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Det. Valerie Spencer is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera, General Hospital. She is the daughter of the late Pat Spencer and an unknown man. She is also a member of the Spencer family and the niece of legendary characters Luke and Bobbie Spencer.
The role was most notably portrayed by actress Brytni Sarpy from March 20, 2015 to March 14, 2019.
It was announced on March 28, 2019, that actress Paulina Bugembe would be Sarpy's replacement and she made her first appearance on April 23, 2019. She was last seen on June 12, 2019, and returned from August 28-September 1, 2020.
Development[]
Brytni Sarpy had auditioned for the series several times over the years.[1] The actress first auditioned for the short lived role of Taylor DuBois in the spring of 2013. While Sarpy made it through the casting process, she was ultimately too old for the role of the 16-year-old Taylor.[2]
In late 2013, Sarpy auditioned for the role of Jordan Ashford (Vinessa Antoine)โfor which she was too young because Sarpy would have been playing mom to a teenager.[2] However, Sarpy made an indelible impression on the casting department.[3]
Sarpy was sure she'd land in daytime because she had actually auditioned several times for NBC's Days of Our Lives. "I kind of knew it was going to be one or the other" the actress said to Soap Opera Digest.[2]
In January 2015, the series put out a casting call for for a contract role due begin taping in late February.[4][5] When Sarpy returned to audition for the role of Valerie with casting director Mark Teschner despite the lack of information in the original casting call.[1]
Sarpy described the casting process for Valerie as "pretty quick" because within the next few days, she had a callback with some of the producers, including executive producer Frank Valentini. She then screen tested the following Monday and within "a week and a half," Sarpy had booked the role making General Hospital the actress's first major professional gig.[2][6]
Sarpy admitted that finding the "right" roles had been difficult, "but the role of Valerie Spencer, was effortless for me." Head writer Ron Carlivati explained that with the introduction of Valerie's mother Pat (Dee Wallace) as the long lost Spencer sibling, the writers questioned if a new character of that age could "have an ongoing purpose on the canvas?" And out of those discussions came the character of Valerie. Carlivati thought, "why go to all that trouble just to kill of Pat?" Valerie's survival after Pat's departure "made it more interesting to [the writers] and brought it into the present."[3]
- "That's my favorite part of being Valerie, that Spencer is at the end of her name. I'm so honored to be a part of a legacy family. It's incredibly humbling."[7]
-Sarpy on Valerie being a Spencer.
In late December 2016, Sarpy was dropped to recurring basis.[8]
On February 2, 2018, it was announced that Sarpy will return to the show as Valerie first appearing sometime this month. On July 12, 2018, it was announced that Sarpy would return again soon.[9]
In February 2019, it was announced that Sarpy had joined the cast of The Young and the Restless.[10][11][12][13] Sarpy made her last appearance on March 14, 2019. On March 28, 2019, it was announced that Paulina Bugembe had been cast in the role of Valerie, and had already had her first day on-set;[14] she made her first appearance on April 23, 2019. She was last seen on September 1, 2020.
In January 2015, the series put out a casting call for a "beautiful," "dynamic", and "charismatic" African American actress in her 20s for a contract role due begin taping in late February.
Sarpy explained that Valerie would "always" be defined by her relationship with her mother. While it wasn't originally scripted, Valerie's introduction immediately answers the question about her being biracial. Sarpy said "We felt it was important to answer the question of Valerie's mixed ethnicity head on."[1] During an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Sarpy revealed that she and Valerie actually have several similarities. Like Valerie, Sarpy also has a diverse ethnic background and was primarily raised by a single parentโher father, while Valerie was raised by her mother.
Valerie is her mother's caretaker during her battle with Multiple sclerosis while Sarpy's father Mel suffers from Parkinson's disease.
- "The way Valerie took care of her mother, I definitely related to it."[2] Because of this, Valerie possess a certain "maternal quality." Sarpy said her character's iconic heritage speaks for itself. "Valerie is a Spencer through and through." She described Valerie as a "passionate" "go-getter" who "wears her heart on her sleeve." Valerie has "hero qualities" and is a "good girl." Valerie is a "fighter" Sarpy declared. She is very "sincere."[15]
Storylines[]
Valerie is held hostage by her uncle Luke
On March 20, 2015, Tracy Quartermaine and Lulu Spencer are looking to find Pat Spencer, and instead find her daughter, Valerie. Lulu reveals that she the daughter of Pat's brother Luke and that they are cousins. Lulu and Tracy explain that Luke is in trouble and that Pat may be the only one who can help him out of it. However, Valerie claims her mother is dead and it is revealed that Valerie is being held hostage at gunpoint by Luke himself. It is later revealed that Valerie told Lulu and Tracy that her mom was dead because she is trying to keep Luke away from her. When Valerie doesn't change her story, Luke ties her up to keep her from escaping. Valerie eventually lets it slip that Pat is alive but she refuses to give up her location suspecting that Luke will kill her. Just as Luke is about to kill Valerie, she escapes and they struggle over his gun. Under pressure, Valerie tells Luke where her mother is, knowing Luke's plans were to kill her.
