General Hospital star Jane Elliot reveals why she loves playing Tracy Quartermaine

General Hospital star Jane Elliot has appeared on many soaps over the years, but it's her role of GH's Tracy Angelica Quartermaine that fans love her for the most! In a rare interview, the actress reflects on her acting career and her current role on GH as the new owner of the Quartermaine home.

General Hospital, Jane Elliot plays Tracy Quartermaine

Tracy and Monica had both a tumultuous and a loving relationship on General Hospital that spanned decades | Image: JPI

Elliot debuted as Tracy in 1978. She came to town for her brother Alan's (Stuart Damon) wedding to Monica (Leslie Charleson). Tracy stuck around, anxious to keep a watchful eye on the inheritance belonging to her and her son, Ned (now, Wally Kurth). Tracy knew that if Monica gave birth to an illegitimate heir, that child could not inherit Quartermaine wealth, and she suspected that Monica's son, A.J., was fathered by Rick Webber (Chris Robinson). (Spoiler alert: Alan was A.J.'s dad!)

When Elliot was a young girl, she dreamed about being a nurse or an ice skater, but she knew deep in her heart that she was an actor, Elliot told ABC7's George Pennacchio in a TV interview.

Her early credits included an episode of Kojak, which starred Telly Savalas. On the big screen, she appeared in Change of Habit, which starred Elvis Presley and Mary Tyler Moore.

She recalls Presley as being "intelligent, kind, honorable, funny, [and] professional."

All Her Roles

General Hospital actress Jane Elliot was honored for 50 years of significant, long-term service to the industry at the Daytime Emmys in 2025 | Image: JPI

In addition to playing Tracy on General Hospital, Elliot was cast as the tragic and complex Carrie Todd Marler on Guiding Light, calculating Cynthia Preston Courtlandt on All My Children, and devious Anjelica Deveraux on Days of our Lives. The actress played Tracy on The City, the ABC soap on which she also served as a producer.

"It's the easiest kind of role to play, though," Elliot says of bringing Tracy to life. "There's no crying. There's no heartbreak...you come in, you're snarky and mean, you take your wardrobe off, and you go home, and you don't take it home with you."

Elliot says one reason that she enjoys playing Tracy is that her character is comfortable not being liked. "I don't care what you think of me!" laughed the actress.

The actress was reunited on GH with her DAYS co-star Wally Kurth (Justin) as he had taken over the role of Tracy's son, Ned. On DAYS, as viewers recall, Angelica and Justin were lovers, but on GH, Tracy and Ned are mother and son.

"I'm your mother this time! I'm your mother," Elliot said that she had to remind herself.

Ironically, Tracy, who feuded with Monica, Alan, and her father, Edward (David Lewis; John Ingle), over the years, is now the last one standing -- at least from the Quartermaine characters with whom she first appeared when she joined the show.

"I represent what is left of the arch family that started. And I have to fill all those slots now," Elliot shared.

Catch all-new episodes of General Hospital weekdays on ABC and Hulu.

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Edited by Michael Maloney