Days Of Our Lives
Watch The Younger Actor Daytime Emmy Nominated Performances! Who Should Win?

Courtesy/NBC
As On-Air On-Soaps first reported yesterday, HLNTV.com is getting you ready for the 40th annual Daytime Emmy telecast on June 16th which airs on HLN!
Throughout the next two weeks, the website is posting the nominated performance reels for the first time! Now, you can watch the reels just as the blue-ribbon panels who voted did! Today, they have posted the reels in the Outstanding Younger Actor Category!

Courtesy/CBS
Watch after the jump, Days of our Lives nominees: Chandler Massey (Will) and Freddie Smith (Sonny), and The Young and the Restless nominees, Max Ehrich (Fenmore) and Bryton James (Devon).
Then, let us know who you would pick as the winner from the performances?
Breaking News
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.
The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.
Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).

Photo: NATAS
In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year, A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.
The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).
The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”
Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.
So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!
Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.
He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Photo: Peacock
Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2. In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.
Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.
So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.
Days Of Our Lives
Days of our Lives’ Conner Floyd Talks Dominic Marino Mystery, Chad and Belle, and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Exclusive)

Fasten your seat belts Days of our Lives fans, as the mystery of Dominic Marino continues to unravel on all-new episodes of the Peacock streaming soap opera. Last week, Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) learned that he may have a half-brother, who may be the biological child of his father, the late Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), giving him great pause, because he knows Stefano had kidnapped Marlena for four years back in the late 80s and early 90s.
Chad has already been hunting down clues with his current girlfriend Belle Black (Martha Madison) in Italy and Salem, which revealed a photo of a young boy with Stefano with the date 1992 on the back of it, hidden inside Stefano’s chess set. So, what’s next?
Conner Floyd chatted on the Michael Fairman Channel in a new virtual interview released on Sunday, October 18, where he spoke on what the new addition to the DiMera family could do to the already dangerous sibling rivalries, the state of Chad’s relationship with Belle and much more.

Photo: JPI
DIMERA RIVALRY
After finding out from EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) that Dominic Marino could be the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano and Marlena, Conner Floyd explained, “I think it blows Chad’s mind a little bit. I think there’s a lot of things working there with old Chad. Obviously, bringing in another DiMera could cause some noise and the whole situation with Marlena’s a little awkward as well because he’s dating Belle, so this could cause a little tiff there. I think his head’s spinning and he does not know what to expect, but I also think he kind of expects that from Stefano, for sure.”
As to how this will change and color Chad’s relationship with EJ, Floyd responded, “Chad knows EJ’s not happy about it and I think he’s going to be real upset if this gets in his way of doing what he wants to do with the DiMera legacy and all that. However, for Chad, I think he’s just going to keep a sharp eye, see what this guy’s about, see if he’s here to cause some trouble or here to be a friend and kinda play it by ear.”

Photo: JPI
BELLE OF MY HEART
With Chad and Belle already being sleuths, Floyd says, you can look for the duo to continue getting to the truth. “I think Chad and Belle are committed to this. They’re going full National Treasure, Nicolas Cage,” says Conner. “They’re going to follow the clues. They’re going to get some answers.”
Since beginning in the role of Chad in June of 2025 and debuting on-screen back in April of 2026, the former Y&R star (where he played Chance Chancellor), says it was Madison who helped him get comfortable in his new surroundings.
“Martha is phenomenal. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to get tagged up with when I started here, just because she knows everybody,” shares Floyd. “She knows where to go, who to talk to. She’ll get the tea if you want, and so it was kind of cool. Martha took me under her wing, showed me the ropes. She’s a sweetheart. I love working with her too. She’s a great actress.”
But, is Chad in love with Belle after such a tortured past with his beloved Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Floyd thinks so! “I think he’s into it. They’re such good friends and they have such a rich history. I think he’s in for the ride. You know, it’s one of those things you probably overlook at first and then they reconnected, and it feels easy and they’re going on these fun adventures.”
MAKING CHAD HIS OWN
Conner had the arduous task of being the successor to Billy Flynn in the role of Chad.. Flynn had played the part for 12 years before deciding to exit and head to Y&R. So, how did Conner approach learning the ins and out of Chad? Floyd shared, “I really dove into Chad when I first got this job. I liked that he kind of walks this tightrope of DiMera and not DiMera, you know. He want to so honor his family roots and really do something for the DiMera family, but he doesn’t want to fall into that trap that all the other DiMera have found themselves in. Chad is a DiMera at heart. He’s got those demons, but he’s just trying to keep them contained.”

