Ava Jerome

on As the World Turns, was cast in the newly created role of Ava in April 2013. In early April, Jamey Giddens and Jillian Bowe of Daytime Confidential reported a rumor that the Daytime Emmy Award winner Maura West, best known for her role as Carly Snyder on As the World Turns was set to join the cast in a top secret role. On April 24, nearly two weeks after Confidential's original report, Soap Opera Digest and other soap opera media confirmed the news and revealed that West had joined the cast in the newly created role of Ava Jerome, and was slated to appear sometime in May. Soaps In Depth editor Richard M. Simms immediately speculated that the character shared a connection to the infamous '80s crime family, the Jerome family. West made her debut on May 8, 2013. In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, West revealed that her agent, Mamie Sparer was contacted by General Hospital casting director, Mark Teschner who had her come in to meet with executive producer, Frank Valentini and that the meeting prompted her to sign on to appear as Ava. Of her role, West admitted the part was only scheduled as a five-day stint, however, was offered a contract before she even began work on the soap. In an interview with TV Guides Michael Logan, West was asked what made her take on the role of Ava. She admitted, "Next to nothing. You have to put your faith in people, which was hard because I'd never met [executive producer] Frank Valentini and [head writer] Ron Carlivati, but they are so fun, so infectious! But, then, Ava was not intended to hang around all that long." When asked about the casting of West in the role, Valentini and Carlivati admitted they both felt West was perfect the role. "When Ron and I had talked about this character, there were several actresses we had in mind initially, and a couple of things didn’t work out. Then I thought about Maura, and when I said it to Ron, we both said, 'Absolutely!' So we both kind of stumbled upon it at the same time, because we are both not physically in the same city, we are often on the phone," Valentini revealed in an interview in December 2013. Valentini also admitted that he knew there might be some resistance on West's part when it came to accepting the role. He explained, "I understood she wasn’t necessarily into the idea of doing another soap, because she had not the best experience on another show. But, I thought let’s do it and let’s see what happens." Carlivati also mentioned being a fan of West's from her time on World Turns, stating, "I was a fan of hers from As the World Turns. And when you first see Maura, she is so classically beautiful. I was not that familiar with As the World Turns, but when you would turn it on, you would see this beautiful woman who just seems to be appropriate as a soap actress." == Character development ==

According to West, Ava has a lot going on; "She's mysterious and strong and just has all of the characteristics of a great character." She is presumed dead and a wake in her honor takes place, although in reality she survives. After a bone marrow donor cannot be found to save her, Silas agrees to euthanize Ava (per her wishes), on April 16. Soap Opera Digest speculated as to whether or not this was in fact the character's final appearance. Despite General Hospital refusing to comment on West's contract status, Carlivati claimed that this was possibly Ava's "final farewell", explaining that "Basically, we kept writing ourselves into a corner with Ava and then figuring out a way out. We were like, 'Wait a minute, what if she's pregnant,' you know? And then we painted her in this cancer corner and we kind of couldn't figure a way out." Discussing Ava's wishes for Silas to help her die, he said: "Ava wants to die on her own terms, even if it's only a few weeks ahead of what might happen", and clarified that the soap opera was not trying to "come down on either side of [the euthanasia debate]". == Storylines ==

Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) tracks down art dealer Ava Jerome at her home in New York City. Luke gets Ava to confess that she was once involved with the crazed artist Robert "Franco" Frank (Roger Howarth) and that he fathered her daughter, Lauren Katherine "Kiki" Jerome (Kristen Alderson). Ava is shocked to learn from Luke that Franco is an heir to the wealthy and powerful Quartermaine family and that Lauren is entitled to a share of the family fortune. After Luke's visit, it is revealed that Morgan Corinthos (Bryan Craig), the missing son of mob boss, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) is hiding out in Ava's apartment. Before leaving for work, Ava convinces Morgan to call home. Ava follows her daughter to Port Charles and has an impromptu meeting with Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) over Kiki's shares, and manages to work out a deal that would endow her with a large money sum. Ava then confronts her daughter about the latest revelations and confesses that her father is in fact alive, leaving Kiki in a state of anger against her mother. Whilst in town, Ava runs Dr. Silas Clay (Michael Easton), with whom she previously had a fling. When Silas begins to question whether or not Kiki is his, Morgan confronts Ava about the truth to which she reveals that Kiki is not Franco's, but in fact is Silas' daughter. When Ava's older brother, the presumed dead Julian Jerome (William deVry) arrives in town under the alias "Derek Wells", the two reveal how their gambling ring involvement with Morgan was all in a hoax to work their way into the Corinthos family crime organization. Ava also confesses to Julian her involvement in the shooting of Olivia Falconeri (Lisa LoCicero). While on a discovery to find out about her birth father, Sam Morgan (Kelly Monaco) and Silas travel to New York and discover that Delia Ryan (Ilene Kristen), who had an affair with Victor, was Ava's birth mother. During a heated confrontation, A. J. Quartermaine (Sean Kanan) confronts Ava about the night that Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) was murdered; Ava then confesses it was she who murdered Connie, not A. J., due to Connie discovering the truth about "Derek" and Ava's connection. Sonny interrupts and shoots A. J., killing him as a result. During A. J.'s funeral, Ava sleeps with Sonny in the Quartermaine family crypt, and is discovered by Morgan, who breaks their relationship off. To escape town, Sonny sends Ava to his private island to hide out, after Carly finds out the truth about A. J.'s death. While on the island, Sonny confronts Ava, and confesses he knows the truth about Ava's involvement in the shootings of both Olivia and Connie, and promises to kill her. Ava then confesses that she is pregnant, with either Sonny or Morgan's child, guaranteeing her nine more months of life from Sonny. Following a kidnapping from Nina, Ava gives birth to her daughter, whom Nina abducts and intends to raise as her own. When her daughter is found in Canada, they are briefly reunited when Ava is placed under arrest for Connie's murder. Teaming up with Madeline, Julian and Sonny, she breaks out of prison, only to be shot in the chest by Carlos and believed to be dead when her body is not found after falling into a river. In New York, Silas keeps Ava, whom he rescued and unveils that she is battling cancer. When the cancer spreads at quicker than Silas imagined, Ava requests to be euthanized, choosing to end her life on her own terms. One month after her loved ones believe her to be dead, a doppelgänger by the name of Denise DeMuccio arrives and claims to be inquiring about Ava's family, considering their resemblance. When Denise is arrested and fingerprinted, she is questioned and accused of truly being Ava in disguise, however, when the DNA test performed by Ava's nephew Lucas Jones (Ryan Carnes) comes back proving that Ava and Denise are two different people, she is released from custody. When confronted by Silas, Denise confesses to being Ava and that she teamed up with her mother to pull off the switch in an attempt to be in the lives of her daughters without the threat of the PCPD or Sonny. In June 2016, while on a plane to England, Ava stumbles upon Nikolas Cassadine (Christopher), who is believed to be dead. While traveling, Ava and Nikolas (under the alias of "Niall Carradine"), run into Huxley Lynch (Trent Dawson), who ultimately entraps them within his home. Believing that Huxley wants Nik (Nick Stabile), they confront him and demand for their release; Huxley admits it is Ava he is truly after, due to her ownership of the "Weeping Naiad". Upon their escape, Nik and Ava make their way to Greece and end up on Cassadine Island, where they are discovered by Jason and Sam Morgan. When confronted to go back to Port Charles and joined by several of Nikolas' family members, Ava and the other guests on Cassadine Island are taken hostage by Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart). Ava is then held at gun point by Valentin, and in an attempt to save Ava's life, Nikolas is ultimately shot and falls out of a window. == Reception ==

Jamey Giddens of Daytime Confidential referred to West's potential casting as a "bombshell." In December 2024, as part of their year-end listings, Soap Opera Network named West (for her work as Ava) as their seventh-top female performer. == References ==