Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Chandler Massey: "If they decide to bring someone else to play Will, I won't be upset and bitter. I want what is best for WilSon!
Photo Credit: Adam Campbell
A few weeks ago On-Air On-Soaps posted an interview with Days of our Lives executive producer, Ken Corday, where we asked him about what the NBC soap’s plans were for the character of Will Horton since two-time Daytime Emmy winner Chandler Massey (Will) is departing the series come December after four years! Corday responded, “The door will always be open here to Chandler. We are not going to recast Will, but I wish him well in the big pond.” And that left many fans to ponder if that is the right thing to do since WilSon, Will’s on-screen love story with Sonny (Freddie Smith) is an important couple for the show!
Gay Star News spoke with Chandler Massey about the comments made by Ken Corday in our interview and he related, he was “flattered’ that they would not recast the role and that Massey is welcome back any time. But Chandler added, “Whatever they decide to do, I’ll support it,’ he says. ‘The character is more important than the actor. He’s a legacy character born on camera. I wouldn’t be bitter at all if they go and recast”
In terms of where the story for the duo of WilSon will go when Chandler leaves the series he expressed, “I don’t want Will and Sonny to break up. I want them to be together forever and go off and get married. If I’m in school and not able to get back and they decide to bring someone else to play Will, I won’t be upset and bitter. I want what is best for WilSon.”
So we ask you DAYS fans, what is best for WilSon? Should the soap recast the role of Will Horton? Should Sonny and Will remain together, but have Will sent away for some reason? Would you recast Will and if so with who? How best should the show handle Chandler’s exit when such an amazing talent leaves?
For a WIll recast, I would get Drew Garrett (ex-Michael Corinthos III, GH)
Great idea, Enrique! Hate to see a recast, but that could work. ( BTW- good job on More OLTL.)
That is a good idea! They def. look very similar, and he wasn’t too bad of an actor. I just looked him up on iMDB though and he’s apparently doing a TV (?) show called “Never Fade Away” so who knows if he’s avail.
C.M. is the one and only Will but if they do a recast your pick is the only one i agree that could work.
NO I wouldn’t want to see them recast the role of Will. I just don’t think I could get used to anyone else…Have him go away for awhile and then come back!!! Have him and Gabby go off together and raise their little girl….for now!!!
I love Will and Sonny. I don’t want them broken apart. I wish Chandler could do both…go to school and work on the show. A recast…I don’t know if there would be the chemistry Chandler and Freddie have. This is a beautiful story and I don’t want it to end. Best of luck Chandler and best of luck Days.
He isn’t the original Will!
I know but he is the only one that has worked with Freddie. I think they have great chemistry. I do think Will is a necessary character so I guess I’d have to accept a recast. I don’t want to see the end of Will and Sonny.
Will Horton belongs to Massey – and only Massey. There are many roles that can be recast. This is NOT one of them.
I hate to see Will recast but I hate the idea of WilSon being broken up even more. If they write will out but leave him and Sonny as a couple, we’re going to have another Bo & Hope [Bo’s in the next room, Bo’s in Cali, Bo’s away visiting Shawn & Belle, Bo’s on business, and now Bo’s apparently dropped off the face of the earth]. It’s not realistic. We can’t have half the cast off-screen because we’re so attached to the actors that we don’t want to replace them. That’s not to say that I want either Will or Bo recast but I think it’s necessary IF couples are going to remain together.
I agree!
I will be so upset! He is perfect as Will – SO BUMMED!
I love Chandler’s Will. That said, I’d rather have a recast than lose the Will and Sonny relationship. It has been done so beautifully so far. The show really needs Will and Sonny!
Will is the kind of legacy character…a Brady and a Horton, related to nearly everyone in town, that means so much to a canvas. Not to mention his social importance as a gay character. If they can recast GH’s Carly, no one is unrecastable. You just have to do it right. I hope they recast Will, but do it very carefully.
Jesus. Nicely said.
