Kristina Davis

Casting

From December 2002 to July 2003, Kristina was portrayed by unknown child actors; followed by Kara and Shelby Hoffman from July 23, 2003 to late 2003 then by Emma and Sarah Smith from December 23, 2003 until 2005. In November 2005, child actress, Kali Rodriguez stepped into the role on a recurring basis. Rodriguez last appears as Kristina on August 13, 2008.

In May 2009, it was announced teen actress Lexi Ainsworth had been cast in the role of Kristina. Ainsworth first appeared on June 4, 2009. Response from fans and critics was very positive and Ainsworth was put on contract in late June. After months of rumors and speculation, Ainsworth confirmed in October 2011 via Twitter she'd been let go and has just filmed her last episode. Ainsworth last appeared in the role on November 4, 2011.

After much speculation and rumor as to whether Ainsworth would return to the role, several sources reported that the show was looking to bring Kristina back to Port Charles. On April 17, 2012, TVLine reported that actress Lindsey Morgan has been cast as Kristina and would make her debut on May 25, 2012. Morgan explains during an interview that she was unaware what role she was auditioning for as only a vague character description was released instead of the character's name. The producers put Morgan through a chemistry test with her potential on-screen parents, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) and Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis), which was something that hadn't been done in years. On March 26, 2013, Morgan announced she had departed her role as Kristina, last airing on March 4.

On July 29, 2015, Soap Opera Digest broke news that Ainsworth would reprise the role of Kristina, her return date aired on September 17, 2015.

Characterization

With the SORAS aging of Kristina in 2009, Kristina is initially introduced as a bit of a wild child. Kristina's trouble making ways during her first few months as "Kristina" are described as "phase". She often throws caution into the wind just to defy her parents because of how she grew up. However, several major events in her life, including causing her step-mother, Claudia's (Sarah Brown) car accident and miscarriage facilitate a character transition and Kristina morphs into somewhat of a "good girl". The vague 2012 casting call described the character as "soulful, but fiery." New comer Lindsey Morgan describes Kristina as having the perfect blend of qualities from both of her parents.

Teen dating abuse

In the summer of 2009, Kristina's boyfriend Kiefer Bauer (Christian Alexander) begins assaulting her repeatedly whenever he gets angry. Ainsworth praised the storyline saying several viewers could identify with her character. There was a very slow build in Kiefer's abusive attitude months before it actually happened and the storyline progresses in real time. On and off screen, Kristina's lack of positive male role models in her life is the reason for her choice to stay in an abusive relationship; she doesn't really know how to react to the situation, let alone remove herself from it. Ainsworth further discusses Kiefer's reason for the abuse, noting "he comes from a family who has instilled a feeling of entitlement in the young man." At the time, she is crushing on the older mysterious Ethan Lovett (Nathan Parsons) which only serves as a catalyst for Kiefer's anger. Kristina's crush turns to bitterness after a beating from Kiefer lands her in the hospital, and she blames Ethan.

Recast and reality

With the 2012 recast, Kristina returns home with a "vengeance" after discovering the truth about her parents' bribing the admissions office at Yale University to get her accepted. Morgan admits that Kristina's actions may be a bit questionable at times, but she only does certain things to get those around her to be honest with her. "Even though she is basically, really, extorting them right now, she's doing it almost for an ethical reason. In the end it's to expose her father--and her mother--and say, 'Hello, this is wrong!'" The plot in which Kristina forces her family to star in her reality show is also her way of asserting her independence. "College has shown her her own strength, her own power. And she's very much her father's daughter--and very much her mother's daughter. And very much tired of it all. Tired of them going behind her back, and tired of them being controlling. She needs to have her own say in her life." However, most viewers and critics didn't approve of the new direction and the reality aspect of the storyline. ABC Soaps in Depth gave the storyline a "Thumbs Down!" comparing it to a bad spoof of VH1's hit reality series, Mob Wives and the recast which is initially met with much disapproval is weighed down by the story. While SID has no problem with such a drastic character change as Ainsworth's Kristina according to SID is "relatable and likably soft" and Morgan's Kristina is written as "a jaded hell-raiser;" the reality show is not the best way to get fans to approve of the recast. In an interview with TVSource Magazine's Omar Nobles, Morgan revealed that Kristina was mostly upset by Sonny and Alexis pulling strings to get her into Yale because of what their actions said about her; "It's saying they didn't believe in her; she couldn't be admitted on her own and that hurt her. The people that she needs the most to believe in her doubted she could and that's why they did it… I also feel like they also thought she couldn't handle disappointment. That's what hurts her." Kristina forgives her parents knowing they meant well but she really cares about what they think of her. "As the middle child, especially with them never being together and Sonny and his huge family and other children; Alexis is busy with everything in her life. I think Kristina feels like she never got enough attention and was never truly seen by them. So when she's becoming an adult she wants to say them 'I am an adult and I can do this' and they don't think so and that hurts her."

