Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Casting A Return For Mid-1970's Character, Valerie Grant!
Courtesy/NBC
Here’s a very intriguing casting call coming from the NBC soap opera, Days of our Lives! Under the new head writing regime of Ryan Quan and Dena Higley, the scribes are digging back into Salem’s past with the return of none other than Valerie Grant.
The histor of Valerie Grant to daytime is important and a key point in DAYS history. The character, originally played by Tina Andrews, was involved in the first interacial love story on the soaps opposite Richard Guthrie, who played Julie’s (Susan Seaforth Hayes) son, David Banning.
Back in 1977, the duo called off their engagement after a one year courtship, due to the fact that the storyline was unpopular with the viewers. Even having the on-screen couple share a kiss was a fight in itself to get on the air. At the time, Valerie was sent off the canvas to attend medical school. The character was last seen in 1982 as played by actress Diane Sommerfield.
According to Soap Opera Digest, in 2016, the mature version of Valerie that DAYS is seeking is described as: “A gorgeous African-American woman in her mid-50s. Courage and perseverance are two character traits that people admire her for the most. And while her experiences might have hardened other people and made them cynical, Valerie has grown into a wise and compassionate person – who still occasionally gets tripped up by her own mistakes.”
DAYS reveals in the casting notice that the role is recurring and will begin taping mid-May. The show is looking to cast an experieced actor only for the role.
What do you think of Valerie Grant returning to Salem? Who would you like to see play the role? Will she be romantically involved with someone this time? Do you remember, as we do, the love story of Valerie and David in the mid to late 70’s? Comment below!
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Let me guess, this character is a love interest for Abe. Maxine has disappeared into the woodworks and Lani is gone. Days is a mess right now and a 10th reboot can’t fix it.
Amen. I’m so close to just dropping the show. I barely watch it now without ffing huge portions.
I agree, I’m glad the show got renewed for the sake of the cast and crew but Ken Corday is a cancer on this show.
Blake…y-e-s. And, further proof that Ken Corday himself obviously thinks that all of us soap fans are idiots…which we are N-O-T!!!!!!!!!! Bottom Line Here: I wish that SOMEONE would show that Ken Corday dude ‘the exit door’…N-O-W!!!!!!!!!!
long before my time but have heard of that storyline . The only actress who can play her in my opinion is Debbi Morgan . If that is the case i hope the character becomes a regular on the show and not a recurring one . And why not create the Valerie Grant and Abe Carver love story !
i had wriiten Days that suggestion some time ago so it might happen-i even had written that idea some time ago on this message board also suggesting she be Maxine’s cousin but it looks like Maxine is gone???
I would LOVE… for Debbie Morgan to return to serial
especially as a doctor… it’d be great to see Debbie Morgan… in a romance… with … Abe
plus to see her working side by side with Kayla and Finn
DAYS sure missed the boat… by NOT bringing back Vincent Irizarry as a doctor…
imagine Mary Beth Evans, Vincent Irizarry, and Debbie Morgan in Salem Hospital
Well I certainly agree with that – if they can snap up Debbi Morgan they should grab her while they can –
She was last seen on the re-boot of ALL MY CHILDREN on-line – too bad it all didn’t work out, that was so sad.
Days of our Lives needs all the help it can possibly get, Heaven knows – and casting Debbi Morgan would be a step in the right direction.
So, she will be onscreen in 2017?
LOL!!!
It’s ridiculous to keep bringing on all these new characters that noone cares about. Getting rid of Eve was a huge mistake. Fix it
it’s absurd isn’t it? FIRING Kassie DePiava…Eve’ return; would lighten up and bring back intelligence
I miss her… and , for all the posts that comment on how “DARK” Days; IS
??? I can’t over that pall … that has been cast on DAYS… it’s like a dark cloud that’s hovering…. (every since the Ciera and Chase RAPE)
I posted… bring back Kassie DePaiva and Chandler Massey to get this show out of the darkness
What would be great if Kassie DePaiva won the Emmy. Mostly because she greatly deserves it and it’s LONG overdue. And it would be a slap in the face to Ken and Sony for firing her.
Days needs to hire Kassie back.
