It’s the end of the line for Theresa Donovan, for now, as she headed to Statesville on the August 8th episode of Peacock’s Days of our Lives. With Theresa spending some time in the slammer, that marks the conclusion of Emily O’ Brien’s run in the part.
Back in October of 2023, O’Brien had the distinction of seeing her original DAYS character of Gwen Rizchech being written-out on the same day as she debuted as a recast Theresa complete with blonde wig. Previously, Emily had played Gwen since 2020, and Theresa had been last played by Jen Lilley.
Now with both roles being given a rest, Emily is onto many new projects including voicing the one and only Wonder Woman for the upcoming video game, DC Heroes United.
Photo: JPI
Emily spoke with Soap Opera Digest about her emotional final day on set (which was months ago in DAYS time). “I just told everyone how incredibly lucky I am. I wasn’t supposed to be on the show for as long as I was,” shared O’Brien. “I never thought that daytime would be something that was accessible to me again (she previously played Jana Hawkes on Y&R 2006-2011). I not only got to play one amazing role, but I played two amazing roles.”
The actress admitted she did fall in love with playing the troublemaking Theresa, which was not originally intended to be her role. Emily expressed, “I just feel so grateful for that experience. It’s been a crazy, wild ride — just mind-blowing. Every single day there is something that keeps everyone going full force to do everything they can to put out another amazing episode where people are so invested. It’s the hardest job ever, and I’m so grateful that I got to experience that with this group.”
Photo: JPI
As viewers know, Days of our Lives has a penchant for bringing back characters from the dead, or characters written off the canvas down the line for a new cycle of shows. So, you just never know if Gwen, Theresa or Emily, in yet another DAYS role, might pop again!
So, sad to see Emily written off as Theresa? Should the show cast her to play yet another character in the future? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
So… it wasn’t the right part for Emily to play Theresa. Emily killed it as Gwen! She auditioned for Gwen, not Theresa. She inherited the role of Theresa. I hope Theresa stays in prison for some time until they can persuade Jen Tilley to reprise the role.
I assume Ron C. came up with the dumb move to insert Emily in as Theresa. It sounds like Emily wasn’t feeling Theresa. However, Emily did her job as an actor, she played the role to the best of her abilities + blonde wig which was a character of its own. And for that, kudos to Emily! It just didn’t take… that’s all. Emily is very talented and wish her well.
Perhaps, in early 2025… it may be a good time to welcome for Gwen back to Salem, link up with silly Leo (that is if she can forgive him for deceiving her about Dimitri)… and then, perhaps we can see more of Jack & Jennifer…. and a recast Abigail?
Brianne
2 years ago
Emily needs to come back. I don’t care who she’s playing!
Anna
2 years ago
OH NO! Say it isn’t so Emily! While I still missed the original Teresa, I have LOVED Emily’s talent! Please COME BACK! We ALL MISS GWEN!
James R Poissant
2 years ago
I am sad to see Emily off the show. I am holding out hope that Gwen has decided to return to Salem so we can have Emily still with us but I guess that remains to be seen.
Dave A.
2 years ago
Hopefully, Emily will be back as Gwen. Since Days has such a tight budget, actors might be asked to exit for some time and then are asked to come back on set I think. From what I remember, Kristian Alfonso (Hope) was asked to leave the show in 2020 for 5 months, she refused and quit the show, so I think some actors do leave on their own accord, some come back and some do not. Budgeting is what it is all about as alleged 13-week contracts do not last very long these “Days.”
Moto62
2 years ago
YES!! Things just keep getting better and better!!!
Johnny Gainor
2 years ago
Right now, in late August ’24, the show STINKS! This NONSENSE about ‘body and soul’ is stupid and if Emily comes back it should be as the character GWEN – and just how many more “Abigails” are they going to have – the show really (right now) has nothing interesting palatable to offer – the storyline of Eric and Nicole finding out that after they ate the tainted poisoned biscuits they conceived a child was at least interesting but that’s over now….and right now, there’s really nothing on the show that is attracting me to watch ~
Patty
2 years ago
Bring back Gwen to claim her Von Lauschner inheritance . And settle the score with leo
Jeff
2 years ago
Emily did a fantastic job in both roles on Days. Her high caliber of acting will be missed.
