Days Of Our Lives
THE SHAWN CHRISTIAN INTERVIEW – DAYS OF OUR LIVES
By Michael Fairman
Listen to the audio:
[display_podcast]
TV SOAP:
You and I were on the phone together for this interview when the earthquake hit, and we are now doing this interview post-quake. So here was the scenario…you and I are on the phone and my whole place was shaking. I did not know where to go. Once we hung up, I checked the news and they said to go out to the street. So, I went to the street and I said to myself, “Should I stand here where the poles are?” What did you do?
SHAWN:
Nothing. I got out of my house. When I listened to the news later they said get under a doorway and then said, “No, no, no” that’s not a good idea anymore, but getting under a desk is a good idea. Then they said, “Go outside”… then, “not to go outside, because there were trees and poles that could fall on you.” I was like, “Well, what the heck, man!”
TV SOAP:
So, what do you think Daniel is really doing right now? Is he playing the field, or is there someone he really likes?
SHAWN:
I think initially Daniel is a guy who lives in the moment, but I think where his romantic intentions lay, are with Chelsea, and then with Kate, this is one of those experiences where Daniel just discovered that he was the cause of Chelsea’s infertility. He immediately hit the bar and got drunk, and Kate came into his life.
TV SOAP:
It’s amazing how Kate is always there when men are down in the dumps.
SHAWN:
Isn’t that great? It’s true. I don’t know all of Kate’s history, but Lauren Koslow (Kate) works very hard at keeping the integrity of her character. She finds herself with these two characters that find themselves in a compromising circumstance with unintended consequences, really. At that moment, I was not involved with Chelsea. We had put our own spin on it. It wasn’t: “I am just drunk and fell into bed with you” and that whole thing. It felt like two people who needed each other at a low point in their life. And that’s our excuse for that. (He laughs).
TV SOAP:
But, what about the blossoming friendship of Docs, Lexie and Daniel?
SHAWN:
Now with Lexie, every time Daniel had a serious issue she always gets the brunt of his rage. I said to Renee Jones (Lexie) that, “It’s funny that every time I am about to lay my heart on the line and tell someone how I really feel, it seems to be you!”
TV SOAP:
That’s interesting, isn’t it? I wonder where that’s going to go.
SHAWN:
It’s interesting to me, because it’s a dynamic that has not been fully explored, and who knows? I mean truly, who knows? It could be one of those moments where your best friend could be one of those people that are there for Daniel, and then something more happens because of it.
TV SOAP:
Do you think Daniel is a little too old for Chelsea?
SHAWN:
No, I don’t. I think what you have got with the Chelsea character is someone who is so young and spirited that she is willing to put aside all of Daniel’s issues and live in the moment… which is how Daniel lives his life. There is the surfer and the surgeon. Qualities about this character are someone who loves excitement and wants to put himself out there and live on the edge. When he also finds someone who likes that, like Chelsea, who doesn’t like to dwell or live in the drama she is in, because she has this youthful energy about him. It feels like a perfect combination
TV SOAP:
Does Chelsea know Daniel slept with Kate?
SHAWN:
What’s coming up is that she does find out, and we are just filming that now. Again, what are the consequences of all this? And that’s why I end up once again talking to Lexie. I don’t have any family ties here in Salem, so whom do you turn to? Lexie is a colleague, and since we have worked together in life or death situations, Daniel can count on her trust.
TV SOAP:
Well, Lexie seems to sleep with a lot of the guys, too.
SHAWN:
I know. I heard.
TV SOAP:
She’s another tramp. (He laughs)
SHAWN:
I know. It’s so funny. I don’t want to be another guy on her list. It’s so funny!
TV SOAP:
She does not have a great track record. But, do you think with Daniel being a doctor, it is about the adrenaline rush?
SHAWN:
Yes. For me, Daniel gets a big rush… a big wave. This is how I was introduced, and that adrenaline for putting yourself in life or death situations, is very consistent with someone who finds an extraordinary rush by putting himself, or someone else’s life in his hands. I think for me, that is what Daniel finds exciting.
TV SOAP:
Do you surf in real life? I keep remembering pictures with you on a surfboard, or something.
SHAWN:
I surf occasionally. I did a show called, “Summerland”. Perhaps that is what you are thinking of.
TV SOAP:
I loved you in “Summerland”!
SHAWN:
You’re going to make me cry. Hold on a minute. It was so much fun! We would go to work on the beach three days a week. (He laughs)
TV SOAP:
When “DAYS” put the casting call out for this role, weren’t they going for a “Grey’s Anatomy” type like a “Dr. McDreamy, or “Dr. McSteamy”?