I have an idea. Why don’t we get rid of all the existing cast members and bring back all the actors who played them if they are not deceased. We can eliminate any current storyline and go back to the days when all we did is talk about drama. Just what DAYS needs is to bring back another character no one was thrilled with and hurl them at us. Maybe Valerie can hook up with John and they can find out who they are together. I understand that back in the day, Valerie had an affair with Victor Kiriakis and that they had a child together. It turns out though that Victor had the baby removed from Valerie’s womb and transferred it into Maggie’s tired uterus whereby she gave birth to octuplets that no one knew of, including Maggie. Maggie spent all these years thinking she just had a very large tumor. Deimos found out about it and sold the babies to Kate. Kate raised them until they were 16 and then sold them to a child slave factory where they worked them to death to produce her latest fashion line. Nicole stumbles on to the story and finds out that Daniel is indeed alive but is being brainwashed by Paul Norita who is tired of being John’s puppet. Marlena goes on a quest to find Maggie’s missing children and instead stumbles on to her own secret children that she conceived while possessed by Satan. Instead of an immaculate conception she had a dirty conception and now has to explain to Sami, Eric and Belle how she gave birth to 25 children who now all live in Salem. Hope finds all this out and shoots all the residents of Salem thinking that they are ultimately responsible for Bo’s death and Ciara’s rape. When the story finally ends ( in about 25 years) we find out that it was all a dream of Stefano Dimeara who is actually John’s brother and they were all fathered by Abe. Write this down. Oh yeah and it turns out that while Valerie was off the scene she opened a brothel in Vegas where she is keeping Ciara, Clair and Summer who is pregnant with Brady’s child because everyone knows Brady can’t keep his hands or his….to himself….
I can and will accept any actress hired to play Valerie IF TINA ANDREWS IS OFFERED THE ROLE FIRST!
If I find out Tina wasn’t asked back, GOODBYE DAYS!!!!!
Loved Tina but she stopped acting in the late 1980s,,,plus Richard Gutherie passed away 20 years ago and they had fine chemistry together-Debbie Morgan and Tracey Ross would make fine replacements unless Tina is willing to come out of retirement but i doubt it.
An Affair Cut Short : 1977
It was a groundbreaking story when “Days of Our Lives” paired David Banning (Richard Guthrie) with Valerie Grant (Tina Andrews), but it proved too much for some viewers.
Though other soaps had danced around interracial romances, “Days” took it to a new level by pairing a white man (David Banning) and a black woman (Valerie Grant). Their relationship was rated G throughout its run and wasn’t necessarily an OMG moment until the reason behind the couple’s split made the papers: “The studio has been getting a lot of hate mail from people threatening to stop watching the show,” Richard Guthrie (who played Banning) told the Los Angeles Times. The show denied that was the reason behind the split, however.
———
I immediately thought of you JimH… when I saw this headline
anyway… I hope it’s to bring Abe and Theo back to life… and that this actress is in the hospital…
PS: more info on the character
Days of our Lives Wiki
Portrayed by
Tina Andrews (1975-77)
Diane Sommerfield (1981-82)
Current status
Former; Regular
Duration
1975-77, 1981-82
First appearance
October 1975
Last appearance
July 1982
Cause/reason
Left Town
Valerie Grant is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives portrayed by Tina Andrews from 1975-77, and Diane Sommerfield from 1981-82.
Days of Our Lives started to break new ground in the 1976-1977 storyline involving David Banning and Valerie Grant (played by Richard Guthrie and Tina Andrews). However, the producers unfortunately backed away from the story after receiving negative feedback. Some reports even said that Andrews received death threats from racist viewers.
David Banning was the son of longtime DOOL character, Julie Olsen Williams. Dr. Tom Horton convinced her to put David up for adoption after the death of his biological father, David Martin. David and Valerie fell in love and got engaged after her family took care of him following a car accident. They later broke off their engagement after David had an affair with Trish Clayton.
Debbie Morgan…i wrote to them some time ago about bring backing the character as a potential love interest for Abe-also as Maxine’s cousin who also liked Abe and to stir the pot bring back David…too bad they couldnt get Kin Shriner to play David since he hasnt got much to do at GH-loved David(Richard Guthrie) and Valerie Grant(Tina Andrews)-Tina shouldve couldve been a daytime superstar-loved her work on Days-too bad people werent ready for this story back then but i had no problems with it-wish soapnet had aired repeats of Days since they have all their episodes!!!
Or Tracey Ross-ex Passions!!!
I would start watching Days of Gloom if Debbi showed up. She -to me- is one of the best actresses I have ever seen and a lovely woman and why she is not on-air on soaps today or on prime-time- love her much.
Debbi Morgan and Tracey Ross are great suggestions. I hope this opens the door for David Banning to come back. It would give Julie and Doug more interaction. Also, telling the love story of Valerie and David in 2016 would be completely different than it was 30 years ago.
For the love of “All My Children,” let it be Debbi so we can see more scenes with her and Vincent.
I actually had written Days a year or two ago suggesting Debbie as Valerie!!!
with DAYS being so…. bleak… dismal… dark… you name it… it’s hanging itself
Debbie Morgan would be … my choice…
she imbues humanity… genuine… and her presence lends so much credibility
her appeal is radiant
Yeah!!!!!
Yeah, that would be a kick. It will be like “Days of All my Children” – well anything would be helpful with the way the show is going these days.
Totally agree with your choices and I want it to be Debbi too.
I say Amelia (her last name escapes me right now) that played Gilly Grant on Guiding Light and was also on Passions play her. She’s great.
Amelia Marshall!