Violet Lemm
2 years ago
Too bad she had to leave. Would love to see her in her previous part as Jana on Y&R and it would be twice as good, if she brought Kevin back wiith her!
Nadia Bjorlin opened up during a livestream conversation promoting her new film Veronica & Julian about a hot button topic with Days of Our Lives fan these days – the status of the character of Chloe Lane; a part which Bjorlin played on and off for 25 years and since 1999.
The actress participated in a chat on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel on Monday, August 31 with her Veronica & Julian co-star and former DAYS star Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo Carver).
In this exclusive moment from the interview, Bjorlin was asked if return as Chloe was in the cards, amid speculation on social media that General Hospital alum, Sofia Mattsson (ex-Sasha Gilmore) is rumored to have taken over the part of Chloe, although unconfirmed by Days of Our Lives. Nadia then revealed she was indeed asked to return to the Peacock streaming soap opera.
Photo: JPI
A HEAVY HEART AND LOGISTICS
“What I can confirm is they did ask me, but logistically it just didn’t make sense and with TV, budgets and whatnot (these days), it didn’t make any sense, and I said ‘no,” expressed Bjorlin. Presently, Nadia lives with her husband Grant Turnbull and their two children in Ireland. In fact, Bjorlin was participating in the indie film promotional chat from Ireland on Monday.
In addition, Nadia also shared that it was with a heavy heart she turned down a chance to come back to Salem, adding, “It hurt my heart to have to say ‘no.’ So, I guess I can confirm that it will not be me playing Chloe, if there’s a Chloe that comes back.”
As for Sofia Mattsson, she joined the cast in March of this year in an undisclosed role, and with DAYS tape schedule almost 10-11 months in advance of streaming new episodes, it would appear for now, she won’t be seen on-screen until early 2027. The mystery of if she is indeed playing a recast Chloe, Abigail, or a new character, continues.
Photo: JPI
FOND MEMORIES OF SALEM
Moving forward with her life post-Chloe, Bjorlin acknowledged to her longtime fans that she is alright with her decision. “I guess, it’s just sort of a different chapter of my life. I wish another actor all the best, obviously, and whatnot if that was their (Days of our Lives) decision. It’s okay. I’m okay, because they did ask me and I said ‘no.'”
Knowing at least the producers of DAYS came to her first before a possible recast, makes the situation bittersweet for Nadia. “At least, they did that and didn’t feel like, ‘Oh, my goodness!’ But of course (it’s hard), I grew up there. I feel like those were my high school college years and that’s like my family.”
The last time Nadia was on-screen on Days of Our Lives was back in 2023 when Chloe left Salem with one of her great loves, Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier). The pair headed to New York City to give their romance another whirl, only it didn’t work out. Philip returned to Salem in 2024 with no Chloe in tow.
You can check out the livestream chat with Nadia and Kyler Pettis discussing their time on Days of Our Lives and their new movie, Veronica & Julian below.
Now let us know, are you sad to learn that Nadia was asked to return as Chloe, but things could not work out to make it make sense for her now that she lives in Ireland? Do you think Sofia Mattsson is playing a recast Chloe or another character? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
Two Days of Our Lives favorites, Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe Lane) and Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo Carver) are starring in the new indie feature Veronica & Julian and now on Monday, August 31 beginning at 3pm ET/12pm PT, they will visit You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream chat to discuss their film roles and time in Salem and much more.