Will needs to continue with Sonny. and apart is part historical? LOL… my life on days… it needs to be getting used to. Will’s take… is time for him to firm up. I could see, the family drama… Sammi’s unjust… whimsical behaviours while I steady mine… LOL.
anyway… Sonny deserves 50% of the magic… that happened.. and he’s on. bring on strong and good time.. is Justin and Adrienne… aren’t they catch up.
you.. know.. i’ts Sonny’s turn to share with the world… buildup, angst of gay world. and Freddie Smith got it. and when Will is ready to return… from that Gabbi and Arianna Grace time…
hopefully… the recast is level with Sonny… and days and days fans will keep in, the about time. Brian features till the recast and/or return.
I love watching their moves and time.
resonating good will story… letting the story continue with same… revelations.
Thank you Chandler Massey and Freddie Smith.
TPTB. I love this.
BR: “No one is unrecastable.” So true. GH’s Carly’s the prime example, but Days also recast Roman (twice), Kate, Austin, Brady, Eric, Shawn, and Belle, and most of those recasts have lasted longer and done better than the originals. (Then again, they tried recasting Jack and Jennifer, and we know how well that went over.)
You are so right. I’ll think no way I’ll get used to this re-cast person & then before you know it I forgot all about the original. Funny how that happens. And sometimes I will just detest a certain character then a few months later I come to love them. Soaps are so great that way-the ebb & flow-just go with it! I always hate to see a character I love leave but it always works out ok. As long as we HAVE OUR SHOWS!
Don’t recast Will as the tenderness he portrays in his character role will be hard to find. There is a reason he won 2 Emmys in is short career. Maybe Chandler could come back now and then so the storyline could continue
For high voltage drama, I would have Adrienne plan the death of Sami
and Will must save his mom, but Sonny is killed by mistake and Will
and Gabbi leave with the baby. Stefano would turn out.to be the one
behind the plan!
That is a great storyline
Great storyline idea…i usually think of stuff they could do but yours i like the best. But i dont know about killing off Sonny…maybe he’d slip into a coma and when he awakens he has absolutely no memory of Will. Will realizes he has no future with Sonny after trying for weeks to get him to remember him, and Sonny tells Will he dosent love him so Will leaves town with Gabi and the baby, unaware Sonny faked his amnesia to protect Adrienne…Sonny is the only person who knows his mother was the person responsible for what happen to him, and that she planned it for Sami instead. Later, Justin finds out, divorces Adrienne and pursues Hope after a missing Bo is presumed dead in a plane crash along with Kaylas husband Patch.
I absolutely love your storyline!!!
the only thing for sure that I like…. is the re-pair’ing of Justin and Hope….
I understand… it was short lived the last time…
well… Justins playing the field… and this HOT connection.. will fuel, Adrienne. and immediately bring this HOT.
They worked the first time.
no veo justo que sonny tenga que perder la memoria para que desaparezca el personaje de will, estoy de acuerdo que sonny muera para que will se baya con gabi y su hija ya la historia no será la misma para Freddy el y Chandler hacen bonita pareja y tiene química.
la historia no será la misma sin Chandler el y freddy hacen bonita pareja tienen química no concibo otra persona para sonny prefiero que sonny muera y asi will se vaya con gabi y su hija para que le den sentido a l historia.
Thanks…but you deserve the credit for this…your idea is what inspired mine. Now, if the writers and producers would stumble across these ideas and use them…this would be awesome.
I new i shouldve taken a second language back in my school days…lol Si
NO WAY- I LOVE SONNY. No killing of any of these people! You have a great imagination though, ha.
Bad move, great acting gig that he is fortunate to have. Smart move is to stay and be employed !!
yes, going to college to study mandarin chinese and international business is really dumb. no future in that at all…
@ GB,, my opinion is just that my opinion. I also think he is a good actor, Great ? no way,, almost every scene he has that goofy smile. Again, just my opinion before you jump all over me, So many study international business, so lets hope he saved his money. I bet he is back at Dool or another show in 12 months.
