General Hospital’s Sawandi Wilson pulls back the curtain on his on-screen transformation

General Hospital
General Hospital's Sawandi Wilson as Isaiah Image: ABC

On General Hospital, Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) had started to believe he was part of something permanent. You could see it in how careful he was with Portia (Brook Kerr), how much he had at stake emotionally. Then everything flipped. Curtis (Donnell Turner) turned out to be the father of her baby, not him. The shift was instant, and Isaiah was left to absorb it. Around the same time, Sawandi Wilson gave fans a look at another kind of transformation, one that happens quietly behind the camera.

The General Hospital transformation viewers never saw

Wilson shared a behind-the-scenes process with a video on Instagram, writing, “Movie magic is real. Huge thank you to the @ghmakeupcrew for the flawless tattoo cover. Special love to @beautyby_karol @priscilluxe & @jacklynquackenbush for making it seamless every time. #BTS #GeneralHospital #SawandiWilson #isaiahgannon #gh.”

In the video, Wilson sat calmly as the makeup team worked across his back, carefully layering product over his tattoo in preparation for Isaiah and Portia’s locker room scenes. The camera captured its methodical precision as other images of Wilson in the studio flashed. What started as a visible mark slowly disappeared, replaced by skin that appeared untouched.

By the end, there’s no trace left. Isaiah exists exactly as viewers expect him to. No distractions. No reminders of the actor behind him. It’s the kind of invisible work that holds the illusion together seamlessly. (Check out how the GH cast came together to help one of the show’s hair stylists.)

Fans react to the reveal

Sawandi Wilson as Isaiah on General Hospital | Image: ABC
Sawandi Wilson as Isaiah on General Hospital | Image: ABC

Fans immediately understood what they were looking at and what it represented. @jackiexrue wrote, “Portia’s king,” with some heart, fire, and applause emojis. Meanwhile, @saphiremama reacted simply, “Wooow,” with the same emoji emphasis that also included one giving a kiss.

Others focused on the craftsmanship itself. @thatgeekychick1145 commented, “Kudos to the makeup department for real!” acknowledging the team responsible for preserving the visual continuity viewers rarely think about until it’s shown to them.

Some responses reflected the emotional investment that still lingers despite the recent reveal. Many were looking forward to seeing where Isaiah and Portia’s relationship will go. One viewer seemed put off because Steve Burton’s (Jason) tattoos aren’t covered up. However, Burton's tattoos have been addressed on the story, and are considered Jason's tattoos.

What happens between Portia and Isiah next is anyone’s guess, but the fans are glued to the screen waiting to find out. (Check out how Wilson celebrated his first wedding anniversary.)

General Hospital is available on ABC and Hulu.

Edited by Hope Campbell