Kirsten Storms reflects on 20 years as Maxie Jones on General Hospital: “So many of them are no more”

After two decades of drama, romance, and tragedy in Port Charles, Kirsten Storms is opening up about her journey as Maxie Jones on General Hospital — and she’s not holding back when it comes to her character’s complicated love life.In a new interview with Swooon, Storms, 41, marked her 20th anniversary playing Maxie, the iconic daughter of Felicia Jones (Kristina Wagner) and Frisco (Jack Wagner). Reflecting on Maxie’s turbulent romantic history, the actress jokingly described her character as “black widow-ish,” noting, “So many of them are dead.”Storms joined the long-running ABC soap in 2005 at the age of 21 and quickly found herself in a central role with plenty of emotional storylines. One of the earliest — and most awkward for her — was Maxie’s relationship with Lucky Spencer, played at the time by Greg Vaughan.“It was weird,” Storms admitted. “I’ve known Greg since I was, like, 14 or 15, and to me, back then, he was a grown-up. So, that was a very interesting experience.”At the time of their on-screen romance, Vaughan was 10 years older than Storms, and the dynamic felt off to the young actress — especially given their long-standing acquaintance. Prior to her fling with Lucky, Maxie had been in a relationship with Jesse Beaudry (Matt Marraccini), a romance that ended in tragedy when Jesse was killed. Maxie’s crush on Lucky, Jesse’s partner, sparked a controversial plotline that Storms now sees with a dose of hindsight and humor.Despite the missteps, Storms’ portrayal of Maxie has earned her a loyal fanbase and a solid place in General Hospital history. Over 20 years, Maxie has evolved from a rebellious young woman into a complex and resilient character, navigating loss, motherhood, and countless twists that only a soap opera can deliver.