Lee Ann, funny you mentioned that. His scenes almost always end with that goofy smile which I have wondered about. He is almost too much of a pushover. But I love him & I totally agree he should STAY WHERE HE IS & RAKE IT IN. The world is so uncertain if you have a great acting gig-KEEP IT.
i have two words for you: mayim byalik (can’t be bothered to go check the spelling, so apologies if i got it wrong). after Blossom, she could have gone and done all sorts of mediocre things to capitalise on the success (“rake it in”, as you say – and primetime pays more than a daytime soap) of a sitcom that she, after all, was the star of. she didn’t. if she’d stayed in showbiz, she probably would have done a couple of sitcoms that would have flopped and by now she’d be doing reality shows and Hallmark movies (not that there’s anything wrong with). but she left showbiz, went to school, got a PhD, and then she came back and now she’s in this tiny little sitcom called Big Bang Theory.
PLEASE STAY CHANDLER!!
Will and Sonny should become a standard and always be there and sure, recast Will
I want Will and Sonny to leave together. I hope they are happy together forever!
Maybe he will come back in the future. (after college graduation.) I don’t think he should be recast.
Wish Chandler massey all the best in his future career!
Will and Sonny leave together? That would not be fair to Freddie! I will never understand so called fans who want an actor to lose their job just so they can have their “happy ending”. Ridiculous.
Good Luck Will. you will be missed. you are a great actor.
He sounds like a classy guy.
I would say recast because there is the baby there and I don’t think the will sonny affair is the big deal.
Recast the character with an actor who doesn’t stand around with that insipid, sh*t-eating grin on his face all the time. Will has lots of story potential, with or without Sonny, since he is the son of Sami, my least favorite character on the show. Sami is a mess and there are times when Will is the only one who can deal with her. As for the Will-Sonny pairing, it is a good one but logically it cannot last. It is not a “forever” pairing. They are too young. They might get back together later in life, but right now they need to face the possibilities of others in their lives.
I honestly, think WIll knows this… but.. he knows he’s doing right… and will realize it’s the same desire as them… which is you. Will… has a defense mechanism he realize’s and knows is wrong…
this will make him stronger.
Awww, Chandler wants Wilson together forever. Love Chandler, Freddie, and Wilson.
I say recast so the show doesn’t lose Will and Sonny
I do’nt believe for one second his departure is for school only. The two
emmys went to his head, but I still wish him luck. Would he stay if DOOL
showed him my storyline? I’m all for emotional blackmail!
You don’t know that. You can’t say it isn’t school related or that Emmys went to his head. Chandler has always been down to earth.
you know… it’s my honest opinion… he doesn’t like playing this role this much. he’s been given so many accolades… and his style of acting.. in any moment… is key to living sharing good story.
can i let go that fast… prop 8, doma… yes.. boisterous as it was… the midwest and south keep needing remindment.
it needs to continue on. Sonny aftermath… till the recast and/or return happens.
I would prefer to see a recast of Will. He is too important a character to have disappear. Back in the early 90’s (I think), Bo was recast and it worked very well. The biggest thing they need to do is make sure there is chemistry between who takes over as Will and Sonny. WilSon deserves to stay together.
I wonder if he will admit about shooting EJ and then he goes to jail. Sami still gets off and she goes after Adrienne’s neck. It will be war with the old Sami. What a day that would be since Adrienne is so rectal right now
so much of the writing is good. watching all of them interact with something… is beholden to a treasure… I study and elevate myself to…. heck.. Nicole, overwhelmed by the kindness. why i thought she needed Fay. I loved her mom, with. Treat.
I hope Will and Gabbi simply get overwhelmed by all the family and life around them… and know, they can leave and give life a quiet shelter.
tha’ts how I’m seeing their playing field… on equal turf.
Adrienne’s heart is in the right moment… it’s Sammi’s, that tumultuous’ly enervates.
With Chandler leaving, the only way to keep them together is for Freddie to have to leave too, and that isn’t fair. So yes, recast Will. (Or convince Chandler to stay!!!)
