General Hospital Casts All My Children Vet as Blaze’s Mother (Exclusive)

Another Pine Valley mainstay is making their way to Port Charles.

All My Children vet Eva LaRue — who played neurologist Dr. Maria Santos Grey on the now-defunct ABC soap off and on over the course of 18 years — is joining General Hospital as Blaze’s (Jacqueline Grace Lopez) mother, TVLine has learned exclusively.

More from TVLine

• Is Susan Kelechi Watson Making a Love Connection With Will Trent? This Is Us Vet Teases Her 'Badass' Season 2 Debut

• The Rookie Boss Teases Harper/Lopez as 'Cagney & Lacey,' a Hidden Season 6 Pregnancy and More

• Can Will Trent Leave the Past (and His Romance With Angie) Behind in Season 2? Ramón Rodríguez Weighs In

LaRue’s character, Natalia Rogers-Ramirez, will make her first appearance on Feb. 26 (get an exclusive first look at her debut below).

Natalia arrives at a critical time in her singer-daughter’s life: Blaze is in the early stages of a romance with Kristina (played by Daytime Emmy winner Kate Mansi). It’s been previously established that one of the reasons Blaze has kept her sexual orientation under wraps is because she fears her coming out could have negative career implications. She also hinted that there could be blowback from her family.

LaRue, whose TV credits also include a series regular role on CSI: Miami as well as a stint on The Young and The Restless, will reunite with several of her former AMC co-stars on GH, most notably Cameron Mathison and Michael E. Knight.

LaRue’s casting comes as GH is navigating a major change behind the scenes. Last month it was announced that head writers Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor had stepped down, replaced by current GH script editor Elizabeth Korte and celebrated soap vet Patrick Mulcahey (GH, Santa Barbara, Guiding Light). The new material from Team Korte/Mulcahey will begin airing in mid-to-late March.

Best of TVLine

• Stars Who Almost Played Other TV Roles — on Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Lost, Gilmore Girls, Friends and Other Shows

• TV Stars Almost Cast in Other Roles

• Fall TV Preview: Who's In? Who's Out? Your Guide to Every Casting Move!

Get more from TVLine.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter