<Tr> <Th> Nieces </Th> <Td> Britt Westbourne </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Other relatives </Th> <Td> James West </Td> </Tr> <P> Madeline Reeves (born Magda Westbourne) is a fictional character on the long - running ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital, portrayed by Donna Mills, who made her appearance on the March 14, 2014, episode . The casting was announced in January 2014 . Madeline was introduced as the estranged mother - in - law of Dr. Silas Clay (Michael Easton) and mother of Silas' comatose wife Nina (Michelle Stafford) and, biological aunt of Nathan West (Ryan Paevey)--whom she raised as her own . Madeline is also revealed to be the estranged sister of established character Dr. Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) having remade herself . Mills wrapped her initial stint in May 2014 . Though the character was supposed to be short - term, Mills reprised the role of Madeline from October 2014 to January 2015 . The character once again resurfaced in May 2015 . Her returns have centered on Madeline's attempts to get back in her son's good graces and get her hands on the family fortune . </P> <P> The character was created by head writer Ron Carlivati and patterned after Mills' iconic Knots Landing character, Abby Cunningham . The casting was very well received despite her character's name and backstory remaining a secret until her debut . On - Air On - Soaps referred to the news as "bombshell", while Jamey Giddens of Daytime Confidential raved about the casting choice and said Mills' character would definitely make for "must see" TV . Mills won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series in 2015 . </P>

Who plays nina's mom on general hospital