If Valerie is indeed coming back, I hope she brings a few grown 20-something kids with her. My wish would be to see Valerie, David Banning, Mike Horton, Sarah Horton, Carrie Brady and Melissa Anderson come back. Now that would really be a blast from the past. Hopefully, Gregg Marx is available to come back as David.
I would love to see Gregg Marx back as David too and Michael Weiss as Mike! I like your list of come backs! Maggie needs her girls there. I think the writers have forgotten that Julie had a son and that she and Hope have a brother named Steve Olsen.
if days is realy serious about coming back from the ratings gutter in the past few months and really want to make headlines i hope the great victoria rowell is considered! … cast a hot african american lead opposite her and of course abe as a triangle and days will have a juggernaut on their hands!
bring victoria rowell back to daytime!!!
Please bring David back too
Debbi Morgan would be great, as would Tracey Ross. What about Amelia Marshall or Tonya Lee Williams? So many talented actresses with soap connections! 🙂
Amelia Marshall! I just posted that she should play this role, she’s a really good actress!.
I remember the David Valerie storyline and the controversy at the time. It was also around the same time that Julie had a girl friend who had a “crush” on her. It seemed like Dayscwas going in a progressive storyline, but just like Valerie and David, the producers got cold feet amid controversy. They abruptly wrote off the ‘friend’ as a crazy woman with unexplained feelings for Julie. Even as a kid, all those years ago, I remember feeling uncomfortable with how the same sex flirtation was being depicted in such a negative way. Julie was such an important character at the time, and I recall watching her scenes closely to monitor her reactions to the gay character. Thank goodness things have changed a bit forty years later. I hope they get Debbie Morgan in the role. If the original actress is still acting it would be really really cool if Corday would bring her back to pay Valerie’s mother.
Thank you for your comment Michael. I didn’t see Days back then, and it is really interesting to hear about that storyline and character.
On Air On Soaps says :
“Back in 1977, the duo called off their engagement after a one year courtship, due to the fact that the storyline was unpopular with the viewers. Even having the on-screen couple share a kiss was a fight in itself to get on the air. At the time, Valerie was sent off the canvas to attend medical school. ”
So in the 1970s, in response to people who disliked interracial relations, Days ended their black/white character relationship and took the black character off screen – sending her to medical college.
Jump forward almost 40 years to 2015, and Days, in response to conservative christians complaining about homosexual relationships on Days of Our Lives, Days ended the gay relationships on their show by having their kingpin legacy gay character (who had “grown up” on the show over very almost twenty years) brutally murdered in an illogical and unbelievable series of events which took almost every opportunity to give out anti-gay messaging – and then Days threw a HUGE PARTY, and resolutely refused to talk about the character that they had had murdered – to the extent that the cast were obviously nervous when asked about it. Further, NBC and Sony have not responded to the complaints brought to them. It’s six months later, and they still haven’t acknowledged the complaints, let alone apologized. And what’s more, Days of Our Lives has RE-EMPLOYED the writer, Dena Higley, who is said to have insisted on murdering the character.
Days’ actions since October have been shocking, appalling, and socially irresponsible. It’s a curious contrast between the present and the past! Betty Corday’s Days simply took a character off screen when under pressure – whilst Ken Corday’s Days had a character murdered in a display of anti-gay messaging; then partied; and resolutely refused to talk about it. And on top of all this the openly gay and GLAAD award winning head of NBC Entertainment, Robert Greenblatt only comment is to say he is “happy” with the show!
I don’t have time right now to investigate the claims in your above statement- so I will assume they are true– and I am furious-seriously that is just plain damned wrong on so many levels- and let us start with a human one. Good Grief! Your thoughts have made me think- is this why the gays on GH are like-well- not in the story- I am guessing that every time a gay character or storyline comes out- including transgender ones- that the machinery that is well-oiled and funded and meticulously organized to destroy the “enemy” goes into overdrive and shuts it down.
And yes – kill the character off or make them mentally ill or both but get them out of here or- and this is exactly what it seems on GH- the old saying “seen and not heard” which I hate. Hate. Good grief -all boils down to hate and money.
I just read an article about “Empire” and how it has been pretty much a resounding flop in other countries that do not accept an all-black cast -etc. And blacks will turn on each other as will gays when the almighty dollar comes into play- I have seen it in my personal and professional life. thanks for your post.
I say Amelia Marshall that played Gilly Grant on Guiding Light and was also on Passions play her. She’s great.
YES! Great actress. And then snap up Rick Hearst to play her love interest. Remember their chemistry on GL? I wish the show would have explored a relationship between Gilly and Alan-Michael!
Oh yeah I do remember them work together and flirt.
Too bad Vince Williams died, Hamp and Gilly were great.
What’s funny is that instead of aging this character, they are having this character age backwards as Valerie would be pushing into her mid-60s if I’m not mistaken. The other thing that is off the wall is that back then, when the show got a lot of hate mail about he interracial romance, the show fixed it immediately since they weren’t 6 months ahead in production. This is a surprise that the character is coming back though. I am with the majority on Debbi Morgan playing her. That would be fun.
