Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Emily O’Brien Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’
She has been a polarizing character since her arrival in Salem, with some fans screaming Gwen is sucking up too much airtime. HOWEVER, the performances by Emily O’Brien (Gwen) show an actress on top of her craft who can play, as Gwen called herself, “A miserable, vindictive bitch”, or a young woman so deeply-emotionally wounded that you might just come around and eventually feel some empathy for her.
Last week, while the soaps were pre-empted for most of the week due to the senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, DAYS posted all of its weekly episodes online on NBC.com, the NBC app, or on the Peacock streaming platform, and O’Brien’s work was a standout.
Photo: JPI
It all came to a boiling point when Laura (Jaime Lyn Bauer) and Gwen have the long-awaited confrontation in Gwen’s room at the Salem Inn, where O’Brien goes from Gwen baiting Laura to tell her dirty secret of her long-ago affair with Jack (Matthew Ashford), to her utter anger at how because of it, Laura trashed Gwen’s entire life.
Laura reveals the guilt she felt for sleeping with Jack, so much so, that she would do anything to save Jennifer (Cady McClain) and Jack’s marriage. In delight at getting to the root of the truth, Gwen responds: “You slept with Jack? That is just perfect! My father slept with his mother-in-law!”
Then, Laura shares how it happened. They were both at the “Meadows” finding their ‘truest selves’ and they were both using other names – she, Monica and he, Clark, and Laura had never seen a photo of Jack before to know it was him! Gwen wants to burst out in hysterical laughter, but then she becomes filled with rage knowing that if Laura hadn’t bought off her birth mother, Tiffany, her own life would have been very different. She goes on to say that she and Abigail (Marci Miller) might even be close as sisters, but instead of “borrowing her clothes, she borrowed her husband” alluding to sleeping with Chad (Billy Flynn). Next, Gwen wants to make Laura pay and lets Laura know that, “All the damage that you did, can’t be undone.” When Laura tries to leave, Gwen stops her and says in no uncertain terms, “I want revenge, because you ruined my life and you’re not going to get away with it!”
Photo: JPI
Next, we see that there had been a struggle with Laura dead on the floor bleeding out of her head. A freaked-out Gwen does not know what to do. She realizes she will be accused of murder. With no one in town to call, she decides to call her father, Jack. When he shows up at the Salem Inn, Jack is shocked, and grief-stricken to see his mother-in-law, dead. Gwen swears to Jack this was an accident and that she did not kill Laura, and that he has to believe her. Jack decides he will stand by his daughter. Gwen wants to get rid of the body, Jack says he can’t be involved in a cover-up, so he calls Rafe (Galen Gering). When Rafe arrives at the crime scene he is very suspicious of Gwen, and takes her down to the station.
Scene after scene, O’Brien layered her performances with venomous and ominous undertones, illustrating a woman with so much emotional baggage who becomes desperate to save herself. For all these reasons, Michael Fairman TV names Emily’s work, The Power Performance of the Week.
What did you think of Emily O’Brien’s key scenes? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
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oh, most definitely, even i backtracked.. and kept thinking… she turned me ?!?! how about it two quotes from @Writer : 1. a young woman so deeply-emotionally wounded that you might just come around and eventually feel some empathy for her 2. Scene after scene, O’Brien layered her performances with venomous and ominous undertones, illustrating a woman with so much emotional baggage who becomes desperate to save herself. YOUR #2 is “chilling” in and of itself.. stupendous .. another emmy worthy submit people hence it’s #1.. alas the big reveal, she did all on her own. it was at ‘SOME’… Read more »
I say this genuinely, because i was caught up in watching Cady McClain act her arse off.. and being impressed by NEW things on the canvas about and with Jack Deveraux .. and you find yourself keeping up with Gwen… TADA she made both apples and oranges
I like Gwen and O’Brien is a powerhouse! Well worth the recognition here!