Totally agree, yes Freddie is an amazing actor and he need to continue to have a story line and not have it die down just cause Chandler leaves, But good luck to Chandler, wish he would change his mind!!!
While I wouldn’t wish Chandler to depart the role of Will Horton, potentially hoping he’d remain on recurring, I wouldn’t rule out a recast of the character to keep him tied into the series and to Sonny.
As for recasting, the idea of Drew Garrett does not appeal to me. I would prefer to see the likes of Van Hansis (ex-Luke, ATWT) or Kevin G. Schmidt (ex-Noah, Y&R) take possession of the role.
What is chosen to be best for the series, I’d welcome anything. I love Will and Sonny and would not wish to see them split apart. And best wishes to Chandler!
Van is too old and too well known as Luke Snyder.
Will and Sonny cannot and should not stay together when Chandler leaves. Like someone else mentioned, that would be another Bo & Hope situation. This is a soap where characters break up everyday and move on to new love interests. Wilson should not be treated any differently because they are a gay couple. When Will leaves for whatever reason, I say don’t recast but instead bring in someone new for Sonny next year. One day if CM returns then Wilson could reunite but I don’t think he’s coming back, I think he’s saying the things the fans want to hear.
CM is quitting DOOL. So, there’s a chance that the writers may break WilSon or have one of them die. Never invested time in the WilSon story (except for a few select clips uploaded on U-tube); learned a lesson after the Luke & Reid, and Luke & Noah debacles on ATWT. Although it does not matter to me whatever they decide to do with the WilSon SL; for the faithful followers of Wilson, I hope they recast the character of Will and the WilSon SL continues. Granted Will will never be the same without CM playing that role; but sending them off together will mean that FS will lose steady and decently paying employment.
I wish Chandler would reconsider and stay but understand that he wants the college experience. I do not want Freddie to leave the show just because Chandler is. I think they should recast the role and keep Will and Sonny together. Or they could fake Will’s death and give Sonny a new love interest and after awhile have Will come back and have him fight for Sonny (if Chandler is willing to return after college or he decides he can handle both work and college). I love Chandler as Will and the chemistry he has with Freddie may not be duplicated with another actor. Wish there was a way for Chandler to stay on the show.
Recasting characters with new actors is to the soap genre as commonplace an evil twin is. Chandler hit the nail on the head when he remarked that Will is a legacy character — I believe that so many of the shows (in recent years) are foregoing recasting roles and simply writing characters off the canvas to the detriment of the long term story potential. Look at the Q’s on GH (although many of those actors were let go so that may not be a sterling example.) Nonetheless, losing another major character, a Horton family character is a bad move in my eyes. I say recast away and Drew Garrett would be an excellent choice.
GB – Thank you for trying to bring some common and rational sense to some of these folks about Chandler choosing to get his degree, over “Raking it IN” on DAYS.
With that degree, Chandler can go anywhere and make a career and future for himself, in another opportunity, outside of the acting industry.
He’s furthering his chances at being able to “rake it in” financially wise, by having his degree.
Especially now, when he WANTS to complete his degree.
Nothing’s holding him back and he can afford to give 100 percent of his focus on that goal.
It’s interesting how certain folks, truly believe that Chandler’s making a huge mistake in leaving DAYS.
I think people are just pissed and are trying to hide their true feelings about him leaving.
Recast! They could always get chandler back later. They did this with Bo, Jennifer, Jack, Roman, etc.
One perfect example was JJ as Lucky. After 2 recasts, JJ came back better than ever.