SHAWN:
They had talked about it, but look; Patrick Dempsey is an extraordinary actor, as well as a person, and I am no “McDreamy”. But, I think that it was part of what they were looking for. But, I can’t be that, so I have to find my own expression.
TV SOAP:
You are always cast as the ‘good looking guy’ because of your looks. How do you handle compliments based on your looks?
SHAWN:
I can take them graciously, for sure. Look, I have heard worse. (He laughs) I will take what I can get. It’s humbling. “But you know what? Everybody has extraordinary qualities and enormous flaws, and I am one of those people who has both. (He laughs)
TV SOAP:
What is your best quality?
SHAWN:
I think a lust for life, which also can be a bad quality. You know what I mean, right? I want to have this experience (acting on “DAYS”), which is why I love doing what I do. I get to take myself and put myself in these unusual circumstances, which I wouldn’t get to have happen in my real life. For instance, when I get these roles often as guest stars on shows, I will be villains or evil characters, or downright cruel. Someone had seen me on “The Ghost Whisperer” and said, “You were just evil, and you were torturing Jennifer Love Hewitt!” I went, “Yeah, I know. It was fun wasn’t it?” So sometimes you get privy to some of those roles, and you get to throw your looks right out the door.
TV SOAP:
Which is good, in a way?
SHAWN:
It’s great! I put forth that much more effort and work to make sure I am not going to be the pretty boy who walks in and they go, “He is just this one dimensional cardboard cut out who is pretty, and let’s just do that.” It is something you earn. All actors have to do that. You have to understand that everyone wants to put you in a box. I work really hard to try and stay out of that box.
TV SOAP:
When you make the list for the top 25 ‘soap hunks’, is that all right with you?
SHAWN:
Hell, yeah! I will take a compliment. Look man, I will take what I can get, and any of those compliments I give to my Mom, because she is the beautiful one.
TV SOAP:
You have also been on “ATWT” and “OLTL”. Do you have a favorite soap role?
SHAWN:
They do start to blur into one, but I would have to say it’s usually the one that I am doing. I get invested in it and excited about it. It’s when I can blend comedy and drama, and play someone who does not take himself seriously, like an anti-hero, where things can change on a dime, but also with a sense of humor. Those are the most exciting characters.
TV SOAP:
Have you stayed in touch with some of your former soap cast mates?
SHAWN:
Yeah, during the Daytime Emmys… I had drinks with Maura West (Carly, “ATWT”).
TV SOAP:
She is a great actress!
SHAWN:
She is fantastic! I love her and miss her. She is so gifted, and she figured it out. She knows what she wants and she is doing it. She is a great mother, and she has a great family and a great life outside of New York and the soap world. Certainly, she has an extraordinary reputation and talent in the soap world.
TV SOAP:
Can you say a few words about working with Lauren Koslow (Kate)?
SHAWN:
She has this humble sexuality and sensuality that I don’t know if she is aware of. She has a great sense of humor about it all, and about life, and is almost a little quirky.
TV SOAP:
…Rachel Melvin (Chelsea)?
SHAWN:
She is absolutely quirky and refreshing, bold and honest, and I respect and appreciate that, especially being in LA.
TV SOAP:
…And Renee Jones (Lexie)?
SHAWN:
She seems to be very much in touch with whom she is. She is willing to work hard when we have scenes together. She is available to put in the work, and I find her giving and honest.
TV SOAP:
So, with everything that has transpired that hit the news in the past week about “DAYS” head writer Dena Higley leaving the show… what is going on over there? Is anyone writing the show? Are you concerned?
SHAWN:
There are pow-wows going on, and I don’t know what’s really going on with the head writer, whether she is in or out. I really don’t. But you do hear whisperings throughout the hallways. A part of me tries to stay out of that and do what I was brought on to do… and that is act.
TV SOAP:
If you could have a storyline for Daniel that you created, what would it be?
SHAWN:
Maybe there is something dark and interesting about addiction. Someone who had a passion or an addiction to adrenaline can manifest himself into anything. That would be interesting and consistent with who he is.
TV SOAP:
Have you been to Australia?
SHAWN:
I haven’t, and if there is any way to get me there… let’s go! Yes, Michael. Figure it out and I am there.
TV SOAP:
In closing, what can we say to the fans to look forward to from Daniel? So you could be somebody’s somebody, because we never know in soaps.
SHAWN:
And if he is sleeping with everyone, it could just be off the charts crazy! (He laughs)
TV SOAP:
Are sex scenes tough to do on daytime?
SHAWN:
They can be. They are technical. They are not as sensual as they come off on air, but for me, I keep trying to push the envelope. But it’s daytime, and it has its limitations, but it certainly can be awesome. It beats shooting a murder scene in a movie at 3AM in downtown LA. You know what I mean? (He laughs)
TV SOAP:
Absolutely!