DAYS has become my new home soap after the cancellations of recent years. I have seen moments of brilliance in Salem, been excited about developments and then… felt like the rug is pulled out from under me (for example, the firing of Kassie as Eve, the decimation and murder of the Will character)! I like diversity in daytime drama. I like the idea of a revived character. Cast it correctly and move forward with a long-term plan. Seems today’s dramas are shortsighted. Too many comings and goings, lurches in plots and characters, revised histories. That is not direction. I would think there is a bible of sorts to guide writers at every level and entry.
I remember the story very well. I was a huge fan of Richard Guthrie. I understand why
the relationship was terminated. I loved the storyline between David and Trish, and
thought that it was beautiful that the writers portrayed David as an honorable man who
chose to do the right thing by Trish. I remember when David and Trish were in the delivery room. After watching her go through 14 hours of labor without any pain
meds (she was afraid it would harm the baby), he looked down at her from behind, while holding her up as she was going through a contraction, and said “I am so sorry I did this to you.” I was deeply saddened when he died, at the age of 45, after taking a
fatal combination of cardiac medications. He died in his sleep October 29th 1995.He
will always have a special place in my heart.
I remember the storyline. I was a huge fan of Richard Guthrie. I thought it was beautiful the way they portrayed David as an honorable man who chose to do the
right thing by Trish. I remember the scene when He and Trish were in the labor room.
After watching her go through 14 hours of labor and refusing anything for pain (she
thought it might harm the baby), he looked down at her from behind and said: “I am so sorry I did this to you.” I was deeply saddened at his death from a fatal combination of
cardiac meds. He died Oct. 29th, 1995 at the age of 45. He will always have a special place in my heart.
I would love to see Valerie come back, and reunite with David. (Maybe Gregg Marx) David had moved to Los Angeles to be near Scotty who was Chief of Residents at a
large hospital nearby. He had seen an advertisement in the entertainment section
of the newspaper for an opening night gala featuring popular recording artist….
“Trish Clayton”. He went to the show and she invited him back to her dressing room to talk. They both realized that they still had feelings for each other. He invited her to
dinner at his townhouse and they wound up once again in bed. She did not get pregnant, however, but it was a turning point for them and they soon reunited. They were together for 6 months when she was diagnosed with cancer. It was terminal.
She died a 9 mos. later. David could not bare to stay in the townhouse without her. so he sold it and returned to Salem once again……The rest falls into place. Valerie helps him get over the pain of losing her and they slowly begin to rekindle their
relationship.
I remember this story as well, and I loved David and Valerie’s story. I have been hoping and praying that they would bring them and reunite them again. Valerie was David’s first love, she was the one that truly got away. And so its thirty years later and Val, as David use to cal her is back in Salem for some much needed rest. She has just lost the man who helped mend her broken heart after she broke it off with David. She has a son and a daughter that she brings back home. She takes a job at the hospital, where she runs into Julie. Julie is overjoy to see her again. After talking over old times and getting to know Valerie again, Julie puts in a call to her son and gets him back to Salem. And there it begin.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Promo: What’s Going To Happen At Jarlena’s Wedding Anniversary Shindig?
Coming up next week on Days of our Lives, prepare for drama, drama, and more drama! From the looks of the latest promo for the NBC soap opera, the action takes place at Marlena (Deidre Hall) and John’s (Drake Hogestyn) surprise one-year wedding anniversary soirée, where things could take a deadly turn!
But with the Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) masquerading as “Nicole” plot reaching new heights, Anna DiMera (Leann Hunley) and Tony DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) back in Salem, and the promo telling viewers “For one guest, the party, is over” followed by Sonny (Freddie Smith) yelling, “She’s got a gun!” and Brady’s (Eric Martsolf) ending line, “Oh, my God!” there is plenty to conjecture.
Also seen in the teaser is Kate (Lauren Koslow) trying to rip off the face of Susan Banks (Stacy Haiduk), and Stefan (Brandon Barash) and Gabi (Camila Banus) getting hot and heavy and Eric (Greg Vaughan) yelling, “No!”
So, check out the promo below and then let us know via the comment section below, what you think is about to go down at Jarlena’s party, where last August at their nuptials … things did not go off without a hitch, either!
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Stacy Haiduk and Eric Martsolf Talk Kristen & Brady’s Twisted Relationship : The Mask, The Deception, The Sex
Last week on Days of our Lives, Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) was able to get the man she craves in between the sheets. So, just how did that happen when Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) had no idea she was alive? Well … he still doesn’t, really. You see, Kristen returned to Salem disguised as another ex flame of Brady’s, Nicole Walker (who everyone believed died in the warehouse explosion). And Kristen has been parading around town donning an incredible likeness of Nicole’s face – via a prosthetic mask – and some other tricks to sound and look just like her!