Another was MS as Phyllis, after a recast, MS came back. It keeps story going. ED as Ashley, came back after 2 recasts. So it works.
i agree they can recast and then bring him back i remember they did it with jack he was in hte shouwer and then they reacast him htey can recast cahndler and if he wants to come back you sen will awa y and hten bring chnsdler back recast or have him part time on so we still see him here and there
In my opinion…the best of the situation, in my opinion would be if they wrote Will finally paying his dues for shooting EJ and have him go to prison…that way Will & Sonny don’t break up (Sonny could reference going to see Will), Freddie gets to stay (instead of haivng Will & Sonny run off into the sunset…freddie shouldn’t have to leave just because chandler is…) and that leaves the story wide open for Chandler to return and give us closure to the will & sonny story with maybe a wedding… I honestly don’t want to see ANYONE else portray Will Horton. Chandler MADE this character what it is. He won 2 emmy’s for his portrayal, so that should speak for itself. But watching those coming out scenes with Marlena are absolutely heart wrenching…and now watching Chandler & Freddie portray Will & Sonny falling in love…the chemistry they have on screen is going to be impossible to find again. So…that’s what I want…I don’t want Chandler to leave, but this would be making the best of the situation…again in my opinion 🙂
I hope that Corday does reconsider recasting him because now this is the way I feel and I may sound immature because it is just a TV show but I am seriously considering taking a break from watching Days because I think I have an idea of how Corday will end the Wilson storyline and I don’t think I can handle that because on another soap that I watched one of my favorite characters decided to leave and I don’t think I can do that again but I do respect his decision on leaving to go to school.
I want will and sonny to stay togehter so either have them married and travel for wahile and have will as arecurring acotr for now or reacast I dod not want to see them break up. i love them i would be jhappy with a reacast for sure or like i said have will be on occcsioally i am sure they cna work out something where he can still go to school nad work part time an d be on here and there like other actlors are
I love the Wilson Story line, the Writers have written it so well, and Will and Sonny have such Great Chemistry, Yes Chandler has made Will his own, I am really sadden he is leaving but understand @ going back to school, I do not want Sonny (Freddie ) to be on the back burner cause his partner has left, and it would be really really hard to have the story line just end cause Chandler will leave and not Freddie, So therefore I would love to see a recast on “Will” He is very important character and then the Wilson story line can still continue!!! Freddie is to much of an amazing actor, to not have a story line, I really don’t want it to be a Bo and Hope, and Hope talks to Bo on the line, or in another room somewhere, then all of a sudden, we don’t hear from him at all, Please Please, let Wilson be happy at the end, whatever that may be, this is such a beautiful storyline, and this is the reason Im watching Days again, Please Pleas recast “Will” just cause I want Wilson to continue and Freddie to continue with a storyline, I am sure Freddie would have great Chemistry with any “Will” cause his is such an phenomenal actor,!!!!
Unfortunately, Chandler gives Will an essence that I don’t think any other actor will be able to completely capture, a sense of vulnerability and innocence that goes to the heart of William Roberts Horton. If Chandler has any intention of possibly returning to the role full time – he has the potential to be a 30-40 year character if he wants it – then let Will and Sonny get married and leave for a while. All characters take a back seat from time to time as storylines change. Sonny can come back full time after the “honeymoon”, Will can make cameo appearances when Will is on school breaks and summer if he wants or can. I can honestly see in 25 years Will and Sonny being the seminal couple on the show, like Tom and Alice Horton in the early years, Doug and Julie Williams next, Roman and Marlena Evans-Brady, then Bo and Hope Williams. If they will not recast the role, they need to come up with something, because a love as strong as WilSon can’t die in a matter of months., and quite frankly, I’m not sure they can recast and not lose something from this super couple. The recast Bo once and lost all the energy of Bo-Hope. That CANNOT happen to WilSon.
I really don’t want Sonny (Freddie) to be on the back burner or not get air time just cause of Chandler(Will) Leaving, Freddie is an amazing, Phenomenal actor, and hope the Writers will continue to show us that great acting in Freddie, I just don’t want Sonny(Freddie) to get short handed just cause Chandler (Will) is leaving!!!!
How about Wes Aderhold(the lizzie bennet diaries)for the recast?