I think she and Marci Miller are at the top of their games. Emily is a powerhouse, making you hate her one minute and feel sorry for her the next. I am hoping to see her nominated for Best Lead Actress at the 2021 Emmys.
I hated to see a legacy character killed off with Laura’s death. I think she had more that should have been said and done before her death. More scenes with Jennifer, Jack, Abigail, Gwen and Kate.
Powerful performance or not, TPTB have ruined this character. I doubt any viewer likes her—-unless for her acting skills. As a character, Gwen is shot!! Now, it seems, that the writers are trying to play with the viewer’s emotions—-giving a pity-party to a poor, poor, abandoned, helpless child. Perhaps, it works for others—not for me. I am not buying it. Too much evil in one human being and not enough humility for having survived her devastating childhood. It’s a soap; so I get it. Melodrama is a necessary tool. However, this character will never have redemption for me. Will Gwen… Read more »
Celia – “not enough humility for having survived her devastating childhood”? An abused and neglected child should grow up to be a humble adult grateful for the crumbs given to her by Laura? Have YOU lost your mind!?Just what kind of humility would you have Gwen show to the world? You obviously has NO UNDERSTANDING AND NO EMPATHY for children who have been abandoned and told they are unwanted. Gwen has EVERY right to be angry and resentful. Self entitled Laura decided, without consulting Jack, that the child Gwen did not have the right to a father. And Jack, according… Read more »
Gee, that’s a lot of hate. It’s a TV show, right?
Hi, Moto62
Tell me about it. Thank you. We are talking about a character here, not the actress.
There”s a pandemic going on and in the midst of this, people are flipping out over a soap. We come here to exchange views, not cut each other up. I’m off school this week, therefore, I have a little time to spare to chat and catch up.
Nonetheless, I have loved Emily since her short stint on Y&R, as Jana.
There’s no dispute to her talent.
Be safe!!
LOL. It’s a soap, ma’am. You need help.
As do you! Suggesting that Gwen has not shown enough humility for having survived as an unwanted and abandoned child. Seriously!
On the other horn, if Gwen had been with her father when he came to Salem, she might have got killed by his adoptive father or beaten and/or raped by his biological father. So it’s not like life in the Deveraux/Johnson family was all that great back then. No question that Laura did the wrong thing by never telling Jack & Jennifer the truth. But it wasn’t worth killing her over, and seriously, Gwen’s thirty something now…. is she really holding on to childhood grudges. When she voluntarily checked herself into the nuthouse to hide from Jake, she should have… Read more »
Anne So sorry, but I absolutely hate Gwen. Many people have grown up under same or worse circumstances and have turned out to be happy, loving and worthwhile people. It was actually noted recently on Y&R when talking about that monster Adam, that while he didn’t have his father in his life, he had everything else and certainly no excuse for his sociapathic treatment of everyone else in his life, especially his own family. Gwen is finally showing a little guilt, but it’s too little too late especially after the damage she’s done, especially her horrible hate and jealousy of… Read more »
I hope she’s not jacks daughter in the long run
DNA has proved that Gwen is Jack’s daughter
I agree with her being the power performer. I am loving the character of Gwen and Emily as an actress. Her chemistry with Marci Miller and Billy Flynn is amazing. When all 3 are in a scene it’s fire. I have to blame RON on killing Laura, not Gwen. RON has made some big mistakes with killing Adrienne and now Laura. Hopefully Dr. Rolf will bring her back.
I honestly can’t stand her from her accent to her crooked smirk of a smile. I think it’s horrible that Carlivati killed off Laura Horton for this character’s storyline but I don’t think Ron cares about characters that he didn’t invent. His interest is not in the history of Days of Our Lives, in my opinion.
So, if the character of Gwen ever leaves, I’ll be happy to see her go but something tells me she’ll be around for some time me to come.
When this character first merged into our screens, I immediately liked this actress. Her nail biting, which grossed out viewers, only added to the more than real character. Not everyone is perfect in real life, everyone has their own bad habits, and I think this little addition showed me just how great Emily was going to be.
