Kristina Davis
Kristina Davis is a fictional character General Hospital, an American soap opera on the ABC network. Created by Robert Guza, Jr. and Charles Pratt, Jr., and introduced by Jill Farren Phelps in 2002, Kristina is the daughter of mob kingpin Sonny Corinthos and his former attorney, Alexis Davis. Following the portrayal of several [|child actors], Kristina was rapidly aged in 2009, with the introduction of Lexi Ainsworth in the role. Signed as a recurring role, Ainsworth was upped to regular status, following favorable reception from audiences. In 2011, Ainsworth announced she had been let go from the role. The role was reintroduced the following year when Lindsey Morgan was cast. Morgan remained for eleven months and was written out following her final appearance in March 2013. In 2015, Ainsworth returned to the role, appearing sporadically until her exit in 2023. The role is presently portrayed by Kate Mansi.
Following Ainsworth's casting in 2009, the character was introduced into a teen abuse dating storyline, where Kristina is repeatedly assaulted by her boyfriend, Kiefer Bauer, and further develops a crush on Ethan Lovett. Ainsworth's work during the storyline garnered praise from press. With Morgan's casting, Kristina returned to Port Charles alongside Trey Mitchell — whom she later marries — producing a reality television series as an act of revenge against her parents. Ainsworth's return in 2015 welcomed additional storylines, including the exploration of her sexual fluidity and joining a cult disguised as a volunteer group, known as Dawn of Day. Ainsworth's work in the Dawn of Day storyline garnered her critical praise.
For her work as Kristina, Ainsworth performances has been met with favorable reception from audiences and critics. She received a nomination for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series in 2011, later winning for the same category in 2017. Unlike her predecessor, reception for Morgan was less than favorable. Despite this, she earned a nomination for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series in 2013 for her work as Kristina.Casting
From December 2002 to July 2003, Kristina was portrayed by Julia and Joelle Carter; followed by Kara and Shelby Hoffman from July 23, 2003, to late 2003 then by Emma and Sarah Smith from December 23, 2003, until 2005. In November 2005, child actress, Kali Rodriguez stepped into the role on a recurring basis. Rodriguez last appears as Kristina on August 13, 2008.
In May 2009, it was announced teen actress Lexi Ainsworth had been cast in the role of Kristina. Ainsworth first appeared on June 4, 2009. Response from fans and critics was very positive and Ainsworth was put on contract later that month. After months of rumors and speculation, Ainsworth confirmed in October 2011 via Twitter she'd been let go and had just filmed her last episode. Ainsworth last appeared in the role on November 4, 2011.
After much speculation and rumor as to whether Ainsworth would return to the role, several sources reported that the show was looking to bring Kristina back to Port Charles. On April 17, 2012, TVLine reported that actress Lindsey Morgan has been cast as Kristina and would make her debut on May 25, 2012. Morgan explains during an interview that she was unaware what role she was auditioning for as only a vague character description was released instead of the character's name. The producers put Morgan through a chemistry test with her potential on-screen parents, Maurice Benard and Nancy Lee Grahn, which was something that hadn't been done in years. On March 26, 2013, Morgan announced she had departed her role as Kristina, last airing on March 4.
On July 29, 2015, Soap Opera Digest broke news that Ainsworth would reprise the role of Kristina, her return date aired on September 17, 2015. In October 2017, it was revealed that Ainsworth has filmed her last scene on October 11 alongside Ashley Jones' character Parker Forsyth. In July 2018, Soap Opera Digest announced Ainsworth's return. Ainsworth made her return on August 15, 2018.