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Favorites Making Returns: Alison Sweeney, Christie Clark, Chandler Massey and Bryan Dattilo
Great news for Days of Our Lives fans, now that Ryan Quan is co-head writer of the long-running soap opera. Coming in June of 2027 (since DAYS tapes ten or so months ahead), you can look forward to the returns of Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady), Christie Clark (Carrie Brady), Chandler Massey (Will Horton) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).
The foursome is back on set and began last week to tape their upcoming story arc, according to TV Insider. As to what exactly is going on that brings sister Sami and Carrie’s history back up, as well as Will and Lucas’ is only being teased at this time, but suffice to say, it should be intriguing.
Alison Sweeney explained on being back on set, “It was a lot of dialogue and emotion, but with all the best actors to work opposite, we fell into it as if no time had passed. It was really wonderful.”
Photo: JPI
As to working with the longstanding rivalry of Sami and Carrie, Alison added on working with Clark, “So, it really does feel like we’re sisters. It’s so fun, and she’s such a good actor that she makes everything so natural that you can really disappear into those stories.”
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES
It also seems like the deep-history, which often had the sister fighting for the love of Austin Reed, but that might not figure into the equation this time, or will it?
Alison indicated what she thought of the scripts she was given. “I felt like when I read it, it was a page-turner. I was very excited. There’s a lot of history here, and a lot of things that haven’t been said. So, it’s really not like, ‘Oh, rehashing stuff.’ And now having played some of the scenes, I’m psyched.” Sweeney added, as for the men, working again with her on-screen son, Chandler Massey and Will’s on-screen father Bryan Dattilo, was also extra special.
The last time DAYS viewers saw Sami on the canvas was back in November of 2025, when she revealed she has gotten engaged to never-before-seen Dante Vitali. As for Clark, she last visited Salem for the episodes surrounding John Black’s memorial in June of 2025.
Chandler Massey’s Will Horton last made a visit to Salem in November of 2025 when he attended the gala for the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the soap opera’s 60th anniversary celebration. Bryan Dattilo was last seen in December of 2025. So, by the time we see all four again it will be close to two years since they were on new episodes of the series. Time to look forward to June of 2027.
So, excited by the news of Alison, Christie, Chandler and Lucas making a return to Days of Our Lives? What do you think the story will be involving, Sami, Carrie, Lucas and Will? Let us know via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Alum Al Calderon Talks On His Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes as Javi Hernandez (Exclusive)
Last Tuesday, Al Calderon scored the first Emmy nomination of his career for his role as Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives.
Calderon name was announced as one of the performers competing for gold in the Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30.
This week, Calderon chatted live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a one-on-one conversation where he discussed: his nominated scenes and time on the Peacock streaming soap opera, his decision to leave DAYS, his role of Nico Silva on Brilliant Minds and its sad cancellation, plus his passing the torch of Javi to Jacob Martinez, who took over the role on-screen on the June 30, 2026 episode of Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
JAVI REVEALS TO LEO THAT HE HAD A DAUGHTER WHO DIED
Al revealed the scenes that comprise his now Emmy-nominated reel have at its epicenter the heartbreaking moments from the September 12, 2025 episode. In it, Javi shares for the first time to Leo (Greg Rikaart) that he had a daughter named Solana, with a woman he was seeing named Sylvia. One fateful day, Sylvia left their child in a car when she went to work and the little girl died. Javi had blamed himself for not being the parent to take his daughter to school that day since he was hungover the night before, therefore it opened up the opportunity for something to happen to the his child, and it did.
The multi-talented actor/singer explained his reel: “It was the scene where he is talking about his daughter to Leo. I also included the scene where Javi goes to talk to Melinda (Tina Huang) and to see if it would be a viable option to adopt, because I wanted to introduce the subtlety and nuance of why Javi kind of has this whole connection to Tesoro, in a way.”
It is true that Al can bring the tears and make us cry right along with him during his run as Javi. To that, Calderon added, “I’ve read the comments that I’m a little bit of a crybaby, so I didn’t want the entire reel to be of me crying, but I wanted it to show a little bit of an emotional range of the restraint that Javi was feeling so I included that scene
In addition Calderon shared, “I also included a really beautiful scene with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez, DAYS) where I’m looking at photos of Tesoro, and of course, Javi is crying. I just wanted to show the relationship between Javi and his family as well, and as I mentioned the reveal of the child that he lost.”
