Kelly Kruger has joined the cast of General Hospital as Serena Baldwin, TV Insider can exclusively report.
Kruger is no stranger to daytime television. She got her soap start on The Young and the Restless, where she played Mackenzie Browning from 2002 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2019. She has also appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful as Eva. Her primetime credits include Criminal Minds, Entourage, and Hallmark movies like A Very Corgi Christmas.
“I am so excited to be joining the show!” Kruger tells TV Insider. “It’s a literal dream come true to finally get to work with Frank Valentini [executive producer] and Mark Teschner [casting director] after all these years! Daytime has a very special place in my heart, and I have always wanted to work with the actors and writers on this show. I truly believe the level of talent and work they put out is the absolute best.”
Serena, previously played by Carly Schroeder, is the biological daughter of Scott Baldwin (Kin Shriner) and the late Dominique Stanton (Shell Danielson). Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) served as their surrogate because Dominique was dying from an inoperable brain tumor, and she passed away before Serena was born. Scott and Lucy named Serena after Dominique’s family estate, Serenity. Soon afterward, Scott left town with his infant daughter and a substantial inheritance from Dominique’s will.
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In 1997, Serena’s story moved to the GH spin-off, Port Charles, where Scott returned to town with his daughter. Serena’s childhood was marked by plenty of drama, including multiple kidnappings and a bout of temporary blindness that required a corneal transplant. She was last seen on-screen in 2017 at the Metro Court Hotel, where she joined Scott and Lucy in mourning the late Lee Baldwin, Scott’s father and Serena’s grandfather.
Although Serena has remained off-screen since then, she has not been forgotten. In 2022, Scott revealed that he needed to travel to the Faroe Islands, where Serena had been arrested after an altercation with dolphin hunters.
Serena also has ties to several current Port Charles residents. In addition to Lucy, Cody Bell (Josh Kelly) is Dominique’s biological son, making him Serena’s half-brother.
Beyond her return to daytime, Kruger already has a full plate outside of Port Charles. She has built a thriving social media presence as a content creator and become one of TikTok‘s top beauty influencers. She was named TikTok Shop’s Beauty Creator of the Year in 2025. She is also the mother of daughters Everleigh Jolie, 6, and Gemma Wynter, 4, whom she shares with ex Darin Brooks (Wyatt Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful).
Kruger begins filming on Monday, June 8, and will make her first appearance in July. She is eager to begin her new chapter in Port Charles.
“I’m honored and excited to be stepping into this role,” Kruger enthuses. “I cannot wait for the fans to meet Serena!”
Executive Producer Frank Valentini adds, “I am excited to have Kelly Kruger join the cast of General Hospital. She’s a terrific actor and we look forward to working with her.”
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