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Like many soap operas, General Hospital has a revolving door of cast members. While some actors stay on the show for years and years, others have short stints and leave after their time is up.

Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber) has worked on General Hospital for over 20 years, and she has seen many cast members come and go. She recently revealed which actor she would like to return to the show.

Rebecca Herbst looking on and smiling in a scene from 'General Hospital'
Rebecca Herbst on ‘General Hospital’ | Rick Rowell/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Rebecca Herbst has been on ‘General Hospital’ since 1997

Herbst joined the cast in 1997 when she was 21 years old. Her character, Elizabeth, is the granddaughter of Dr. Steve Hardy, who was one of the original cast members when the show first premiered in 1963. Among the current characters, Elizabeth is the only one who has a connection to General Hospital’s early days, putting her in a unique position.

Throughout her time on the show, Herbst has portrayed Elizabeth as she grew from a young adult to a mature family woman.

“Coming into Port Charles as this bratty little rebel child, she has definitely grown into a more consistent and confident woman,” Herbst explained to Soap Opera Digest. “I think when she first came to Port Charles, she didn’t value relationships, because that wasn’t modeled for her, and now she does, because she’s been loved by Lucky and Jason and Franco. She understands the value of relationship and I think that’s probably her biggest growth.”

Rebecca Herbst reveals who she would like to see in Port Charles again

Herbst has worked with countless actors during her time on General Hospital. However, there is one particular person she would like to see return to the show.

“I really loved having Rebecca Budig [ex-Hayden] on the show,” she told Soap Opera Digest. “Aside from me, personally, absolutely loving Rebecca and having a friendship with her and how every time I got to work with her, I had a great day, I think Elizabeth also really enjoyed having a sister and having that family connection.”

She continued, “It was nice because they didn’t start out as friends but they build a friendship and a relationship. I would really love to have her back.”

In fact, Herbst and Budig were friends for many years before they worked together on General Hospital. According to We Love Soaps, the pair said in a 2016 issue of Soap Opera Digest that Budig danced “for hours” with Herbst’s son Ethan during ABC’s 2004 Super Soap Weekend. The two ladies have been close pals ever since. 

Rebecca Herbst would like to explore more of Sam and Elizabeth’s relationship

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Additionally, Herbst would also like to explore more of the frenemy relationship between Elizabeth and Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco). The two women clashed many times on the show, especially when they were both in love with Jason.

“Kelly and I have been friends for a gazillion years and she and I work really well together,” Herbst explained. “Outside of being personal friends — I absolutely love her and we just have a really nice, easy, respectful working relationship and Sam and Liz have so many layers to their friendship.”

She added, “They’ve bounced back and forth from being friends enemies to friends but I think they really get each other and really understand what the other is going through. If I had my druthers, I would definitely keep Sam and Liz more in each other’s orbits, for sure.”