The Full Gorgeous Transformation Of General Hospital's Kate Mansi

Kate Mansi has worked her way up the soap opera ladder to become one of the most recognizable faces on the small screen, with major roles in "Days of Our Lives" and "General Hospital" on her impressive résumé. But they're not the only places you'll recognize this Daytime Emmy winner. She's also popped up in a slew of Lifetime movies and the gritty Freevee series "Casa Grande." "I think coming from a soap opera ... I had sort of a similar trajectory in people wanting to put me into a box a bit ... But I knew who I was and I knew what I was capable of and the work and the roles that I was interested in," she said on Pop Culture with Pat about spreading her acting wings.

Mansi's gorgeous transformation has seen her evolve from a young California girl with a passion for dance to a happily married actor traveling the world and embracing new challenges. And she's been an open book about it all. Amid all the highs (like landing two big soap roles) and lows (including an endometriosis diagnosis and a heartbreaking divorce), Mansi has repeatedly shared her truth with the world.

Katharine Theresa Rose Morris (aka Kate Mansi) entered the world in 1987, a native of Calabasas, California — the same neighborhood the Kardashian clan grew up in. Much like the notorious "K" family, Mansi's clan was no shrinking violets. Describing her childhood on the sunny West Coast to Revamp, she said, "Loud. I come from a large family where the dynamic was very much 'lead or be led." Mansi, whose parents divorced and remarried, revealed on "State of Mind with Maurice Benard" that she also grew up with an intimate knowledge of bipolar disorder due to her dad's diagnosis.

Though acting would become her career, back then, Mansi had a strong passion for riding horses on her dad's ranch and dancing. So much so that she thought she'd pursue the latter professionally. "I was laser-focused on that until my high school theater teacher Mr. Bill Garrett told me if I auditioned for the school play he would give me the credits I needed to go off-campus for dance. I got the lead in that play and it changed my life," she told Revamp. 

As her love for acting grew, Mansi's passion for dance remained strong until she graduated from high school. Speaking on "State of Mind with Maurice Benard," Mansi revealed she was offered a dance scholarship to a New York college but decided to remain in California.

Instead of shipping off to the Big Apple to become a dancer, around 2005, Kate Mansi enrolled at California's Pepperdine University to major in public relations and minor in Italian (a nod to her Italian heritage). Mansi told SK Studios that her mom (who worked as an agent in California) pushed her to go to college and study something other than performing arts, promising to share her contacts in the entertainment world if she got a college degree.

While studying, Mansi leaned into her philanthropic side and worked at orphanages in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which she told Naluda Magazine had a strong effect on her. But as much as she loved helping others, her heart wasn't truly in college. She admitted on "State of Mind with Maurice Benard" that she spent much of her college years dreaming of getting a role on a TV show and dropping out. To help keep her acting dream alive, she told Wisdom in Beauty that her grandmother quietly paid for acting classes.

In her sophomore year of college, Mansi appeared in several commercials. Her first gig? A booty model, as her jean-clad derriere was used in an electronics commercial for Panasonic. Mansi then landed a guest-star role in a 2008 episode of the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" as Amanda, a woman who briefly dated Josh Radnor's main character, Ted.

Kate Mansi's brief stint on "How I Met Your Mother" got her foot in the TV acting door, but it wasn't her big break. That honor went to the soap opera "Days of Our Lives." Mansi began appearing on the NBC show in 2011, shortly after graduating. She recalled the frantic day she learned she'd be taking over the role of Abigail Deveraux (previously played by multiple actors, including "Pretty Little Liars" star Ashley Benson) on "State of Mind with Maurice Benard." 

Mansi shared that her boyfriend of more than five years had broken up with her the night before she met with the casting team. "I was just, like, broken and devastated," she said, admitting she broke down in tears in front of casting director Marnie Saitta. Mansi initially didn't think she'd landed the role after her emotional audition. "I was like, 'That's it I'm never coming back to the show again. They have put me through the ringer," she said. 

The actor also shared that she'd auditioned for the iconic soap opera twice before but wasn't hired. Fortunately, though, the third time was the charm. Mansi went on to become a big part of the popular drama, and the actor showed off a striking new look on the soap. Taking on the role of Abigail involved dying her signature brown hair honey blonde, proving she is a celeb who can pull off dark and light hair flawlessly.

