Kate Mansi has officially closed the chapter on her role as Kristina Corinthos-Davis. The 38-year-old actress, who joined General Hospital in 2023, made the “very difficult decision” not to renew her contract, with her final episode airing on Friday, June 12, 2026.
After three years of bringing the fiery Corinthos-Davis daughter to life, Mansi is stepping away to focus on new creative projects and support her husband’s career abroad. In an exclusive exit interview with TV Insider timed with her final broadcast, Mansi opened up about her tearful goodbye with on-screen father Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos), why she kept her departure a secret from him until the very last minute, and the exciting plans she already has in motion for the future.
Why Kristina Corinthos-Davis Is Leaving Port Charles
In a satisfying turn for fans of the character, Kristina was not killed off nor did she suffer a tragic end. Instead, the writers sent her off to pursue her dreams.
In the episodes leading up to the finale, Kristina decided to apply to medical school at UCLA. This decision was inspired by the emotional turmoil surrounding the loss of her baby and her sister Molly’s (Kristen Vaganos) battle with endometriosis. After tearfully saying goodbye to her parents, Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Sonny, Kristina boarded a plane to start her new life as a doctor-in-training.
The actress confirmed that this was the ending she wanted. “I knew my contract was up in April and I wanted to give them proper notice so that they could plan their future storytelling,” Mansi explained. While the show has not announced a recast yet—and Mansi is the fourth actress to play the role—Kristina remains alive and well in Los Angeles, keeping the door open for a potential return.
The Emotional Secret She Kept From Maurice Benard
While Mansi told her on-screen siblings about her exit early to prepare, she deliberately waited to tell Maurice Benard until they were rehearsing their final scenes together.
“I couldn’t bear telling Maurice in advance because we have such a close relationship. So, I waited until our last episode, and it gave us such beautiful scenes together,” Mansi revealed to TV Insider.
The moment was devastatingly real. “He was crying, and he asked me in rehearsal, ‘Is this it, kid? Are you really leaving?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ He gave me a big hug, and we both cried,” she recalled.
Mansi explained that she wanted the raw emotion to translate on screen. “During taping, it was a very meaningful, authentic reaction we both had saying good-bye to each other, which is what I really wanted, because the father-daughter relationship for Kristina and Sonny, and for Maurice and me, has been so special and unique. But it was really hard,” she said.
Why Mansi Made the ‘Difficult Decision’ to Leave
Mansi’s exit was driven by two major factors: her husband’s work and her own expanding career.
Her husband, Matt McInnis, is currently producing the Tomb Raider series in Europe, starring Sophie Turner. With him filming primarily abroad, Mansi told Soap Opera Digest that she needed “the flexibility to travel while continuing to develop and work in Los Angeles.”
Additionally, Mansi has several new projects brewing. She is developing Oh S**t, an autobiographical comedy short she wrote and will star in, and she continues her Sunday Support Series, a mental health talk series. She also stars in the film Casa Grande, which hit theaters on May 1, 2026.
“I’ve made the very difficult decision to leave General Hospital. I have a few new projects that require my full attention,” Mansi stated.
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‘The Door Is Always Open’
Despite the sadness of the departure, Executive Producer Frank Valentini made it clear that Mansi is welcome back anytime.
“We love Kate and support her decision to leave. The door is always open, and we appreciate all that she added to the show these past three years,” Valentini told Us Weekly.
Mansi reflected on the meaningful stories she was able to tell while on the show, specifically noting the LGBTQ+ representation and the endometriosis awareness storyline. “When Frank first approached me about the role, two things deeply resonated with me: the opportunity to show my support for the queer community by playing an LGBTQ+ character, and to help tell an endometriosis storyline,” she said.
As she looks to the future, Mansi remains grateful for the “unforgettable ride.” And while Kristina is now studying medicine at UCLA, Mansi ended her interview with a wink, suggesting that a return to daytime is not off the table.
“Anything is possible.”
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