to Mansi was jarring for some, but that’s the nature of the beast in Port Charles. You’ve got to get used to the face changes if you want to enjoy the ride.
Check the ABC schedule or the Hulu streaming uploads to catch Mansi's latest episodes. The 2026 storylines are already signaling a major shift in Kristina’s moral compass, and you won’t want to miss how she navigates the fallout of her recent family betrayals.