In 2015, Kate Mansi got a life-changing endometriosis diagnosis after experiencing multiple symptoms, including serious pain and bleeding, that were initially dismissed by her doctors. Mansi then returned to work after receiving no diagnosis, but the pain got so bad that she had to drive herself to the emergency room.

"I was in the worst pain of my life and it turns out, I had an ovarian cyst rupturing, and I was working through it for days," she told People, revealing her stepdad, an OB-GYN, conducted emergency surgery on her that saved her life. "When I came out of surgery, I had lost so much blood that I needed blood transfusions," she said, sharing that it was the first time she'd been told about endometriosis. Since then, Mansi, who has opened up about freezing her eggs, has joined the ranks of celebs advocating for adequate endometriosis care by sharing her story in the hopes that others will feel more comfortable speaking out.

By 2015, Mansi had become somewhat of a beauty and style icon, and fans were clamoring to get her look. The actor shared her beauty secrets in an interview with Wisdom in Beauty, sharing that she's one of those celebs who love minimal makeup on days away from the camera. "I do abide by the natural girl look when it comes to hair and makeup. I had never dyed my hair until the show, and the concept of spending hours in a salon to get it blonde was something I never quite got used to," she said, revealing she'd returned to brunette and felt more like herself.

After five years on "Days of Our Lives," Kate Mansi decided to step back from the drama when her contract ended. "I wanted to leave them just to pursue other things. It was the peak of my character so was odd to be leaving then, but I was ready. Like, I just felt it in my gut and I was ready to go," she explained on "State of Mind with Maurice Benard." Mansi also addressed her somewhat surprising departure in a lengthy, emotional Instagram post, which received more than 1,000 comments from fans who were sad to see her go. "Please don't leave!" one commenter pleaded. "Really wish you would have stayed on Days, sad to see you go the new Abigail wont be the same, hope you come back," another wrote.

The star delved a little deeper into the reason behind her exit in 2018. "My first and foremost focus was to spend some real time on self-care because I had a difficult time portraying such a dark story for so long and it coincided with a time I was having some tricky health issues," she told Soap Opera Digest. The actor didn't elaborate on whether her health issues were related to the endometriosis diagnosis, but she explained she benefited from having some downtime in the wake of her busy soap opera schedule. The year after she left the show, Mansi won her first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Though Kate Mansi had stepped back from soap work, she wasn't totally out of the spotlight. The actor appeared in a number of Lifetime dramas after leaving Abigail Deveraux in her rear-view mirror, starting with the 2016 movie "Unwanted Guest," in which she played the lead character. The following year, she took on another lead role in the movie "Boyfriend Killer."

In 2018, the actor added a new TV movie string to her bow via "Maternal Secrets." In a since-deleted Instagram post, Mansi gushed about the fun time she had filming the TV movie overseas. "I spent a month in Bermuda with a fake baby bump and some pretty incredible people making this movie. I'm most proud that it was the largest female cast & crew I've ever worked with so far," she wrote (via SheKnows).

Following Kate Mansi's Lifetime success, she made her triumphant "Days of Our Lives" return as Abigail Deveraux in 2018. "It was familiar and comfortable but also surreal because it's like I was returning to an old friend and we could pick back up where we left off," Mansi told Soap Opera Digest, confirming the show's higher-ups reached out to her to come back. It wasn't long before the star left the show again, though. In 2020, amid COVID-19 lockdowns around the world, she departed the soap opera for the second, and at the time of writing, final time.

But this California girl didn't rest on her laurels. Amid the unprecedented time, the talented actor continued to work and audition virtually for the role of Hunter Clarkman in the Amazon Frevee drama series "Casa Grande." "I took advantage of the fact that I was doing it as a self-tape and not an in-person audition and took A LOT more liberties than I usually would be able to at an in-person audition," she told Revamp.

Speaking on "State of Mind with Maurice Benard," Mansi described the tough-as-nails Hunter as her favorite role, as she knew it was perfect for her immediately. To get into character, she told Revamp  that she'd cut and darkened her hair and added choppy, eyelash bangs (which would become a huge trend in 2024) before she knew she'd got the gig. The drama began streaming in 2023.

