Days Of Our Lives
DAYS’ Olivia Rose Keegan Delivers ‘The Power Performance of the Week’
Although she is exiting the show on-screen next week on Days of our Lives, Olivia Rose Keegan (Claire) got the opportunity to go out in a blaze of glory (those damn lighters!).
If you caught this past Tuesday’s installment of the NBC daytime drama series, Claire finally became entrapped and completely unhinged, after being set-up by Tripp (Lucas Adams) and Ciara (Victoria Konefal); where everyone learned she was the responsible party for the notorious cabin fire and was about to attempt to set her rival, Ciara, on fire in a cabin, yet again, after taking off with her.
In the process, Tripp was held with a knife to his throat by Claire, and eventually hit his head trying to get away from her knocking him unconscious. The perfect opportunity for Claire to make her getaway with Ciara.
Once at the Cabin, Claire pours gas all around as Ciara begs her to stop, while she is chained to the bed. Claire then flicks the lighter. To the rescue come Ben (Rob Scott Wilson), Hope (Kristian Alfonso) and Marlena (Deidre Hall); who have tracked down where the young women are. Ciara calls out to Ben, who breaks down the cabin door.
Just then, Claire holds out the lighter with the flame ready to start another fire. Knowing she is caught, Claire starts to explain how she lost her mind in all of this. Ben tries to talk her down and to please put the lighter away, as does Hope. As a desperate mother, Hope begs Claire to let Ciara live, and tells Claire that she knows she really doesn’t want to do this. Hope tells her that she knows that Claire loves them both.  As Ben rescues Ciara, Claire closes the lighter as Marlena holds her. As the others get out of harm’s way, Marlena says she has got this … and now it’s Claire and Marlena alone and inside the cabin together.
Photo: JPI
But then, wanting to end her own life, Claire picks up the lighter and flicks it open. She tells Marlena she can’t go back and says, “It’s better if she dies.” Claire thinks she’s a monster and certifiable … and is as criminal as what Ben Weston has done in his past. Reassuring her and talking her down, Marlena promises Claire that with help, she can turn her life around as Ben has done.
Claire breaks down as Marlena holds her. Next, Marlena is able to get her out of the cabin, away from setting herself on fire, and on her way to the hospital for observation, until it can be figured out what’s next for the troubled young woman. As they leave the scene, Claire sobs uncontrollably knowing she is a damaged soul, has lost her way, and realizing the harm she has done to other people.
In all of these scenes, Keegan brought the angst, the mental instability, and the realization of Claire’s horrific motivations to life, in a dramatic, and not over-the-top way, even in the most melodramatic of soapy circumstances. For those reasons, Michael Fairman TV names Olivia’s work are Power Performance of the Week.
Photo: JPI
Knowing those scenes were part of her final days of shooting on DAYS, Keegan told Soap Opera Digest in an interview (in their latest issue on newsstands now), “Obviously, it was sad to shoot. And it was emotionally demanding and bittersweet, because Victoria Konefal and I are best friends.”
So, what did you think of Olivia’s performance in the key scenes? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Very moved by her ,she had me sitting on the edge of my seat.I know all about mental illness’s.I got five of them.Depression should not be taken lightly. Oh yes even my best friend was impressed as well.I actually knew this was going to happen.Ever since I saw Claire with the lighter I knew something was not right about her.She is a very good actress.
Incredible story lines
First and foremost thanks to Michael Fairman for acknowledging Days and Keegan. We have watched this girl grow as an actre ss in the past three years and boy did she deliver this week!From jealousy to manic Keegan played all of the beats . Hats off to headwriter Ron C many people were angry at the reveal that Claire set the fires i say brilliant in this current era of social media and streaming it is hard to shock anymore Great job. i am sure come emmy time she will not be forgotten. The scenes of Marlena holding a crying clair were amazing. Another scene i look forward to is Clair with Eve. Kassie and Olivia are gold in scenes together and as much as everyone looks at Eve as a pariah her love for Claire as she remembers her lost daughter Paige has been writers gold Hats off to Olivia we hope to see you back in Salem soon and hats off to Days the best soap of the Fab 4
I thought she gave a powerhouse performance and will expect to see her nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2020. The problem I had with her character is that she always seemed to take one step forward and one step back. Every time she and Ciara would make up, the next day she was acting angry and snotty again. Her character never became one that you love to hate (i.e. Sami, EJ, Victor). Most of the time, you just hated her.
