GENERAL HOSPITAL Alum Annie Ilonzeh Joins the Cast of CHICAGO FIRE
Actress Annie Ilonzeh is getting back into medicine with her new role on CHICAGO FIRE. Best known to soap fans for playing medical intern Maya Ward on GENERAL HOSPITAL from 2010-11, Ilonzeh was originally cast in the recurring role of confident new paramedic Emily Foster, but now Soaps In Depth has learned she has been upped to a series regular for the NBC drama’s seventh season. “Feeling electrified to have joined the CHICAGO FIRE family,” she posted to Instagram. “I just can’t take it! Excited for y’all to meet Emily Foster.”
Described by Variety as “an intelligent, easygoing and confident new paramedic,” Ilonzeh’s character is new to the Chicago Fire Department, but a quick study. “She may have a chip on her shoulder from the previous bumps in the road, yet takes everything in stride.” The actress shared a quick clip of herself on the show on social media to give her fans a quick taste of Emily.
GH viewers will remember Ilonzeh as Maya Ward, the great-granddaughter of Mary Mae Ward and Edward Quartermaine. While working at General Hospital, Maya got involved with Ethan Lovett, and while acting as chaperones to keep Luke from getting Tracy drunk and marrying her in Vegas, it was Maya and Ethan who would up hitched. Edward offered them a million bucks if they could stay married for a year, but after a while, Maya went out of town on business and when Ethan went to visit, he found her in bed with another guy! Needless to say, Ethan came home to Port Charles without Maya, and they were later officially divorced.
Maya got mixed up in all kinds of Spencer and Quartermaine shenanigans during her time on GH! (Photo Credit: Howard Wise/jpistudios.com)
Since leaving GH, Ilonzeh has had recurring roles on primetime series like EMPIRE, PERSON OF INTEREST, DROP DEAD DIVA, and was one of the stars of ABC’s reboot of CHARLIE’S ANGELS. Most recently, she could be seen starring opposite Jennifer Garner in the film Peppermint.
Ilonzeh makes her debut in the seventh season premiere of CHICAGO FIRE, airing on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. And you can look forward to following her journey all season to see how Emily fits in with her new team and saves lives all over the city.
For more on your favorite GH stars — past and present — keep reading the ABC edition of Soaps In Depth magazine!
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