Eva LaRue Bids Farewell to General Hospital After Extended Guest Arc
After more than a year on General Hospital, Eva LaRue is set to make her final appearance this week, bringing her character Natalia Rogers-Ramirez’s turbulent storyline to a dramatic close.
The exit follows a tense on-screen development where Natalia, devastated by the news that she would be sent to Belize by Sonny Corinthos (played by Maurice Benard), ingests a dangerous combination of pills and alcohol. The scene marks the culmination of LaRue’s arc, which began in February 2024 and was originally intended as a short-term role.
LaRue portrayed the disapproving and homophobic mother of Blaze (Jacqueline Grace Lopez), a character that quickly drew backlash from the show’s devoted fanbase. Despite efforts to redeem Natalia in later episodes, the audience’s perception proved difficult to shift.
“I started to feel it in January,” LaRue revealed in an interview with Soap Opera Digest. “They tried to rehabilitate my character, but when Natalia lost her only real connection—her friendship with Sonny—I knew the end was near. People just weren’t buying it. I was so vilified that nothing the writers did could change that.”
Reflecting on the emotional toll of playing such a controversial character, LaRue admitted the experience was challenging. “It was hard for me as a person,” she said. “Coming from a role like Maria Santos on All My Children—a character who, love her or hate her, was never meant to be hated—it was tough to suddenly become someone the audience despised.”
According to Entertainment Weekly reports, Executive Producer Frank Valentini commended Eva LaRue’s performance, highlighting her strong chemistry with the cast and the depth she brought to the role. He noted that what was originally intended as a brief guest appearance evolved into a more fulfilling and extended storyline thanks to LaRue’s compelling work. “I was thrilled Eva was available to us in this extended role. I wish her all the best in her upcoming projects,” Valentini added.
LaRue echoed those sentiments, expressing appreciation for the opportunity:
“I was originally only supposed to be on the show for a couple of months, and it ended up being a much longer run.”
With her final scenes airing this week, fans bid farewell to Natalia, a character who made a lasting—if controversial—mark on Port Charles.