The one thing I always disliked reading were the negative comments about the actress, not the character. At the end of the day, she is an 18-year-old that has to pretend it doesn’t hurt to be cyber bullied for people who probably hate everything about life.
The best to Olivia and the future. Something tells me she will be back in Salem soon.
I agree with you Ray, Olivis is a terrific actress, Olivia has a great singing voice, the lady can sing and act. hopefully she comes back to Days in the future. very talented lady. the bullies always have negative comments, they need to shut up and have several seats.
Olivia is a wonderful actress, hopefully we see her again on Y&R as a recast for Summer Newman. Hunter King needs to go lol
Bravo to Olivia. I’ve always enjoyed her on the show. She did a great job playing the slowly unraveling Claire over the last several months. All of Claire’s final meltdown scenes, starting with her picking up the knife in the loft to her sobbing in the cabin, were terrific. Olivia is a very talented actress who portrayed all the levels of Claire with great skill. I am very sorry to see her leave the show.
Congratulations Olivia on a job extremely well done and the best of luck in your very bright future.
I sincerely hope the subject isn’t dropped after Claire is sent off to the psychiatric hospital. Eve MUST face the music for her part in this. The very idea of Eve as police chief is ridiculous. After she is removed from the job in disgrace, Mr. Amnesia mayor needs to be kicked to the curb too. Kassie DePaiva is great!!!!!!!
DAYS must bring ORK back as Claire! We need a young vixen with all her ties to so many characters, including being the granddaughter of two supercouples! ORK has always given it her all and clearly wanted to stay.
Olivia has been doing a really good job. They finally gave her something interesting to do and she delivered.
First; Olivia is so stunning! Her eyes, along with Brandon Beemer’s and Billy Flynn’s, look like jewels.
I must say that when I first watched her I wasn’t impressed with her acting but she just took off with her exit story. As I look back now at her portrayal of Claire’s immature, girly ways, manipulations, jealousies which all seemed so overdone to me at the time, they seem, in retrospect, perfect. Olivia really showed her acting chops by moving from that seeming innocence to almost diabolical, as she sashayed back and forth between the two personas.
Kudos to the actress! She made me feel for Claire as she crumbled and looked to her family for forgiveness. I DO wonder, however, if/when they bring the character back (with the same or different actress) if she will be cured ala Ben or if she’ll be one of the villains who just couldn’t be tamed.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?
Next week, expected surprises and schemes on Days of our Lives. In official spoilers for episodes streaming on Peacock from October 5-9, it looks like Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) has hunted down a very much alive Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd), while Marlena (Deidre Hall) admits a deeply concerning confession to her daughter Belle (Martha Madison), and more.
As previously reported, Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, General Hospital) is stepping in for one day for Tyler Joseph Andrews in the role of Theo Carver and will share scenes with Gabi (Cherie Jimenez), where Theo finally agrees to go along with Gabi’s plan, after she offered him a job.
Meanwhile, Gabi may have her hands full with Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) whose big win in Monte Carlo may have sparked his gambling addiction … all over again, but Philip reveals her has a plan.
Photo: Corday Productions
Sydney (Sydney Malekeh) is in for a shock when Dante (Franco LoPresti) arrives in Salem. Why is he in Salem? Is he part of the unraveling of the Dominic Marino mystery, since we know he seemed like he was talking to the man in Monte Carlo?
Will Marlena ever figure out what Rita (Maggie Carney) is hiding about the mystery of Dominic, and if Marlena is truly his birth mother or did something more suspicious go on and how deeply involved is Rita in this whole story?
EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) finally demands answers of his own from Rita after overhearing on today’s Cliffhanger Friday her conversation with Marlena. Will Rita cop to anything?
Then as noted, while everyone thinks Sophia took her own life, after Kristen “murdered” her, Kristen is infuriated to find she is somehow alive working as waitress in a diner in Kentucky. Will Kristen try to kill Sophia yet again?
Take a look at some of the additional spoilers for next week’s action on DAYS below.
Monday, October 5
Joy worries about her future.
Alex surprises Stephanie.
Chanel supports Johnny through a difficult decision.
Tuesday, October 6
Rachel gives Brady cause for concern.
Roman surprises Kate.
Wednesday, October 7
Leo’s good day takes an unexpected turn.
Brady is forced to make a difficult call.
Thursday, October 8
Paulina refuses to give up on Lani.
Chanel asks Johnny for a promise.
Friday, October 9
Stephanie and Alex steal a private moment.
Steve gets troubling news from Johnny.