Valerie and Lulu
On March 27, Dante and Lulu arrive at Valerie's and find her unconscious on the floor. When she comes to she meets her cousin-in-law, Dante. She then tells them that Luke did this to her and that he was in the closet when Lulu and Tracy were there. Valerie also reveals that Pat is very much alive, but she has Multiple Sclerosis and is in a convalescent home. She then tells them that she had to tell Luke where her mother is or he would have killed her. Valerie is worried about her mother so she tries to get up to leave but is too weak. Dante and Lulu try to calm her down and get more information. Then Valerie passes out in Dante's arms. While Lulu searches for Oak Hill Valerie regains consciousness only to pass out again. When she wakes up she finds out that Lulu went to Oakhill.
Valerie and her mom, Pat
When Valerie finds out that her mother went after Luke with Bobbie and Tracy, she's not very happy. Valerie finds her mother in Port Charles but their reunion is cut short when Pat suddenly dies of heart failure, which devastates Valerie. Valerie is so upset that she tried kill Luke, who she blamed for her mother's death, with a scalpel but is stopped Dante and Lulu. She and Dante start to become closer and she cries on his shoulder a lot about losing her mother because they were both raised by single mothers and he gets it. She also starts developing a crush on him.
Valerie and Dante have sex~~the first time
Months later, Valerie and Dante end up sleeping together when Dante thinks that Lulu is having an affair with Dillon but it turns out that Lulu was out rescuing her brothers. Once Dante found this out he swore Valerie to secrecy saying he wants to work things out with Lulu. Soon after Valerie starts dating Dillon. Eventually, Valerie admits to Nathan that she does have feelings for Dante. The truth about the one night stand came out on November 2, 2015. Later in the month they sleep together again after Valerie attempts to seduce Dante after finding him alone in the loft.
Valerie and Dante have sex~~the second time
She finds a distraught Dante grieving over separation papers and takes advantage of the situation. Valerie agrees to enter a secret dating situation with Dante after Dante establishes that the best he can give her now are clandestine hook-ups. After Christmas, Valerie asks Dante for a secret hookup when Dante tells her he's busy, informing Valerie that over the Christmas holidays he and Lulu didn't fight so much and implying that there may be a chance for Lante to reconcile. Valerie ends her secret relationship with Dante, which produces a palpable look of relief on Dante' face.
Valerie is caught in a fire
In late December, Valerie meets Johnny Zacchara but she does not know it is him. Unknown to her it is part of Lulu's plan to run her out town. Johnny kidnaps Valerie and she ends up in a cabin, which ends up engulfed in flames. Lulu shows up and saves her life but Valerie puts two and two together and realizes that Lulu was part of this and they get into a fight.
Valerie and Curtis
On February 4, 2016 Valerie and Dillon go to the Floating Rib and she end up playing pool with Curtis Ashford and she kicks his butt. Later on, Lulu comes up to her and apologizes but she doesn't accept it because Lulu crossed a line. Afterwards, Curtis asks Valerie out on a date and she accepts. Valerie meets Curtis at the Floating Rib for a date. While there she briefly talks to Nathan and Maxie, while Jordan is talking to Curtis. Later, Valerie re-meets Curtis' nephew T.J.. Later that same night Jordan tells Valerie that she should leave Curtis and forget that she ever met because he's trouble. Jordan tells Valerie to ask Curtis if he has a cocaine addiction. Later, when she continues her date with Curtis, he asks her if Jordan was bothering her. She tells him no but that she does have a training test the next day. Then she asks Curtis if he has a cocaine problem and he tells her that he used to but not anymore.
Valerie, Amy, Emma and Kristina perform to "Brave" at the Nurses' Ball
Valerie and Emma
During the 2017 Nurses Ball, Valerie, Nurse Amy Driscoll, Emma Scorpio-Drake and Kristina Corinthos-Davis sing and perform a dance routine to Brave by Sara Bareilles.