Kristen’s goal is to infiltrate Salem, remind Brady of the love and passion they shared, take over DiMera Enterprises, and who knows what else! And everyone who stands in her way, better watch out as we have seen! We are speaking to you (the late) Ted, and (once kidnapped) Kate, et al.
Fans of the NBC daytime drama series have followed the tortured relationship between Kristen and Brady for years and through many plots; Kristen was first played and brought to life by Eileen Davidson, and for well over a year now by Stacy Haiduk. Not only has Haiduk reprised the role of a frustrated, vengeful Kristen, she is also playing at times multiple roles: the wacky and often misunderstood, Susan Banks, Kristen playing Susan, or Kristen pretending to be Sister Mary Moira.
As for Daytime Emmy winner, Eric Martsolf, this latest story arc puts him front and center as viewers watch to see if what Brady senses, and the clues, and the feelings he is having, bring him to the conclusion that he has been duped by Kristen, and that her horrendous scheme – pretending to be Nicole (Arianne Zucker), and dumping Nicole’s longtime love Eric (Greg Vaughan) to be with him have a result that is unexpected or catastrophic!
Michael Fairman TV sat down with Stacy and Eric for this conversation about: all the plot twists, and playing the drama and the humor of the situations they find themselves in as actors in a wild story that only head writer Ron Carlivati could pen and keep the audience on the edge of their seats in the process. Check out this oh-so-fun, direct, and enlightening chat with two of DAYS most shining stars.
Photo: JPI
Eric, what has it been like working in this part of your storyline; where there’s the character of Kristen in its many forms: Arianne Zucker playing “Nicole” (but it’s really Kristen), Kristen as Susan, and the real Kristen, etc?
ERIC: It’s been a nightmare Michael. (Laughs) I don’t know who I’m sleeping with anymore. I’m at the point where I go home at night, and I just tug on my wife’s cheek just to make sure that she is not my ex-girlfriend from high school.
When you first heard of this storyline, and that it was going to facilitate how Arianne was going to come back to the show… and that it was supposed to be Kristen in a Nicole Walker prosthetic mask with a voice alternator, what went through your mind?
ERIC: I think in the back of Ron’s Carlivati’s (head writer, DAYS) mind, he was thinking to himself, “This dude started his soap career on Passions, he’s okay with this kind of thing,” and honestly, nothing surprises me anymore. When you’re thrown into that supernatural, crazy reality, doesn’t-live-here sort of atmosphere for you first soap gig, you don’t sweat a mask and a voice modulator. That’s just par for the course. My biggest problem was the body thing … that Brady is not able to distinguish one body from the other, because I would as Eric. My God, I know every inch of my wife’s body. So, it’s difficult to get my head around that, but at the same time, I’m going with the whole “love is blind” thing here. (Laughs)
Courtesy/NBC
(Laughs) I was going just going to say that Brady would absolutely know Kristen’s body from how passionate their relationship has been in the past, as well, he would Nicole’s body from his relationship with her.
ERIC: Since Kristen did finally just succeed – let’s use the word in “seducing” him, and using her wonderful feminine wiles as only Kristen has to get Brady in to bed, there was also another twist. What plays after that is that he notices the tattoo that’s been removed, and she plays it off as scarring from the fire. What’s going through his mind as he is making love to Nicole is a “Kristen train”. He can’t get Kristen out of his mind, and the guilt that he feels about that is horrendous.
Right! Brady is thinking: “Why am I feeling this when I am supposed to be with Nicole!?”
ERIC: Right! Brady has been waiting for a relationship for God knows how many years now – at least a successful one. He is so eager to have this work, even though he has been concerned about how Eric (Greg Vaughan) would feel about this. In Brady’s mind, Eric is done with Nicole. He’s good. He loves Sarah (Linsey Godfrey). This is fair game. Brady and Nicole have always been close … they’ve been close before … so, for him, it’s, why not give it a fair try? However, he finds himself now thinking about another woman the whole time. That’s rough.
Courtesy/NBC
Do you think in the back of his mind, that this whole time, he possibly knew that “Nicole” was Kristen?
ERIC: Well, you just have to wait. There will be a reveal eventually, obviously, but until then, let the games play on.
So, once Brady and “Nicole” have sex, he keeps thinking about Kristen?
ERIC: Constantly! She just plagues his mind. I think he’s realizing that his affection for Kristen is anything but dead and is very alive, and I think this is Kristen’s master plan from the very beginning. She knows that she pervades his soul, and once she does reveal herself, I would guess he would probably be surprised, maybe a little angry, but in the end … you can’t deny what your heart and your body wants, right?
One of my favorite recent scenes had Brady half-naked and Kristen as Susan getting into his room, because she was looking for the MIA Nicole mask she so desperately needed. She finds herself gawking and lusting after Brady under her disguise, and he tries to remove himself from the situation and says, “Susan, I’m going to get in the shower…”
ERIC: Yeah! And, “It’s not going to happen, baby.”