Hi Carlos : Yeah, I readily admit… when she was doing these ??? nail biting, her crooked smirks ; and her full on large teeth… she was off putting… even knowing her stellar work @Y&R. 3 out of 4 years emmy nominated. What really took me… if she is staying longer… she has to change her look…. “look” more amenable, up to date, rambunctious, so she has daddy around the corner. I LOVED HER RED WIG when she, abs and jennifer did that FLASHBACK…. that hairstyle gave her younger, panache, attitude and when she wants a fun lot to dole… Read more »
These accolades for Emily O’Brien are well deserved! Her acting is terrific, which is why some viewers “love” to “hate” her… As a fan of her work on Y&R, I am eagerly hoping for a DOOL episode when Leo (Greg Rikaart) returns to town and runs into Gwen.
Oh Jamesj75, how perfect would that be? Kevin & Jana were my favorite soap couple for years! Two odd, loopy people who fit like a glove. And two of daytime’s best performers ever. I like Chloe and Kevin but Jana made Greg Rikaart even sexier.
Hey Soaphound! I just noticed your response — I miss the old days when we were notified when someone replied to a post. Glad to learn that Kevin and Jana were your favorite soap couple for years. I can see that! Both appealing characters and actors. Take care, Friend!
Soaphound
I agree with you and James. I also loved Jana and Kevin. Could never really take to Chloe. She just annoys me somehow.
I think GWEN is mentally ill. But she sure can act enough to hate her. Cady has done an excellent job doing the JENNIFER role.
We have no DOOL site, so thought I’d write a few comments here about our poor mistreated Gwen. How stupid of Abby and Gaby to put Gwen in the wine room where everyone comes and goes for wine. They should have locked her up in the other one they used before, even had a bed. Gabi has no conscience but I don’t think this will make Abby happy when she actually starts thinking about what she’s doing. Jack won’t be too happy when Gwen goes running to daddy about what big sis did to her.
Days Of Our Lives
(WATCH) Day of Days 2022 Cast Interviews
Want to know what your favorites from Salem had to share and tease at the recent Days of Days 2022? Now, You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel has released their full set of interviews with the cast of Days of our Lives conducted during the fan fest event.
Just over a week ago, Day of Days was held for the first time since 2019, and returned in a new location – the Xbox Plaza in downtown Los Angeles at L.A. Live. DAYS, which just celebrated its 57th anniversary, can now be seen in its new home exclusively streaming on Peacock.
Photos: Peacock
Make sure to check out all the conversations below featuring: Dan Feuerriegel (EJ) and Camila Banus (Gabi), Rob Scott Wilson (Alex) and Abigail Klein (Stephanie), Greg Rikaart (Leo) and Billy Flynn (Chad), Arianne Zucker (Nicole) and Greg Vaughan (Eric), Stephen Nichols (Steve), Mary Beth Evans (Kayla) and George DelHoyo (Orpheus), Drake Hogestyn (John), Paul Telfer (Xander) and Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Eric Martsolf (Brady), Wally Kurth (Justin), Brandon Barash (Stefan) and Carson Boatman (Johnny), Thaao Penghlis (Tony) and Leann Hunley (Anna), Jackee Harry (Paulina) and James Reynolds (Abe), Brandon Beemer (Shawn) and Martha Madison (Belle), Galen Gering (Rafe) and Elia Cantu (Jada), Bryan Dattilo (Lucas) and Kyle Lowder (Rex), Stacy Haiduk (Kristen/Susan) and Tina Huang (Melinda), and Victoria Grace (Wendy) and Remington Hoffman (Li).
After you checked out the videos, let us know which was your favorite chat in the comment section below … and for more upcoming celebrity features and video content make sure to ‘subscribe’ to the Michael Fairman Channel.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes Pay Tribute to Robert Clary
Breaking News
Robert Clary, DAYS, Y&R and ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ Favorite, Passes Away at 96
Very sad news to report. Robert Clary, who became a soap opera fan favorite for his roles as Robert LeClair on Days of our Lives, and Pierre Roulland on The Young and the Restless has died at the age of 96.
