Simone Lawson
Helena Cassadine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the American soap opera General Hospital. She was introduced in 1981 and has since reappeared several times, often to wreak havoc on the citizens of Port Charles. Helena's actions include blackmail, murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy. She was married to Mikkos Cassadine, who died during the popular Ice Princess storyline. Helena sought revenge for her husband's death, putting a curse on the couple who she believed were responsible. The character has been portrayed by various actresses, including Elizabeth Taylor, Dimitra Arliss, and Constance Towers, who began playing the role in 1997 until the character's death in 2015. Despite her death, Helena continues to make appearances, suggesting that she may have cheated death once again.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Character | Helena Cassadine |
| Type of Character | Antagonist, Supervillain, Villainess |
| Portrayed by | Elizabeth Taylor, Dimitra Arliss, Constance Towers |
| Year Introduced | 1981 |
| Year of Death | 2015 |
| Portrayed by (after death) | Constance Towers |
| Year of Last Appearance | 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
Helena Cassadine's character in General Hospital
Helena Cassadine is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the American soap opera General Hospital. She was famously played by film actress Elizabeth Taylor in November 1981. Taylor was a fan of the series and asked for a featured role. She was cast as Helena, the vengeful widow of villain Mikkos Cassadine.
Helena reappeared in 1996, played by Dimitra Arliss for a few episodes, and then the character was recast with Constance Towers in 1997, who returned nearly every year since. Helena returned in 2014 after being revived by Robin Scorpio-Drake, but died in 2015 after being poisoned by her grandson Nikolas.
Helena is known as the most notorious and wicked female villain in General Hospital history. She committed countless crimes, including blackmail, murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, mass murder, and putting curses on her victims. She also had a small feud with the Quartermaines and Scorpios.
Helena reappeared in Port Charles at the General Hospital grand reopening on April 13, 2009, demanding that Nikolas return a painting of Saint Gregoire to her. She had orchestrated the recent arrival of Rebecca Shaw, who resembled Nikolas's deceased wife, Emily Quartermaine. After some time, Helena disappeared, but she returned on September 30, 2009, sick and confined to her bed. She told Luke that another Cassadine was plotting revenge on the Spencers and Cassadines. Luke thought she was faking her illness, but it was revealed that she was genuinely unwell. Helena was afraid of another Cassadine, Valentin, and Nikolas had her flown back to Greece for her safety.
Helena reappeared in Port Charles in February 2010 after learning of Nikolas' affair with Elizabeth Webber. She threatened Elizabeth about the welfare of her unborn child, believed to be Nikolas'. She was committed to Shadybrook Sanitarium by Nikolas and Lucky, who believed her to be unstable. Helena was revealed to be alive, thanks to Robin's miracle formula, and she had plans for Jason Morgan and Robin. She also planned to blow up the Cassadine yacht with many Port Charles residents aboard, but her plan failed, and she was banished to the Cassadine compound.
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Portrayals of Helena Cassadine
Helena Cassadine, a fictional character, is the main antagonist of the American soap opera General Hospital. The character was famously originated by film actress Elizabeth Taylor in November 1981. Taylor, a fan of the series, called the then-executive producer, Gloria Monty, and asked for a featured role. She was cast as Helena, the widow of villain Mikkos Cassadine.
After a brief stint by Dimitra Arliss in 1996, Constance Towers took over the role in 1997 and has returned nearly every year since. Towers' best-known soap part is as Helena Cassadine, a role she played from 1997 until the character's death in 2015. She made additional onscreen guest appearances in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. In October 2020, Towers briefly reprised the role in an offscreen cameo, with Helena heard via a phone call. In March 2023, it was announced that Towers would reprise the role for two episodes in May 2023.
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Helena Cassadine's return to Greece
Helena Cassadine, the fictional antagonist of the American soap opera General Hospital, has made numerous returns to the show over the years, including one return to Greece.
The character, originated by Elizabeth Taylor in 1981, has been played by Dimitra Arliss and Constance Towers, who first took on the role in 1997 and has returned nearly every year since. In one storyline, Helena is flown to Greece by Nikolas Cassadine, who fears for her safety because of the mysterious Valentin Cassadine, her illegitimate son. A recovered Helena returns to Port Charles and begins threatening Elizabeth Webber, whom she believes is carrying Nikolas' baby. This sets off a series of DNA test shenanigans.
