Maura West DeFreitas (born Maura Jo Snyder; April 27, 1972) is an American actress, best known for her 15-year portrayal as Carly Snyder on the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns, a role she held from 1995 until the series finale in 2010. West later portrayed the role Diane Jenkins on The Young and the Restless from September 2010 to August 2011, and as of 2013, currently portrays mob heiress Ava Jerome on General Hospital.