By 2021, Kate Mansi had a new title: wife. She revealed on "State of Mind with Maurice Benard" that she met her first husband, Blake Levin, around 2013 when he was working on "The Jay Leno Show" and they crossed paths in the NBC commissary. The two secretly tied the knot in 2021 by signing legal papers after having their wedding delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The duo had plans for a big ceremony when the world opened back up, but Mansi's first marriage was far from wedded bliss.

She claimed Levin changed his mind around six weeks before their long-awaited wedding was scheduled. Mansi recalled telling her then-husband, "It sounds like we need to separate and do some, like, real work because why would you not walk down the aisle?" The actor confirmed they separated after the candid conversation but spent a year trying to rebuild their marriage. Unfortunately, the two couldn't make it work. They divorced, which left Mansi heartbroken. "It was brutal. I've had depression and anxiety my whole life, but for me, in that moment, that wasn't like anything else," she said, sharing that she spent days at a time holed up in her home.

In 2023, Kate Mansi's career got another shot in the arm when she returned to the soap world. But this time, it wasn't for "Days of Our Lives." Instead, Mansi joined the cast of the long-running serial drama "General Hospital." She took on the role of Kristina Davis after fellow actor Lexi Ainsworth, who previously played the character, chose not to return. "'General Hospital' came to me at a really special time in my life. It was right after COVID, and it was right before the writers' strike, and I was at a time in my life when I was really redefining who I was as a woman and an artist," Mansi told TV Insider.

As her career continued to grow, so did her interest in her health. Also in 2023, the star opened up about her passion for health and fitness during an interview with Muscle and Fitness. The actor shared that she follows a pescatarian diet, takes regular yoga classes, and enjoys hiking. "I've always been a bit averse to the word 'allow' in this context, because it feels like it comes with a connotation of 'good' and 'bad.' I lean more towards 'what does my body need right now to feel well, good or satiated,'" she explained of her approach to food. Mansi also revealed that her role on "Casa Grande" had changed her for the better. "[I'm more] empowered, unapologetic, and brazen," she said.

In July 2024, the newly empowered Kate Mansi confirmed she'd found love again when she got engaged for the second time. The soap opera star shared that her producer partner, Matt McInnis, had popped the question, and she flashed a rectangular diamond ring and a big smile on Instagram. But the two didn't have too long to soak in the joys of being betrothed. Mansi told Soap Opera Digest that she and McInnis needed to spend a lot of time together that summer because he was starting a new job that would involve international travel that fall.

But distance couldn't keep these love birds apart. Just 11 months after McInnis popped the question, Mansi got the wedding she'd long hoped for via a top-secret ceremony. Not only did Mansi and McInnis keep their nuptials quiet from the public, but they also didn't even tell their wedding guests. To get their nearest and dearest to their venue, the two seemingly pretended to be throwing a normal party. "We wanted that eruption of joy, that moment where love just takes over the room," Mansi told People. "The entire evening was meant to mirror our relationship: unexpected, full of humor, moving to its own rhythm, and rooted in deep connection," she added. The star shared glimpses of her special day on social media, including an Instagram video with the sweet caption, "The surprise ceremony + reception of my dreams."

By 2026, Kate Mansi decided it was time to say goodbye to "General Hospital" — but not before she took part in an important storyline close to her heart. Mansi directed an episode of the soap opera, in which her character's sister experienced an endometriosis flare-up. "I was so proud of ABC and [executive producer] Frank Valentini and the writers for telling this story. I was so honored and it should be something that is represented more," Mansi told People. "The attention and care that they put into this story was so meaningful," she added. In an Instagram post, the "Legend of the Muse" star admitted she'd always dreamed of directing a project.

Later in the year (the same year the "Casa Grande" movie dropped in theaters), Mansi left "General Hospital." Speaking to TV Insider, she explained that Matt McInnis' busy schedule played a part in her decision, as she needed more flexibility to balance his international work (see all the things to think about before moving for a partner). Mansi teased that she had more acting projects in the pipeline, though her immediate plans involve spending more time with her husband. But it wasn't all bad news for soap opera fans, as Mansi made it clear she wasn't ruling out a "General Hospital" return down the line. "It's Port Charles. Anything is possible," she teased.

A potential return for Kristina Davis wasn't all Mansi fans had to look forward to, though. She also shared plans to take on more directing roles and, in 2025, hinted to SK Studios that she'd been working on a movie short. Clearly, the world is Mansi's oyster, and she's making the most of every transformative chapter.