Kyler Pettis appeared on Days of Our Lives as the grown-up autistic son of Abe (James Reynolds) and Lexie Carver (Renee Jones and more recently Nikki Crawford) from 2015-2018. He won a Daytime Emmy for his work on DAYS in 2019 in the Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Nadia Bjorlin is best known for her role as Chloe Lane. Bjorlin appeared in multiple runs on the show from 1999-2023. In addition, she has been featured in Crystal Chappell’s Venice the Series since 2009 in the role of Lara.
Photo: VeronicaandJulian
VERONICA & JULIAN CONFRONTS MODERN ROMANCE
Now in 2026, the two are featured in the romantic drama of Veronica & Julian. In story, a confident and successful marketing executive (Bjorlin) winds up falling for a younger aspiring architect (Pettis).
From there, a journey of desire and self-discovery is set against the backdrop of present-day New York City. with obstacles along the way. Does it work? Does love conquer all, or do they go their separate ways? Veronica & Julian examines what happens when an unexpected romance forces the characters to confront the realities of age, timing, and love.
The cast also includes: Blake Jenner (ex-Glee), Erin Cummings, Chrystee Pharris (ex-Simone Russell, Passions and Queens of Drama), Robert Lee Leng, Mark Famiglietti and Jennafer Newberry. Look for Veronica & Julian to be released later in the fall.
The films director Otoja Abit shared this statement: “Veronica & Julian is about the right people who have a chance meeting at the wrong time. It’s a look at two people who don’t grow apart—they just grow up. This film is an authentic exploration of an imminent ending and how two people deeply in love got there. It aims to be quiet while telling a relatable story about modern-day relationships.”
QUESTIONS FOR THE DAYS ALUMS
If you have a question for Nadia and Kyler, make sure to join us in the live chat and we might just ask it during the live broadcast. If you can’t be with us live and can catch the repla, but have something you would like posed to our guests, you can drop it in the comment section here.
Now, check out the official Veronica & Julian trailer below.
So, intrigued by the story of Veronica & Julian? Do you miss seeing Nadia and Kyler on Days of Our Lives? Let us know in the comment section too.
Daytime Emmy winner and Gold Circle Honors Inductee, Suzanne Rogers will be on your screens this week on Days of Our Lives, when Maggie Kiriakis is back in action beginning with the Monday, August 31 episode. Previously, Maggie was written-off the canvas in April of this year when she left Salem to visit her daughter, Melissa.
Back in October of 2025, it was revealed that Rogers was battling stage II colorectal cancer. Then in November 2025, Suzanne told PEOPLE that she was now in remission.
Suzanne shared, “I’m feeling so much better. I mean, my summer was rough. I had cancer removed, radiation, that was tough. But I didn’t lose my hair. I guess I got it early. I was stage two, and it was a certain kind of chemo that they gave me, it was pills and the radiation, and it didn’t affect it so that was good.”
Photo: JPI
SUZANNE ROGERS JOURNEY BACK TO DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Now, official Days of Our Lives spoilers indicate that Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) will reach out to Maggie on the Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Due to Days of Our Lives’ advance taping schedule of 10-11 months in advance of streaming new episodes on Peacock, Suzanne’s reintroduction to the story will play out this fall.
In a interview with TV Insider last year, Rogers shared that as of July 31 2025, she had completed cancer treatment and was headed back to work to continue the story of Maggie Horton.
Rogers explained, “I start back to work next week, so we’ll see how that goes. Now, I’m feeling anxious like I do any time I get scripts because I want to do my very best and you don’t want to hold up anybody.”
As Days of Our Lives fans know, Rogers has been with the soap opera as of last week for 53 years having debuted back on August 20, 1973. Then in 1979, Suzanne became the first actress ever to win the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
In 2024, Rogers was honored with induction into the Emmys’ Gold Circle by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This award recognizes individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on television for 50 years or more.
Before her recent health scare, Rogers has battled myasthenia gravis starting in 1984, which also has gone in remission.
So, happy to know Suzanne is back as Maggie this week on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives? Have you missed seeing this Salem staple for the past many months? Let us know via the comment section.