Helena's return to Greece is just one of her many reappearances, each time wreaking havoc on the citizens of Port Charles. She is known for her villainous acts, including blackmail, murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, and mass murder. In one storyline, she orchestrates the appearance of Rebecca Shaw, who resembles Nikolas' deceased wife, Emily Quartermaine. In another, she fakes her own illness and is revealed to have been plotting with Luke to blow up the Cassadine yacht with many Port Charles residents aboard.
Helena's character has been described as "pure evil" with little to no redeeming qualities. Despite her death in 2015, she continues to reappear on the show, with her last will and testament being shown in 2016.
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Helena Cassadine's death
Helena Cassadine, the fictional antagonist of the American soap opera General Hospital, died in 2015. The character was famously originated by film actress Elizabeth Taylor in 1981. After a brief stint by Dimitra Arliss in 1996, Constance Towers took over the role in 1997 and returned nearly every year until the character's death.
Helena's death came at the hands of her grandson Nikolas, who poisoned her. After her death, it was revealed that she had been secretly nursing her other son, Stavros, back to health on Cassadine Island. Stavros recovered her body and took her back to the island, where he provided his mother with the same cryogenic treatment that she had given him after his presumed death.
Helena's last will and testament were shown on March 14, 2016, and she promised everyone who attended that she intended to immortalize herself through her will. Despite her death, Helena continued to wreak havoc on the residents of Port Charles, having orchestrated several schemes before her demise that continued to unfold.
Helena reappeared in 2014 after Robin Scorpio-Drake developed a protocol that revived her. However, she was poisoned by Nikolas and died in 2015. The character has made several onscreen guest appearances since her death, with Towers most recently reprising the role for two episodes in May 2023.
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Helena Cassadine's villainy
Helena Cassadine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the American soap opera General Hospital. She is known to be the most notorious and wicked female villain in the history of soap operas. Her character was first played by Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor in 1981, and later by Constance Towers, who nearly every year since 1997 has returned to the role for varying lengths of time.
Helena is the widow of Mikkos Cassadine, an exiled Russian prince and villain, who died at the climax of the "Ice Princess" storyline. She arrives in Port Charles just in time to curse Luke Spencer and Laura Webber from the sidelines of their wedding. Laura vanishes without a trace in 1982, and is kidnapped by the Cassadines in revenge. She is forced to marry Mikkos and Helena's son Stavros Cassadine, and only returns to Port Charles in 1983 when she learns that Luke is alive.
Helena reappears in Port Charles at the General Hospital grand reopening on April 13, 2009, demanding that Nikolas return a painting of Saint Gregoire to her. She has orchestrated the arrival of Rebecca Shaw, who resembles Nikolas's deceased wife, Emily Quartermaine. She tears the paper off the back of the painting to reveal a birth certificate and tries to lure Rebecca away from her partner to assist in her plans. Helena also once convinced Emily Quartermaine that she was cursed, nearly killing her.
Helena is revealed to be alive in 2014, thanks to Robin Scorpio-Drake's protocol that revived her. She possesses the frozen embryo of Stavros and Lulu and has big plans for Jason Morgan and Robin. She and Luke plan to blow up the Cassadine yacht with many Port Charles residents aboard, but their plan fails. Helena is sent to the Shadybrook Sanitarium, but even there, she continues to wreak havoc. She has also committed countless other crimes, including blackmail, kidnapping, conspiracy, attempted murder, and putting curses on her victims.
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Frequently asked questions
Helena Cassadine was played by multiple actresses over the years, including Elizabeth Taylor, Dimitra Arliss, and Constance Towers.
Helena Cassadine was the main antagonist of General Hospital, known for her wickedness and villainous acts, including blackmail, murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
Helena Cassadine first appeared in General Hospital in 1981, thanks to Elizabeth Taylor, who was a fan of the show and requested a featured role.
Helena Cassadine's death has been reported multiple times, but she constantly defies death, returning to the show over and over again, even appearing in flashbacks and visions.
Helena Cassadine was involved in numerous significant storylines, including the Ice Princess storyline, where she sought revenge for the death of her husband, Mikkos Cassadine. She was also known for her feuds with the Spencers and other Cassadines, and for orchestrating the appearance of Nikolas' late wife Emily's look-alike, Rebecca.