Beyond the Gates
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Tops With 18, ‘Beyond the Gates’ With 16
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the full list of nominees for the upcoming 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, and it was CBS daytime’s The Young and the Restless and broadcast television newest soap opera, Beyond the Gates that racked up the most nominations with 18 and 16, respectively.
The full reveal on Tuesday follows the announcement of several major categories including Lead Actor and Actress on Monday via Extra and Entertainment Tonight and The View today revealing Daytime Drama Series and more.
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmys ceremony is set to take place on Friday, October 30 at the historic Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California.
Photo: CBS
In a statement, Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS expressed, “We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television, As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
“Each year, the Daytime Emmy Awards celebrate the creativity, passion, and dedication that drive this vibrant community of storytellers,” said Rachel Schwartz, Head of the Daytime Emmy Awards. “Congratulations to this year’s nominees, whose work continues to entertain, inspire and connect with audiences every day. We look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements in Hollywood this October.”
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of genres, including daytime dramas, talk series, entertainment news, culinary, adventure, instructional and legal/courtroom programming.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Honoree, Gold & Silver Circle Inductees, and ceremony host will be announced at a later date.
Now below, check out the nominees in the daytime drama, talk show, entertainment news series and creative arts categories and congratulations to all!
Photo: JPI
Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
Beyond the Gates
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Stacy Haiduk (as Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives
Karla Mosley (as Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates
Michelle Stafford (as Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless
Heather Tom (as Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful
Tamara Tunie (as Anita Williams Dupree), Beyond the Gates
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Eric Braeden (as Victor Newman), The Young and the Restless
Steve Burton (as Jason Morgan), General Hospital
Scott Clifton (as Liam Spencer), The Bold and the Beautiful
Thorsten Kaye (as Ridge Forrester), The Bold and the Beautiful
Christian Jules Le Blanc (as Michael Baldwin), The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Linsey Godfrey (as Sarah Horton), Days of Our Lives
Camryn Grimes (as Mariah Copeland), The Young and the Restless
Beth Maitland (as Traci Abbott), The Young and the Restless
Trisha Mann-Grant (as Leslie Thomas), Beyond the Gates
Amanda Setton (as Brook Lynn Quartermaine), General Hospital
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Sean Dominic (as Nate Hastings), The Young and the Restless
Timon Kyle Durrett (as Bill Hamilton), Beyond the Gates
Michael Graziadei (as Daniel Romalotti), The Young and the Restless
Roger Howarth (as Matt Clark), The Young and the Restless
Mike Manning (as Bradley “Smitty” Smith), Beyond the Gates
Lawrence Saint-Victor (as Carter Walton), The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
Braedyn Bruner (as Emma Scorpio-Drake), General Hospital
Al Calderon (as Javier Hernandez), Days of Our Lives
Alice Halsey (as Rachel Black), Days of Our Lives
Giovanni Mazza (as Gio Palmieri), General Hospital
Ambyr Michelle (as Eva Thomas), Beyond the Gates
Arielle Prepetit (as Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne), Beyond the Gates
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
Jasmine Burke (as June Hughes), Beyond the Gates
Jeff Kober (as Cyrus Renault), General Hospital
Eva LaRue (as Natalia Rogers-Ramirez), General Hospital
Christopher Sean (as Paul Narita), Days of Our Lives
Ray Wise (as Ian Ward), The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
Beyond the Gates
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series
3rd Hour of TODAY
The Drew Barrymore Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Live With Kelly and Mark
TODAY With Jenna & Friends
The View
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host
Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin & Ana Navarro, The View
Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show
Tamron Hall, Tamron Hall
Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri
Outstanding Entertainment News Series
Access Hollywood
Entertainment Tonight
Extra
Outstanding Daytime Personality (Daily)
Mona Kosar Abdi, Derek Hough & Terri Seymour, Extra
Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Kevin Frazier, Rachel Smith & Nischelle Turner, Entertainment Tonight
Scott Evans, Zuri Hall, Kit Hoover & Mario Lopez, Access Hollywood
Star Jones & Corey Jovan, Divorce Court
Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program
Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood — An Entertainment Tonight Special
Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Working In the Theatre
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Daytime
Beyond the Gates, Episode 103
Have Guitar Will Travel World
The Kelly Clarkson Show Episode 5033
Let Frankie Cook,” Getting the Band Back Together
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Outstanding Technical Direction and Video for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, Episode 104
The Bold and the Beautiful,” Episode 9511
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade”
The Jennifer Hudson Show, ” Episode 4041
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”
Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, Episode 103
General Hospital, Episode 15719
The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Episode 5033
The Young and the Restless,” Episode 13273
So, what do you think of the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations? Who are you happy to see receive a nomination and who do you think was snubbed? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Monday on Entertainment Tonight, the second set of nominations for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced which included the highly-coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actress and Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
ET followed suit after Extra announced the nominees, as previously reported, in the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actor and Outstanding Daytime Talk Host.
