For the past two years, Lanier portrayed villainess Nelle Benson on the hit ABC soap opera, and the actress has opted not to renew her contract with the show. Instead, she has chosen to pursue other acting opportunities. Lanier expressed her gratitude to her “passionate and lovely” fans via Twitter.
“I love you from the bottom of my heart,” the actress posted, prior to thanking the fans in making the last two years some of the best years of her life. She added that her character Nelle Benson “isn’t dead.” “She isn’t done,” she said, thus teasing the return of her character. This could mean that Lanier could return from time to time to the show for brief story-line moments as the feisty main antagonist.
Her General Hospital cast members shared their love for Lanier on social media and conveyed their best wishes to her.
For her performance as Nelle Benson in the hit ABC daytime drama series General Hospital, Lanier earned two Emmy nominations for “Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series” in 2017 and 2018, winning in the latter year.
In her Emmy acceptance speech, Lanier thanked General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini, fellow actress Laura Wright, her manager and her boyfriend, Morgan McClellan, who convinced her to do the show.