Photo: JPI
ICONIC
When Floyd got to DAYS, it was none other than Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) who most surprised him in the most delightful way, given that he knew Hayes was a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the current longest-running cast member on the canvas.
“I love working with Susan Hayes! I love her. She’s a sweetheart. Susan is one of the nicest people there. I just thought she was cool and it’s Susan Hayes, you know? We’ve had a lot of scenes together, which is nice,” explained Conner.
“We’ll go to her dressing room, we’ll run our scenes, and then we’ll spend about an hour just talking about life and she’ll tell me about a book she’s reading. She’s such a history buff, which blows my mind. She’ll start dropping all these historical facts on me. I learn something new by the time I walk out of her dressing room every time!”
Now below, check out the full conversation with Conner Floyd via the Michael Fairman Channel.
Weigh-in: Do you like Chad and Belle as couple? Do you think Chad will get to the bottom of the Dominic Marino mystery? If so, do you think Dominic is truly Stefano and Marlena’s son … and what about Rita (Maggie Carney) in all this? Let us know your theories in the comment section.
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No one is better than Chandler Massey! Hands down!
And the winner is: CHANDLER MASSEY!!!
CHANDLER.
He’s gotten some great material and done wonders with it. His acting is so nuanced.
Chandler Massey for sure.
“…and the Emmy goes to” – Chandler Massey.
geez! I miss his scenes with Grandma. it takes your breath away to see him then and now… blossomed… full grown almost. about to be a parent.
Sonny – it’s nice to see him being acknowledged for one of DAYS BEST stories in such a long time. has to be a complete set to pull this all off.
not having seen Fenmore…. He surprised me… where is all this cold chilly demeanor coming from…. I was watching this offspring of Michael and Lauren … and, he surprised me.
Bryant – eh! uninteresting… till the end, when he was genuinely smiling and Neil, had that father/son hug.
I LOVE Sonny & Will!!! My favorite couple on this show 🙂
Everyone will want their favorite to win, no matter who is better than the other it comes down to who loves whom ..
that is how the emmies have always been.. it goes by peoples favorite tastes, likes and dislikes, not the actual acting qualities. etc..
My vote goes to Bryton James though he won’t win.
I can’t decide between Freddie and Chandler! Both are so talented!
Chandler Massey has this one this year. His scenes opposite Deidre Hall were some of my favourite during the re-boot. And I miss them interacting. And her home? Miss that, too!
no question: Chandler Massey
It looks like Chandler Massey has this one!
It’s great to see so much young talent in soaps – all are credible performances. However, one actor really stands out in this group – and that is Chandler Massey – definitely my pick in this category for the Emmy win.
Judging the scenes by themselves, this one is hard to call. Chandler Massey cries well; Bryton James captured the elation beautifully, but missed out when expressing worry; and Max Ehrich shows potential, but these scenes were just too Disney Channel. I’d have to go with Freddie Smith. The scene, though simple, was straight-forwardly played and the actor’s approach was a mix of honesty and delicate trepidation.
Nice call –
great take on Freddie Smith.
Honestly, i’m torn between Chandler and Freddie…
and… given how long these two have been on DAYS… and are “real”ing – still – to this day… both beautifully delivering a vital storyline… that is wonderful to watch and share.
i’m elated, ecstatic, and grateful that NBC/Sony/DAYs chooses to share a gay story… it’s romantic – loving – caring… all the elements of what we know to be unlike ourselves…
simply put… we all have the same emotions.
Freddie Smith is the foundation and solid force alongside Chandler…. they both agreed and heard about “all” that extra baggage… drama… being Sammi’s son.. and then some.
I revel and marvel whenever we get to see Sonny’s parents… Justin and Adrienne are the epitome of parents any child deserves.
Chandler Hans down. This is from someone who has shut the show off , but this guy plays Will from the heart. My heart went out to him and his pain. D.Hall did a great job in these clips also.
For me it is only between CM and FS. Both were very good performances! Chandler’s had so much more depth and range and sheer heartbreak. Freddie’s was quiet and almost effortless… but filed with restarined emotion. I would be happy with either winning though…. I think Chandler deserves it if it is not a tie! I miss the relationship between Will and Marlena and wish they had more of those great scenes with the two of them.
All of them should be proud of their performances and their nominations! There are some great talents coming! Best of luck to all!!!
I want Freddie and Chandler to tie!!!
Chandler Massey has the strongest reel and Max Ehrlich is a spoiler. Days should take younger actor again
FS-enough said