What was that like doing that scene?
STACY: I loved it! I thought Eric was brilliant in it. I watched it, and I thought, “Oh, my God!” (Laughs) It is one of my all-time favorite scenes.
Photo: JPI
ERIC: Kristen is a tiger.
STACY: She is a tiger. She’s got a goal, and she is going to go after that. She has obstacles that are going to come in-between her goal, but she will go after whatever she wants.
When Stacy comes in to Brady’s room as Susan, were you not laughing?
ERIC: No! I thought she was hot. (Laughs)
STACY: He did … he loved it. You liked me, didn’t you baby? (Laughs)
ERIC: I don’t think anybody can deny that Stacy Haiduk’s portrayal of Susan Banks is ridiculously good. Everything from her delivery … to her facial expressions. I think it is amazing. I mean, it is corny, and it is fun, and soaps need characters like that once in a while to lighten the load of the heavy dialogue and the drama. It’s a welcomed addition. So, I love playing scenes with Susan.
Photo: JPI
Eric, you always have been able play the straight-man so well in comedic scenes with impeccable timing,
STACY: You’re brilliant, Eric.
ERIC: You guys are being very nice to me.
STACY: You are. I remember on the day how much fun we had, but then, seeing it back and the crap that I was giving you, and just the stuff you were giving back was so beautiful, and innocent, and so alive. It was so funny.
Does Kristen think that now that she finally got Brady into bed that she won … that she got what she wanted … even if she had to don a “Nicole” mask to do it?
STACY: Well, no, because she still can’t be really Kristen. I think she is grateful that she gets to be with him. That’s one of her biggest goals: to be with Brady and she wants to have him fall back in love with her again. But for her, now it’s all about, “How do I reveal myself so that he doesn’t get scared away?” That’s the toughest part for her. Kristen’s love is so deep that it goes beyond this mask. So, how is it going to be when he sees her? Is he going to freak out? What’s going to happen?
ERIC: Did you think Kristen would be a little pissed off and think, “Oh my God. He did go for Nicole?”
STACY: Yes! I do, because she’s like, “Finally, I got him! But wait a minute … did I get him because I was Nicole … or because I was Kristen?” As Kristen, she always believes there is something deeper between them and a deep connection. That remains a driving force to her.
Photo: JPI
ERIC: That’s why I love these characters so much, because of you and the history of Kristen with Brady. She’s always wanted him as much as he has wanted her. She’s always wanted to be loved.
STACY: Yes … and very much so.
ERIC: Kristen had always wanted to be a part of the DiMera Empire, just as Brady has always wanted to be a part of the Kiriakis Empire, and they’ve always wanted love. They’ve never had it. They believe in the back of their minds that anything is attainable. So, I can see why Kristen would just forgo the Nicole disguise and just go, “He wants me.”
STACY: Kristen wants to believe that Brady knows it. She says to herself, “He knows it’s me inside and behind the mask. When he finds out, he will fall back in love with me.”
Now that she actually had sex with Brady, wouldn’t that make Kristen even more insatiable to be with him? Like, “I’ve got to have him!?”
STACY: The fear is still .. what happens she takes this mask off? She always says, “I’ll reveal myself, but I have to do it slowly when it is the right time.” I think there is that built up frustration now for her, absolutely!
Photo: JPI Studios
Arianne Zucker really has Stacy’s mannerisms down as Kristen. It really comes into in scenes where “Nicole” goes off on someone or loses her temper. Eric, you have worked with Arianne for years on this show. What do you think about her performances in this storyline?
ERIC: I have worked with Ari over the years, and I have enjoyed it a lot. Ari did do her homework. She did study Stacy’s tape, and she watched her mannerisms, and she took it very seriously. I know that because she is a hard worker, as much as a goofball as she is, she does work hard, and she wanted it to be good. I think my favorite parts were the Kristen meltdowns. You have to understand though; Stacy and Ari get along very well! They’re kind of two peas in a pod. So, it wasn’t a big stretch for her to take on how Stacy would play those types of scenes. They’re both animated, they’re both wild people by nature, and so, it was a good fit. It was a smart idea from the writers.
STACY: It was a good fit!
ERIC: I’ve been out with the two of them, and it’s hard to tell the two of them apart. (Laughs)
STACY: We are just like two cuddly bunnies.
ERIC: They’re like flirting with each other, and hugging each other. You find yourself thinking, “Are they going to start ordering the same food at the same time? This is getting weird. (Laughs)
Courtesy/NBC
In the recent scene that aired; where Kristen as “Nicole” turns off the light while having sex with Brady, is she worried her plan will now go awry?
STACY: Yes. I think she is worried about her body because it is burned. You know, how they take a tattoo off, and it’s as painful as can be. Not that I’ve had that done personally. I like my tats, but I hear it is painful. So, in the storyline, the burn is that pain that she has and the tattoo. There’s a part of her that thinks, she has to cover it up, and turn the lights down low.