Photo: JPI
ALUMS AL CALDERON AND ALICE HALSEY REPRESENT DAYS OF OUR LIVES IN EMERGING TALENT CATEGORY
In a twist of fate, Calderon is also nominated in the Emerging Talent category with Alice Halsey who played Rachel Black. Halsey is currently starring in the reboot of Little House on the Prairie in the lead role of Laura Ingalls on Netflix.
As to his hope on Emmy night, Al expressed, “Of course, I want to win, but Alice Halsey is going to give me a run for the money. And if’s not me (who wins the award), it better be her!”
You can check out the full interview with Al below.
Now let us know, do you remember Al’s emotional scenes when he explained to Leo he had a daughter who died, which made it all the more heartbreaking to not end up with permanent custody of Tesoro? What do you think of Al’s chances to win the gold based on his Emmy scene selection? Do you miss him as Javi? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
Emily O’Brien Talks On Her Y&R Past as Jana Hawkes and Working with Peter Porte on ‘Days of Our Lives’
On the latest edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart which dropped on Tuesday, July 21, Emily O’Brien is the featured guest. As soap fans know, Emily has worked with Rikaart both in her first soap role on The Young and the Restless as Jana Hawkes and now on Days of Our Lives in her current role of Gwen Rizczech.
While Emily continues on DAYS, she has very impressive list of credits in the other part of her career as a voice-over actress and one in motion-capture in some of the most popular video games in the world.
O’Brien was first seen on The Young and the Restless back in 2006. She recalled her landing the role which eventually paired her for her five year run with Greg Rikaart.
Photo: JPI
BEING CAST ON THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
“The role was just a few days and she wasn’t even supposed to be English,” Emily recalled. “The role was originally called Jade. Karen Rae, the casting director of The Young and the Restless at the time said to me “Oh, you’re from England. Try it with the dialect.” I put it on and she said, ‘I’m going to bring you back at like 3 for s callback.’ So then they changed the role to Jana and they said she’s going to be a Brit. I was only supposed to be on for like five episodes and it turned into 5 years.”
In explaining why she loved crazy Jana, Emily shared, “Jana was sort of like the misanthrope. She was just was the odd one out and I loved it. I felt so comfortable playing that because she was just eclectic and weird and she loved playing with Ouija boards and she rode a motorbike. There was just so much color to bring to her. It was just such a great match to play with Greg (Kevin), and Christian LeBlanc (Michael) and Tracey Bregman (Lauren).
Photo: JPI
GWEN, DIMITRI AND LEO ON DAYS OF OUR LIVES
On Days of Our Lives, the Leo, Gwen, Dimitri dynamic is quite unique and been through many schemes and entanglements. Often Emily finds herself in repartee with her ex-lover, Dimitri, who turned out to be gay and then had a thing for her bestie, Leo (Greg Rikaart)!
During the conversation, Greg and Emily sang, Peter Porte’s praised with O’Brien expressing, “Peter is just ready to play. He comes on set prepared. I’ve never seen him with his script. From blocking and rehearsals, he doesn’t have it. He’s prepared. He’s a physical actor and he always trying to come up with something. I think he let me slap him. He let me kiss him. He let me throw a cheeseburger in his lap. He’s ready for anything for anything.”
You can catch the full episode of ‘Soapy; featuring Emily O’Brien below where the actress also talks about replacing Jen Lilley as Theresa Donovan after being let go as Gwen; and being paired again with Greg Rikaart on the Peacock streaming soap opera this time as best friends and more.
So, were you a big Jana Hawkes and Kevin Fisher fan on Y&R? Did you like them as a couple? Do you like the dynamic between Emily and Peter Porte and Greg Rikaart on DAYS? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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