Trey Mitchell

Along with the reality show storyline comes a new love interest for Kristina in Erik Valdez's Trey Mitchell, a grad student from Yale who convinces her to launch the Mob Princess series. According to Morgan, Kristina is very much blindsided by Trey as she is going through a time in her life where she is trying to find some stability. Coming from such an unconventional family where her parents never actually tried to be together leaves Kristina yearning for that family unit she never had with her parents. Even though Trey appears to be manipulating her, Kristina hopes the relationship will turn into something more when they marry on August 28, 2012. Kristina's need for a stable family is reflected in her concern for her sister, Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco) when her marriage begins falling apart. Though Kristina has always dreamed of having that "perfect family," she does not see her marriage to Trey being a major deal because she expects the marriage will be over just as quickly as it began. Kristina goes through with the marriage to help Trey realize how much she really does care for him, and hopes he will reciprocate those feelings. Morgan admitted to being confused as to why she trusts Trey so much, as opposed to her family, especially when it comes to her older brother, Michael (Chad Duell). Morgan revealed in an interview Kristina still sees Michael as the overprotective big brother and since leaving college, she's been trying to assert her independence. In a November 2012 interview, Morgan gave her take on Kristina's reason for falling for Trey; besides his looks, Trey is very different from the guys she's date previously or has been interested in. When Kristina is humiliated at school thanks to everyone finding out about Sonny pulling strings to get her in, Trey is the only person who likes her for who she is. "Even when he was playing her, and he obviously did play her – he was probably the person that showered her with the most attention. She took that as 'he's so together, he's interested in my life and I'm his muse, I'm in his star. That meant a lot her, especially after being with guys who never treated her that way or never really seemed to care about her." When asked if Kristina could forgive Trey, Morgan explained that it is definitely a possibility and describes Trey as being the most real love interest for her character. "I mean, he shot his own father to protect her in the end. So he did make the right decision in the end, but it took him a while. I think right now she's just so hurt by it and just so in shock. I could see if like it was 'never again, we'll be perfect together' and whatnot. But I could see her forgiving him, but knowing her it would take a while. And take lots of flowers and candy."

2002–08

Kristina is born on-screen on November 19, 2002 to Alexis Davis and her then-fiancé, Ned Ashton; named after Alexis's late sister, Kristina Cassadine. After a one night stand with mob boss, Sonny Corinthos, Alexis learns she is pregnant and tries to pass the child off as Ned's. Ned agrees to pretend to be Kristina's father to protect her from Sonny's lifestyle. The truth comes out when Kristina becomes ill and stem cells from Sonny's stillborn daughter with Sam McCall are used to save Kristina's life; Sam would later turn out to be Alexis's long lost daughter. After a court battle Alexis and Sonny agree to share custody of Kristina but she would live full time with Alexis and Sonny would be allowed to see her when ever he wanted.. Kristina is officially christened as Kristina Adela Corinthos-Davis on December 24, 2004 with Ric Lansing and Carly Corinthos as her godparents. In March 2005, Kristina, and Sonny's sons, Michael and Morgan are temporarily kidnapped by A. J. Quartermaine. In 2006, Kristina briefly lives with Sonny and Carly after Alexis is diagnosed with cancer. In November 2006, Kristina witnesses Sam shooting Diego Alcazar and goes into a trance like state for weeks. She eventually recovers and breaks her silence on Christmas. Kristina goes silent again when she sees Diego alive as the Text Message Killer. In 2008, after Kristina's older brother, Michael is shot and rendered comatose after an attempt on Sonny's life, Alexis reinforces Sonny staying away from their daughter after the Metro Court Hotel hostage crisis occurred by her brothers' evil uncle Jerry Jacks.