On May 4, 2023, it was announced Kate Mansi had been cast in the role of Kristina; Ainsworth made her final appearance on April 27, with Mansi debuting in the role on May 24. In a social media post, Ainsworth called her exit "mutually beneficial", citing her desire to seek other opportunities. In an exit interview with Soap Opera Digest, she further elaborated on her exit, calling it "bittersweet", and further explaining: "I was 16 when I started and my family on the show is like my second family because I basically grew up on the show. It will be sad not to have the opportunity to work with them on the show anymore, but I know that I will continue to have relationships with those people, and hopefully we can work together down the line."Development
Characterization
With the SORAS aging of Kristina in 2009, Kristina is initially introduced as a bit of a wild child. Kristina's trouble making ways during her first few months as "Kristina" are described as "phase". She often throws caution into the wind just to defy her parents because of how she grew up. However, several major events in her life, including causing her step-mother, Claudia's car accident and miscarriage facilitate a character transition and Kristina morphs into somewhat of a "good girl". The vague 2012 casting call described the character as "soulful, but fiery." Newcomer Lindsey Morgan describes Kristina as having the perfect blend of qualities from both of her parents.Teen dating abuse
In the summer of 2009, Kristina's boyfriend Kiefer Bauer begins assaulting her repeatedly whenever he gets angry. Ainsworth praised the storyline saying several viewers could identify with her character. There was a very slow build in Kiefer's abusive attitude months before it actually happened and the storyline progresses in real time. On and off screen, Kristina's lack of positive male role models in her life is the reason for her choice to stay in an abusive relationship; she doesn't really know how to react to the situation, let alone remove herself from it. Ainsworth further discusses Kiefer's reason for the abuse, noting "he comes from a family who has instilled a feeling of entitlement in the young man." At the time, she is crushing on the older mysterious Ethan Lovett which only serves as a catalyst for Kiefer's anger. Kristina's crush turns to bitterness after a beating from Kiefer lands her in the hospital, and she blames Ethan.Recast and reality
With the 2012 recast, Kristina returns home with a "vengeance" after discovering the truth about her parents' bribing the admissions office at Yale University to get her accepted. Morgan admits that Kristina's actions may be a bit questionable at times, but she only does certain things to get those around her to be honest with her. "Even though she is basically, really, extorting them right now, she's doing it almost for an ethical reason. In the end it's to expose her father--and her mother--and say, 'Hello, this is wrong!'" The plot in which Kristina forces her family to star in her reality show is also her way of asserting her independence. "College has shown her her own strength, her own power. And she's very much her father's daughter--and very much her mother's daughter. And very much tired of it all. Tired of them going behind her back, and tired of them being controlling. She needs to have her own say in her life." However, most viewers and critics didn't approve of the new direction and the reality aspect of the storyline. ABC Soaps in Depth gave the storyline a "Thumbs Down!" comparing it to a bad spoof of VH1's hit reality series, Mob Wives and the recast which is initially met with much disapproval is weighed down by the story. While SID has no problem with such a drastic character change as Ainsworth's Kristina according to SID is "relatable and likably soft" and Morgan's Kristina is written as "a jaded hell-raiser;" the reality show is not the best way to get fans to approve of the recast. In an interview with TVSource Magazine's Omar Nobles, Morgan revealed that Kristina was mostly upset by Sonny and Alexis pulling strings to get her into Yale because of what their actions said about her; "It's saying they didn't believe in her; she couldn't be admitted on her own and that hurt her. The people that she needs the most to believe in her doubted she could and that's why they did it... I also feel like they also thought she couldn't handle disappointment. That's what hurts her." Kristina forgives her parents knowing they meant well but she really cares about what they think of her. "As the middle child, especially with them never being together and Sonny and his huge family and other children; Alexis is busy with everything in her life. I think Kristina feels like she never got enough attention and was never truly seen by them. So when she's becoming an adult she wants to say them 'I am an adult and I can do this' and they don't think so and that hurts her."Trey Mitchell
Along with the reality show storyline comes a new love interest for Kristina in Erik Valdez's Trey Mitchell, a grad student from Yale who convinces her to launch the Mob Princess series. According to Morgan, Kristina is very much blindsided by Trey as she is going through a time in her life where she is trying to find some stability. Coming from such an unconventional family where her parents never actually tried to be together leaves Kristina yearning for that family unit she never had with her parents. Even though Trey appears to be manipulating her, Kristina hopes the relationship will turn into something more when they marry on August 28, 2012. Kristina's need for a stable family is reflected in her concern for her sister, Sam McCall when her marriage begins falling apart. Though Kristina has always dreamed of having that "perfect family," she does not see her marriage to Trey being a major deal because she expects the marriage will be over just as quickly as it began. Kristina goes through with the marriage to help Trey realize how much she really does care for him, and hopes he will reciprocate those feelings. Morgan admitted to being confused as to why she trusts Trey so much, as opposed to her family, especially when it comes to her older brother, Michael. Morgan revealed in an interview Kristina still sees Michael as the overprotective big brother and since leaving college, she's been trying to assert her independence. In a November 2012 interview, Morgan gave her take on Kristina's reason for falling for Trey; besides his looks, Trey is very different from the guys she's date previously or has been interested in. When Kristina is humiliated at school thanks to everyone finding out about Sonny pulling strings to get her in, Trey is the only person who likes her for who she is. "Even when he was playing her, and he obviously did play her – he was probably the person that showered her with the most attention. She took that as 'he's so together, he's interested in my life and I'm his muse, I'm in his star. That meant a lot her, especially after being with guys who never treated her that way or never really seemed to care about her." When asked if Kristina could forgive Trey, Morgan explained that it is definitely a possibility and describes Trey as being the most real love interest for her character. "I mean, he shot his own father to protect her in the end. So he did make the right decision in the end, but it took him a while. I think right now she's just so hurt by it and just so in shock. I could see if like it was 'never again, we'll be perfect together' and whatnot. But I could see her forgiving him, but knowing her it would take a while. And take lots of flowers and candy."