Now, five leading ladies of the soaps are vying for the gold for Lead Actress and the category marked the first-ever nominations for CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when two actresses made the final cut. Only General Hospital is not represented among the actresses this year after Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) took home the trophy last year.
Photo: NATAS
THE FIVE LEADING LADIES OF THE SOAPS ARE …
The 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives, Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates, Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless, Heather Tom (Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree), Beyond the Gates.
This marks the first Daytime Emmy nominations for Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie. In addition, this marks the first-time in her career that Stacy Haiduk had received a Lead Actress nod after two Supporting Actress nominations.
Meanwhile, Michelle Stafford had previously won 3 Emmys – 2 for Lead Actress and 1 for Supporting, but this recognition makes it her 11th overall nomination.
Heather Tom currently is tied for the most all-time Daytime Emmy wins with One Life to Live alum and General Hospital guest star, Erika Slezak. The B&B star has 19 nominations throughout her career.
Photo: ABC
DAYTIME TALK SERIES
In the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series category, the nominees are: 3rd Hour of Today, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, Today with Jenna and Friends and The View.
“We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television,” NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement on the nominations. “As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
The rest of the nominations will be revealed tomorrow on Tuesday July 14 starting on The View and then the full list of nominees in both the main and creative arts will be released by NATAS. The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are slated for October 30th in Hollywood, California.
So, what do you think about the women who are vying for the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? Happy with who got in? Who do you feel got snubbed? What do you think of the nominees for Daytime Talk Series? Weigh-in via the comment section.
It’s Daytime Emmy nomination week, and as previously reported things kick-off on Monday, July 13 when Entertainment Tonight (7pm ET) will announce the nominees for Lead Actress category and Daytime Talk Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. In addition on Monday, Extra (7pm ET) will reveal the nominees for Lead Actor and Daytime Talk Host.
On Tuesday, The View (11am ET) starts things off with their announcement of Daytime Drama, Entertainment News program and Outstanding Daytime Personality-Daily. That is followed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) full reveal of all the categories beginning at 12noon ET/9am PT on their website and their official social handles on X and Instagram.
Then, Tuesday night at 8pm ET/5pm PT join Michael Fairman as he hosts his 12th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026 live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel where he will chat with some of the just announced nominees as we celebrate the hard work of the men and women in front of the camera who will be going for gold.
WHEN ARE THE DAYTIME EMMYS?
This year, the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out on October 30 in ceremonies in Hollywood, California (Venue yet to be revealed). At that time, as like last year, both the major categories and creative arts will be presented. There is no word yet on a broadcast partner for the annual celebration of daytime programming, or if it will soley be streamed on NATAS’ watch.theemmys.tv and various apps and platforms.
WHO WILL BE APPEARING ON THE DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATIONS SPECIAL 2026?
Throughout Tuesday, keep an eye on Michael Fairman TV’s social media handles on X, Facebook and Instagram, for updates of who will be expected to appear on our live show.
If you have a question or comment for one of the nominees, or on the nominations, we can encourage you to join us in the live chat on Tuesday night.
So, who are you hoping lands a nomination from Beyond the Gates, General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, The Bay, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless? Let us know via the comment section. More Tuesday!
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Tops With 18, ‘Beyond the Gates’ With 16
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Shares Reaction to His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination, ‘It Was to Honor Leslie Charleson’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Reconnects with Danny; Tristan Roberts Arrives in Port Charles, Lots of Nods to #16
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress Drama Series
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actor Drama Series
Scott Bryce, ‘As the World Turns’ Craig Montgomery, Passes Away at 68
‘The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards’ Nominations Announcement Date Revealed: Who Will Be Going For Gold?
Randolph Mantooth, ‘Emergency!’ and ‘Loving’ Actor, Dies at 80
Steve Burton Returns to ‘General Hospital’ on Its 16,000th Episode: How Will Jason Be a Changed Man?
‘Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026’ Live on the Michael Fairman Channel
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Shares Reaction to His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination, ‘It Was to Honor Leslie Charleson’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Reconnects with Danny; Tristan Roberts Arrives in Port Charles, Lots of Nods to #16
GENERAL HOSPITAL Spoilers Promo: Jason’s Back, Drew Begins to Make His Move, Portia Goes Into a Labor
Scott Bryce, ‘As the World Turns’ Craig Montgomery, Passes Away at 68
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Daphne’s Devastated, Steffy Finds Herself at a Crossroads with Finn
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