2009–11

A 16-year-old Kristina reappears in Port Charles in the summer of 2009 and starts causing trouble with Michael. Alexis wants to keep them apart due to Michael's anger issues. Kristina is caught by her stepmother, Claudia with wounded mob soldier Dominic Pirelli. Kristina helps her sister Molly cope when Alexis's affair with the mayor is exposed. Kristina also begins dating Kiefer Bauer. In July 2009, Kiefer begins abusing Kristina after she refuses to have sex with him. After seeing him with another girl, a distraught Kristina accidentally runs a pregnant Claudia off the road and then runs away with Michael who also believes he caused the accident. The teens are briefly taken hostage by Jerry Jacks before they are rescued by Sam and Jason Morgan. Kristina confesses only for Alexis to cover for her. Kiefer continues abusing Kristina while she begins crushing on the rebel, Ethan Lovett. Kristina and Sonny's relationship is strained even more when Sonny is implicated in Claudia's murder. In 2010, Dominic is revealed to be Sonny's long lost son, Dante Falconeri after Sonny shoots him. Kristina is prepared to cut Sonny out for good when Michael admits to Claudia's murder revealing that Sonny covered for him. Kiefer, jealous of Kristina's infatuation with Ethan beats up, landing her in the hospital. Kristina, bitter from Ethan's rejection accuses him of the attack nearly getting him killed. Kristina eventually admits Kiefer attacked her and shortly after, Alexis runs him down with her car, killing him. When Kiefer's death is ruled accidental, his father, Warren begins harassing Kristina. A crazed Warren pulls a gun on Kristina and Michael only for him to be shot the police. Kristina has a pretend romance with her father's enemy, Johnny Zacchara which also lands Kristina in a hospital after Sonny tries to kill him. Later, Kristina begins hanging out with Taylor Wallace and experiences intimacy issues due to Kiefer's abuse. With encouragement from Sonny's girlfriend, Brenda Barrett, Sonny and Kristina take steps to establishing a relationship. Kristina attends the General Hospital ski trip with her brothers and friends and is devastated when the bus goes off the road killing her best friend, Ali. In 2011, Kristina's feelings for Ethan resurface despite his marriage to Maya Ward. Kristina is hired as Emma Drake's new babysitter, the crazed Dr. Lisa Niles gets her hooked on prescription drugs claiming they'll help her cope with being wait-listed at Yale University. Fortunately, Ethan intervenes and helps Kristina kick the habit. She later follows him to the Dominican Republic to help him finalize his divorce. Kristina does not approve of Michael's new girlfriend, ex-stripper, Abby Haver. Sonny's attempt to kill Johnny has lasting effects on Kristina when she ends up in the hospital and temporarily ends up paralyzed due to complications from the bombing. However, Kristina does not blame Sonny realizing she drove him to it by pretending to date Johnny. Kristina begins hoping for a job as model with Sonny's ex-girlfriend, Kate Howard. However, those plans are put on hold when Kristina suddenly gets accept to Yale and leaves town in November.

2012–13

Kristina returns to Port Charles in May 2012 after disappearing from campus weeks prior. Having learned of her parents schemes to get her into Yale and being outcast as the "Mob Princess", Kristina starts a reality show appropriately titled Mob Princess to teach her parents a lesson. Her family believes she is allowing her producer, Trey Mitchell to manipulate her because she is attracted to him. Kristina immediately clashes with Michael's new girlfriend, and Trey's roommate, Starr Manning. After months of forcing cameras on her family, Trey suddenly shuts down the show so he and Kristina can date. However, in late August, Trey leads Kristina to believe the production company will sue him if he doesn't deliver a show and he tricks her into marrying him Las Vegas on camera. Kristina's initial plan is to have the marriage annulled but after she and Trey consummate the marriage, she refuses.

When Trey tells Kristina the truth about who his father is, she is initially furious with him. On her way to her father and Kate's wedding, Joe Scully, Jr. kidnaps Kristina and takes her to Sonny's warehouse. Scully intended to kill her, so her inheritance would go to Trey. His plan is interrupted when Trey arrives and struggles with his father, until Joe is accidentally shot. In the aftermath, Kristina and Trey sign the annulment papers. After Joe dies, Trey asks Tracy Quartermaine to call Kristina, and she comforts him. Meanwhile, Kristina becomes an aunt to Sam's son, Danny Morgan.

Kristina and Trey reconcile in late 2012, and they decide to move to Los Angeles together. On New Year's Eve, Kristina and Trey are involved in a car accident with his mother, and Trey ends up brain-dead. Kristina urges Connie to take Trey off life-support. She says goodbye to him, and Trey dies on January 14, 2013. Kristina is furious with Connie, and is arrested for attacking her with a baseball bat. At the hearing, Connie takes back her statement and Kristina is sentenced to 500 hours of community service. After finishing her community service, Kristina enrolls in Wesleyan University.

2015–

Kristina returns to Port Charles in September 2015, following her father's shooting. She later attends Sonny and Carly's wedding. In February 2016, Kristina is revealed to have a romantic and sexual attraction to Parker Forsyth, a female professor at Wesleyan. Kristina was failing Prof. Forsyth's class and tried to trade sex for a passing grade, but Parker refused and reported Kristina for violating the Wesleyan University honor code. Kristina was subsequently suspended for one semester. Kristina and Molly talk about Kristina's sexuality, which Kristina refers to as "fluid".

Reception

In March 2011, Ainsworth and her co-star Haley Pullos (Molly Lansing) won at the Young Artist Awards with Ainsworth taking home the award for Best Actress in a Daytime Series. Ainsworth earned a Daytime Emmy Nomination for her portrayal of Kristina during the abuse storyline for the Outstanding Young Actress category in 2011. Morgan earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Young Actress in 2013.