ERIC: “Nicole” is sleeping, and Brady is rubbing his hands over her shoulder and touching her body, and as he goes over the burn marks. He sees a flash of the tattoo! That is a pivotal moment when he starts to put some pieces together. He thinks, “Woah! That’s exactly where that tattoo was.” It’s a slow little rollercoaster ride.
Courtesy/NBC
In the past, Kristen then played by Eileen Davidson, drugged and raped Father Eric. Stacy, did you ever see that story arc? Literally the sex scene is playing on the screen at Kristen’s wedding to Brady and then all hell breaks loose. This to say Kristen is notorious for the ways and the lengths she goes to get her men into bed.
STACY: Yes! I saw her Eileen do those scenes.
ERIC: You also saw how close Kristen and Brady were to their dream, to their happiness, their goal, which was they were going to marry each other. Brady is looking upon his loved ones in this town and thinking, “I know what you all think of her, but I’m going to show you our love on this screen, and once you see the connection that we have here as a couple, you all are going to be convinced that we belong together as well. This is the happiest day of my life,” and the screen comes up and it’s his brother banging Kristen instead.
Marlena (Deidre Hall) played the wrong DVD!
STACY: It was so good. See, I try to find as much info as I can on the character’s past, because all of the time I’m trying to find where these characters have been in their dark and twisted past.
Photo: JPI
ERIC: You’re putting your own stamp on Kristen. You got a direct call from DAYS casting department, didn’t you … when they were recasting the role?
STACY: Yes. You have to understand, I had two really separate characters to play when I was on Y&R. One was a doctor, and one was this crazy passionate, wild, little minx.
ERIC: I will say to find the wild and the beauty in one package is not easy in any town, yet alone Los Angeles. I’m glad they called you, because you have that. You have that villainous nature, but you also are able to show a vulnerable side to Kristen that is going to be a lot of fun and interesting to see.
Stacy is one of those people that will leap off of the screen at you and you will remember her. She is one actress that will have fans talking about their work, like when you played crazy Patty Williams on Y&R. The audience was on the edge of their seats going, “Oh, my God! What is Patty going to do next?”
STACY: I never knew what she was going to do!
Photo: JPI
Eric, has Stacy come to you at any point where she been overwhelmed by the task at hand; playing Susan while playing Kristen, etc, and the two of you have a moment where you work through some of the challenges of complex scenes … and ones where she is playing multiple characters?
ERIC: We’ve had many moments to speak of.
STACY: I always come into Eric’s room, and am like, “I’m scared!”
ERIC: It’s funny you mention it. We have had some very emotional scenes, and Stacy – who cares so damn much about this job and portraying this character correctly – that she gets a little overwhelmed, and the material that they give her is overwhelming for any anybody on any level. I have looked at her in the eyes, and said, “You’ve got this gig. You are this character. You are knocking it out of the park. Just do it. Just be you.” I can’t wait for people to see some of the stuff we have shot recently and have been doing.
Photo: JPI
Stacy, do you think Kristen can be redeemed? Many characters on daytime … and on DAYS … have done horrible things and later turned over a new leaf.
STACY: The thing is that villains are bad and all that other crap, but they’ve got a lot of stuff going on inside and insecurities, and they’ve got a heart. I’m sorry, the villain with a heart of gold, can be very true. I never see villains (and I play them a lot) as bad. You have to find where it comes from … how far does this go … where did that little seed change … and what made them go into the dark, but also, where is the good? You want to bring the good to it, too.
ERIC: Let’s face it! Star Wars is all about Darth Vader and how he became that because it’s intriguing.
Because of the pace in which DAYS tapes its episodes; do the two of you find time to run lines together before you go hit the set?
ERIC: We are running out of time to run lines. It’s pretty wild. Funnily enough, I was recently filming a movie and I was so underwhelmed at the pace of everything. I’ve gotten so accustomed to moving at this militant style, that as hard as it is, it is preferable to me now. I almost like it because you don’t have time to overthink what you are going to do, and you end up getting more visceral and natural reactions to the material. You can overthink a scene, and you can come to a wrong performance that way. When you burn your fingers on a hot stove, that’s the most natural reaction you are going to get. You can’t have ten minutes to think about how you are going to scream about that pain.
Photo: JPI
But, would you like the pace of shooting the show to be a bit slower?
STACY: I would like to, but I do think sometimes just jumping in, and going and seeing what happens is great. I love that. I do appreciate that.
ERIC: It’s scary.
STACY: It is scary. I would love if we would get to do a rehearsal and then two takes just to see, and then they can mix together what happens. Sometimes I am hard on myself as an actress. I’ve always been. It’s that jumping in when you only get to do one take. You have to just give it everything you’ve got.
ERIC: You can have a second take. Want me to give you a little secret? All you have to do is screw up your last line.