Clary, best known to primetime fans for his role as Cpl. Louis LeBeau, on the comedy series, Hogan Heroes, passed away on Wednesday according to his granddaughter, Kim Wright, who informed the Hollywood Reporter. Robert was the last surviving member of the iconic cast.
Photo: CBS
Throughout his daytime career, Clary always sang in his roles and is most remembered as Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) best friend, Robert LeClair. The two would always perform at “Doug’s Place” in story. Clary played the role from 1972–1973, 1975–1983, and again from 1986–1987.
During a break from DAYS, Robert went over to Y&R and created the role of Pierre Roulland when the CBS daytime drama first premiered from 1973-1974, and once again sang and acted on the show. Later in his career, Clary appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful in the role of Pierre Jourdan from 1990-1992.
On Clary’s passing, Y&R shared: “The #YR Family sends our condolences to the family and loved ones of Robert Clary known to the Y&R audiences as “Pierre” on our debut episode!”
B&B also honored Robert by posting: The Bell Family & @BandB_CBS re sad to learn of the passing of #RobertClary, who portrayed Pierre Jourdan on @BandB_CBS from 1990-1992. Robert was a talented actor, a kind and courageous man, and a friend to all who knew him.”
Four decades into his career, Robert, who was Jewish, came forward with the fact that was incarcerated for 31 months in an Auschwitz concentrate camp, and tattooed with the identification “A-5714” on his left forearm. He was the only one of his captured family to make it out alive.
Clary was married for 32 years to the late Natalie Cantor, the second daughter of Eddie Cantor. She passed away in 1997.
Share your remembrances of the exceptional Robert Clary via the comment section below. But first, watch Robert talking about working with Bill Hayes on Days of our Lives, and his appearance in Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award package at the Daytime Emmys (produced by Michael Fairman).
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Jack McBrayer and JoJo Siwa Named Hosts For First Annual ‘Children’s & Family Emmy Awards’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Ridge Learns The Truth About The CPS Call During His Nuptials to Taylor
Y&R’s Michael Damian Drops New Single ‘Must Be Christmas’
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Eric Kim Named Exec VP of Current Programs CBS Entertainment & CBS Studios; Will Oversee Daytime Programming
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Ridge Learns The Truth About The CPS Call During His Nuptials to Taylor
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GH’s Josh Swickard Stars in HBO Max Film ‘A Hollywood Christmas’
Y&R’s Camryn Grimes and Fiancé Brock Powell Talk On Their Roles as Mrs. Claus and Santa in ‘Mickey Saves Christmas’
Justin Hartley Stars in Netflix Holiday Movie ‘The Noel Diary’ That Drops Thanksgiving Day
Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl Talk On Their Guest Star Turn on The Bold and the Beautiful, Bobby Ewing and ‘Dallas’, and Finding Love with Each Other
DANCING WITH THE STARS: Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas Crowned Season 31 Champs!
(WATCH) Day of Days 2022 Cast Interviews
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy is Stunned by Douglas’ Secret …. What Will She Do With the Intel?
MONDAY: Michael Graziadei Returns to The Young and the Restless
DAYS Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes Pay Tribute to Robert Clary
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NewsNovember 25, 2022Y&R’s Michael Damian Drops New Single ‘Must Be Christmas’
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General HospitalNovember 30, 2022GENERAL HOSPITAL: Felicia, Robert & Holly’s Masterplan Revealed Featuring Heart-Tugging Moments from Tristan Rogers & Emma Samms
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General HospitalNovember 27, 2022GH’s Kelly Thiebaud Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’
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Breaking NewsNovember 26, 2022Irene Cara, Best-Known For Smash Hits ‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance… What A Feeling’, Dead at 63
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