Longtime General Hospital fans will get another blast from the past next month when actress Rachel Ames (Audrey Hardy) reprises the role of Audrey Hardy. Another GH leading lady, Genie Francis, broke the news during a visit to Katie Couric's self-titled talk show.

"There's somebody who's coming back who's very, very important," Francis beamed. "The original leading lady, Rachel Ames, who played Audrey Hardy, Steve Hardy's wife."

Ames first aired on General Hospital in 1964, but retired from acting in 2007. Ames did take a semi-break from her retirement for a special guest appearance on General Hospital in October 2009.

Ames has been nominated for three Daytime Emmys. In 1974 and 1975 she was nominated as Best Actress, and in 1979 she picked up a nod as Outstanding Supporting Actress. In 2005, Ames was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Ames is expected to hit the airwaves on March 29.