the role of Cassie Layne Winslow on Guiding Light, was rumored to be on a short list of potential recast though Wright refused to comment. After an "exhaustive" search, ABC officially confirmed Wright's casting as the fourth actress to play the role of Carly. Frons commented: "Carly is a complex character and we are excited to bring Laura's talent, beauty and intelligence to this role." While Wright was sad to leave Guiding Light, she was excited to relocate to Los Angeles to play the role of Carly. "Wow! What a challenge" she said. Wright was due to begin filming in October after her deal with CBS expired. Wright made her debut on November 4, 2005. In November 2009, Wright announced on Twitter that she had re-signed with the soap for another four years, becoming the longest-tenured actress in the role. In July 2013, during the General Hospital Fan Club Weekend, it was reported that Wright extended her deal with the soap until 2017. In March 2014, it was announced that both Brown and Braun would reprise the role of Carly for the show's 51st anniversary on April 1, 2014, making cameo appearances alongside Wright. Eden McCoy portrayed a young Carly in flashback scenes for the April 8, 2020, episode. Background Officially, former head writers Claire Labine (1993–96) and Robert Guza, Jr. (1996–2000, 2002–11), along with script writers Karen Harris and Patrick Mulcahey, are said to have created the character of Carly. In 1999, writer Patrick Mulcahey noted that the character had been somewhat of a work in progress at first. Mulchey explained that she was different from most characters because "We were afraid of her." The character was quite a big deal and very important to the series—so important that one writer even quit over it. "The pitfalls are obvious," Mulcahey said and "I imagine Bob [Guza, the headwriter] promised Wendy [Riche, the executive producer] and ABC that we had no intention of falling into them" the scribe continued. However, the writers themselves had no clue who the character was supposed to be. "That may sound like a horrifying confession, but in daytime, a successful character is always a collaboration between the writers and the actor." Mulcahey said the writers discussed who they felt Carly, as a character, is and that "the actor finds certain other decisions have to be made and makes them, sparks fly between the actor and