So, what do you think will happen when Kristen finds that the woman she thought she murdered and framed (making it looking like a suicide) is alive and well and working in a diner far away from Salem? Was Rita more involved with Stefano DiMera than we even know? Who is the birth mother of Dominic? Is it really Marlena or did someone else carrying her child? And what of Dante? Why is he back in Salem? To get at Philip, or something else? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
After an earlier post on Thursday, October 1 about General Hospital alumni Tajh Bellow’s (ex-TJ Ashford) upcoming project from Issa Rae’s HOOPAE Digital, comes word that Bellow is temporarily stepping into the role of Days of our Lives Theo Carver to fill in for Tyler Joseph Andrews on the Peacock streaming soap opera.
According to TV Insider, Bellow will be making a one-day appearance next week on the October 6 episode of DAYS as Andrews was unable to make the tape date that was shot 10 months ago on a day last December. Andrews (pictured below) took over the role of Theo in September of 2025.
In Bellow’s upcoming episode as Theo, he will share scenes with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez). A DAYS spokesperson tells the outlet that Bellow “stepped seamlessly into the role, and the cast and crew were grateful for his professionalism and commitment, albeit for only one episode.”
Photo: JPI
TAJH WILL BE SEEN IN MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN OCTOBER
As General Hospital fans know, Tajh played the role of TJ Ashford from 2018 to his last appearance in December of 2024. Along the way, he received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his performances as TJ, the last being in 2025 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
In addition, bellow along with Y&R alum Loren Lott will be seen starting on October 14 in the new Love Island spoof series, The Compatibility Experiment. The show will drop exclusively on TikTok and the PineDrama platform.
The Compatibility Experiment gives a satirical look at reality dating shows, think Love Island! The story centers around Kelvin (Bellow) and Camila (Lott), whose relationship is put to the test when they join a reality show to try to win a the million dollar prize.
So, what do you think of Tajh stepping in for Tyler Joseph Andrews as Theo on DAYS? Perhaps, the soap opera liked his work that he might be considered for another role in the future bringing Bellow back to the soaps? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
Four cast members are officially on contract at Days of our Lives, according to the soap opera’s closing credits on Peacock and longtime Days expert and historian Jason 47.
Lauren Koslow (Kate), Sydney Malakeh (Sydney), Sal Stowers (Lani) and Jacob Martinez (Javi) are the names that appear in the closing credits in the contracted cast members section. Days of our Lives fans also note that the series tapes ten months in advance of streaming episodes.
As Days of our Lives fans know, Lauren Koslow has played Kate Roberts since 1996, and recently filled-in for Jess Walton in the role of Jill Abbott on The Young and the Restless when Walton was unable to travel from Oregon to Los Angeles during the specific tape dates. But now, Koslow has been re-upped to contract status as of the September 8 episode.
Photo: JPI
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Sydney Malakeh is the newest member of the contract players when she debuted on contract status on the September 10th episode. Days fans first met Sami (Alison Sweeney) and EJ’s (Dan Feuerriegel) daughter in scenes in Monte Carlo around a gambling table.
As for Sal Stowers, the actress had been on contract from 2015-2022, then on recurring status with the soap, and would make appearances and limited runs since 2023. Soap fans first saw Sal as Cassandra Foster on Prospect Park’s revival of All My Children in 2013. Sal’s first new contracted episode was noted to be September 16.
Jacob Martinez, debuted on June 30 of this year as the successor to Al Calderon in the role of Javi Hernandez, and has now been bumped up to series regular as of the September 10 episode.
Photo: JPI
CREDITS
According to the referenced posting from Days of our Lives expert and historian Jason 47, he shared, “It took me four weeks to realize, but the same week that Sydney Malakeh (Sydney) debuted (9/7-9/11), “Days” also put Lauren Koslow (Kate), Jacob Richard Martinez (Javi) and Sal Stowers (Lani) on contract.”
Jason47 added, “This confirms the “errors” of Lani being listed in the credits the week of 9/7 but not appearing, and Kate and Javi appearing in the credits the week of 9/14 but not appearing. It also now makes sense why Javi and Sydney are being listed before Rafe and Philip in the credits.”
He also shared, “For the record, Lauren Koslow’s first date back on contract was 9/8, Jacob Richard Martinez was upped to contract on 9/10, Sydney Malakeh debuted on contract 9/10 and Sal Stowers’ first date back on contract was 9/16. The records will be fixed on the website in the coming days.”
So, glad to hear Lauren, Sydney, Sal and Jacob appear to be on contract with Days of our Lives (as of these episode airings)? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
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DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?
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