Alicia Leigh Willis is an American actress who originated the role of Courtney Matthews on the ABC soap opera General Hospital.
Career[]
She was cast in the role of Courtney in December 2001. Casting director Mark Teschner fought for her to be hired in the role, and coached her before her callback with the show's executive producer at the time Jill Farren Phelps. Years later, Teschner spoke highly of his experience with Willis, "She nailed it and she got the role and four years later, she was one of the most successful additions on the show. That's also very gratifying when you fight for somebody and they do you right by doing a great job with the role."
In 2006, Willis chose not to renew her contract. She was written off the show, but at her goodbye party on set, Jill Farren Phelps asked if she would stay on and wrap up her character's pregnancy storyline, to which Willis agreed.
As the story played out, Willis voiced her opinion on Soap Talk on her character's future, "I love playing Courtney and to see someone else come in, it's like, 'It's my character!' I don't want to see someone else come in, but if they do, I wish them all the luck." Although the network had initially announced recasting the role, it was later confirmed that the character would in fact be killed off. Willis last appeared on February 21, 2006.
Willis received two consecutive Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Courtney.
Willis returned, as a ghost, on May 4-5, 2015. She returned a second time on September 17, 2020 to escort her father, Mike into heaven.
She also portrayed Corey Conway on 7th Heaven, Alexandra Fowler on Another World, Elizabeth Wakefield on American Heiress, Cindi Tucker on The L World, and Avery Garrett on The Bay.
Personal Life[]
In 2022, Willis got engaged to Tanner Foust. The weekend of September 28-29, 2024, they got married.[1]