UM I am kinda bummed about this, She was starting to grow on me
SOD:
Another star is out at GL. Digest has learned that Michelle Ray Smith (Ava) has finished taping her final scenes and is on maternity leave with no plans to return. Smith, who joined the soap in 2005, was set to renegotiate her contract this month. "I'm up to consider staying and seeing how things go," the actress told Digest in February after announcing her pregnancy, which Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler agreed to write into Ava's storyline. Smith was due to give birth to her first child on July 8. Her final air date is July 28.
Smith's departure is yet another casting blow for GL, on the heels of the exits of Ricky Paull Goldin and Beth Ehlers.
Michelle Ray Smith is completely different situation than Beth and Ricky," notes an insider. "The shocking twist they're not recasting, which would strengthen Olivia's [Crystal Chappell] family. But losing the actress is not a big kick in the teeth: she never caught on."
What's next for Ava, who finally gives birth to baby Max with her new hubby, Bill and Remy by her side this week, is still up in the air. Viewers can expect a not-so-surprising plot twist to unfold for Smith's last week, but a setside source reveals that an upcoming Springfield tragedy is no way related to Ava's storyline or possible demise.
Other GL stars including Marcy Rylan (Lizzie) and Chappell, whose year long contract expires in September, have also recently been linked to exit rumors.
GLBuzz
SOD:
Another star is out at GL. Digest has learned that Michelle Ray Smith (Ava) has finished taping her final scenes and is on maternity leave with no plans to return. Smith, who joined the soap in 2005, was set to renegotiate her contract this month. "I'm up to consider staying and seeing how things go," the actress told Digest in February after announcing her pregnancy, which Executive Producer Ellen Wheeler agreed to write into Ava's storyline. Smith was due to give birth to her first child on July 8. Her final air date is July 28.
Smith's departure is yet another casting blow for GL, on the heels of the exits of Ricky Paull Goldin and Beth Ehlers.
Michelle Ray Smith is completely different situation than Beth and Ricky," notes an insider. "The shocking twist they're not recasting, which would strengthen Olivia's [Crystal Chappell] family. But losing the actress is not a big kick in the teeth: she never caught on."
What's next for Ava, who finally gives birth to baby Max with her new hubby, Bill and Remy by her side this week, is still up in the air. Viewers can expect a not-so-surprising plot twist to unfold for Smith's last week, but a setside source reveals that an upcoming Springfield tragedy is no way related to Ava's storyline or possible demise.
Other GL stars including Marcy Rylan (Lizzie) and Chappell, whose year long contract expires in September, have also recently been linked to exit rumors.
GLBuzz