STACY: I can’t do that. I don’t even need it to be perfect because nothing is perfect. It doesn’t matter what I’ve done if I sometimes don’t feel it. I need to feel it when I’m on that set. I need to feel something because when I shut down, I close myself off. It’s like an athlete who has just got to train as hard as they can to reach their goal.
ERIC: You’re an Olympic swimmer!
STACY: You’ve got to do it as hard as you can. You practice, and you practice, and you practice, and you practice, so that when you come to that day, you do the best you can, but sometimes you are disappointed because you didn’t get that one last thing you had hoped for.
Courtesy/NBC
How do you view what happened to Eric with Kristen, who disguised as Nicole, tricked Brady into bed with her? Some fans commented that that they thought it was akin to a rape.
ERIC: No, I would disagree with that theory. I believe there is a high degree of deception in this, but there is a willingness on behalf of Brady. He’s not drugged. He’s not being forced to do anything. Deception, yes. Rape, no.
Stacy, what do you think?
STACY: Total deception. There is no rape. There is absolutely no rape. These are willing participants; he just doesn’t know exactly who he is dealing with.
ERIC: I appreciate the context of how somebody could construe that, and the seriousness of the matter. I don’t think it really has a place in this particular storyline.
Do you guys think that Brady and Kristen are each other’s star-crossed lovers in a weird, twisted, bizarre way?
ERIC: I don’t know. I think they’re magnetism can’t be denied. I think the hurdles that they’ve jumped through are astronomical. Will they end up together in the end? Who knows! Will there ever be an end? Who knows! It’s definitely been one of, if not the most, in-depth relationships Brady has ever had.
Photo: JPI
And intense!
ERIC: Yeah. They’ve just gone through so much to be together, and when you do that, anybody who is married knows that, that’s where the good stuff is; the wars that you win together and the battles that you go through. When you come out of the war, and you’re still together, that’s the bond. That’s what lasts.
What would Kristen do if she couldn’t have Brady in the end? Would she find a new obsession? What if she could not nab her man?
STACY: Wow! Hmmm. (Laughs) She’s going to get her man. She wants her man. She wouldn’t settle. She’d keep fighting. I would say to her, “Kristen, keep fighting the good fight.”
So, do you think Kristen will reveal herself to Brady sooner than later? Will Brady figure out what Kristen has been doing to get to him? Will Brady turn Kristen away if he knew she was alive and back in action … or would he fall back into her arms? Share your theories via the comment section below.
Breaking News
Daytime Emmys To Merge Younger Actor & Actress Category Into One As Gender-Inclusive Categories Are On The Rise
The upcoming 47th annual Daytime Emmys are already making some changes to key categories and specifically this one that affects daytime drama performers. Word from Variety is that NATAS (National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) is going to announce that they are combining the Younger Actor and Actress categories into one gender-neutral category
Not only will the Younger performer category be gender-inclusive, but network soap performances will be combined with digital drama series performances for the category. Previously, for this past Daytime Emmys, NATAS had changed the Guest Performer in a Drama Series to be gender-inclusive.
This category was initially created in 1985 when it was called the Outstanding Ingenue and then from there tweaked into Outstanding Juvenile Female and Male, and more recently that morphed into the Younger Actor and Actress categories.
Photo: JPI
Former GH star Hayley Erin (Ex-Kiki) and former DAYS star, Kyle Pettis (Ex-Theo) will now be the last female and male to win the two separate categories with this new move for 2020.
Fans of film and TV have noticed that on several award shows on MTV: their Movie and TV Awards and their VMA’s, there are several gender-inclusive categories, as well as the Television Critics Association Awards who for instance doles out Outstanding Individual Achievement in Drama in comedy.
So, what do you think of the change; that there will now be one Younger performer category at the Daytime Emmys? Comment below.
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General HospitalAugust 10, 2019GENERAL HOSPITAL: Will Franco Wake Up As Drew & Become The Next Victim Of Mind-Mapping?
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RecapsAugust 10, 2019THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Hope To Steffy, “I’m Taking My Daughter & Don’t You Dare Try To Stop Me”
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General HospitalAugust 18, 2019GH’s Roger Howarth Chats On Shifting From Franco To Drew & The Stunning Story Twist
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General HospitalAugust 13, 2019Kelly Monaco Addresses Billy Miller’s Departure From GH
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Days Of Our LivesAugust 13, 2019DAYS Stacy Haiduk and Eric Martsolf Talk Kristen & Brady’s Twisted Relationship : The Mask, The Deception, The Sex
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General HospitalAugust 9, 2019GENERAL HOSPITAL: Franco To Cameron, “Tell Your Mom I Love Her … And Tell Her I’ll Be Back”
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Breaking NewsAugust 13, 2019Constance Towers Returns To GH As Helena Cassadine … But Just How Does She Appear?
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General HospitalAugust 11, 2019WATCH THE TRAILER: Dominic Zamprogna Stars In New Short Film, ‘To The Moon and Back’