Valerie and Kristina kiss
On October 2, 2018, it was revealed that Valerie had passed her detectives exam.[18]
On August 8, 2020, Val was seen taking Michaelโs statement regarding Wileyโs kidnapping and she called Willow.
On May 4, 2021, Mac tells Dante that Valerie is testifying on a case and wants to transfer to Forensics.Crimes Committed[]
- Bit her uncle, Luke Spencer on the hand in self-defense [Mar 26, 2015]
- Fought with Luke for a gun [Mar 26, 2015]
- Went into Luke's hospital room with the intent of harming him [Apr 7, 2015]
- Held a scalpel to Luke's throat and almost killed him [Apr 8, 2015]
- Adultery; slept with Dante Falconeri while he was married to her cousin, Lulu [Jul 6, 2015]
- Adultery; had an affair with Dante while he was married to Lulu [Nov-Dec 2015]
- Accidentally knocked over a candle which started a fire in a cabin [Jan 2016]
- Slapped Lulu and it turned into a cat fight in which she tried to strangle her after threatening to kill Lulu. [Jan 19, 2016]
- Conspired with Curtis Ashford, Kevin Collins, Franco Baldwin, Elizabeth Webber, and Hamilton Finn to steal Ryan Chamberlain's kidney and donate it to Jordan Ashford [revealed June 12, 2019]
Health and Vitals[]
- Held hostage at gunpoint inside her own apartment by her uncle, Luke Spencer [Mar 20-26, 2015]
- Tied to a chair all night with a piece of duct tape over her mouth and threatened by Luke [Mar 25, 2015]
- Rendered unconscious by Luke (suffered a cut to her forehead as a result) [revealed Mar 27, 2015]
- Passed out multiple times [Mar 30, 2015]
- Suffered emotional anguish after the death of her mother (she tried to kill Luke) [Apr 7-8, 2015]
- Attacked and abducted by Johnny Zacchara [Jan 14, 2015]
- Held hostage by Johnny (she was tied to a chair in a cabin) [Jan 15-18, 2016]
- Trapped in a cabin that was engulfed in flames [Jan 18, 2016]
- Suffered from smoke inhalation [Jan 18, 2016]
- Slapped and almost strangled by Lulu after initiating a violent cat fight. [Jan 19, 2016]
- Knocked unconscious from behind by Paul Hornsby (aka Angel of Mercy Killer) [Aug 18, 2016]
See also[]
Family tree[]
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References[]
- โ 1.0 1.1 1.2 GH's Brytni Sarpy on Playing Valerie Spencer & Hollywood Racial Diversity. Retrieved on May 19, 2015.
- โ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Levinsky, Mara (September 21, 2015). "Spencer for Hire". Soap Opera Digest (American Media, Inc.) 40 (38): 44โ47.
- โ 3.0 3.1 Levinsky, Mara (April 13, 2015). "That's a Wrap!". Soap Opera Digest (American Media, Inc.) 40 (15): 34โ37.
- โ "New Girl!". Ins&Outs. ABC Soaps In Depth (Bauer Media Group) 19 (9): 13. March 2, 2015.
- โ "Meet The Newest Spencer!". ABC Soaps In Depth (Bauer Media Group) 19 (5): 12. April 13, 2015.
- โ 6.0 6.1 Exclusive Interview with General Hospitalโs Brytni Sarpy. Retrieved on September 14, 2015.
- โ "Hottest Newcomers of 2015". General Hospital: Brytni Sarpy (Valerie). Soap Opera Digest (American Media, Inc.) 40 (41): 65. October 12, 2015.
- โ http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/brytni-sarpy-speaks-gh-status/
- โ http://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/1612/brytni-sarpy-to-recurring-status-on-general-hospital
- โ https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-gh-star-to-yr1/
- โ https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-gh-star-to-yr1/
- โ https://www.cbs.soapsindepth.com/posts/the-young-and-the-restless-brytni-sarpy-preview-elena-170009
- โ https://www.cbs.soapsindepth.com/posts/the-young-and-the-restless-brytni-sarpy-preview-elena-170009
- โ https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-recasts-valerie/
- โ Soap Notes: Actress Brytni Sarpy Talks General Hospital [Exclusive]. Retrieved on August 1, 2015.
- โ Suzanne. Brytni Sarpy - General Hospital Q&A. Retrieved on August 1, 2015.
- โ โGeneral Hospitalโ Interview: Brytni Sarpy Talks GH, Playing Valerie Spencer and More. Retrieved on August 1, 2015.
- โ http://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/recaps/27524/lauras-unaware-ryans-taken-over-kevins-life
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