Days Of Our Lives
(VOTE) Who Should Win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards?
The 51st annual Daytime Emmys are upon us and to get you ready for daytime’s biggest night of the year, throughout the week, Michael Fairman TV will be asking you our readers, soap opera fans, and viewers who you think should take home the gold this Friday night in our Emmy polls.
One of the hotly contested categories is the Outstanding Lead Actress category which features several previous Daytime Emmy winners, and a few that have never won the prize.
Nominated are: two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Tamara Braun (Ava, Days of our Lives), Daytime Emmy winner, Finola Hughes (Anna, General Hospital), first-time Lead Actress nominee, Annika Noelle (Hope, The Bold and the Beautiful), Daytime Emmy winner, Cynthia Watros (Nina, General Hospital), making this her third-time as a Lead Actress nominee, Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, The Bold and the Beautiful) and two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, The Young and the Restless).

Photo: NATAS
The powerful women nominated in this category each delivered outstanding reels as deemed by their peers. Now, its time to find out who actually gets to become a 2024 Emmy winner, when the envelopes are ripped open live during the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday night, June 7th on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ beginning at 8 pm ET/delayed on the West Coast and also airing at 8 pm PT).
Cast your vote below in our Lead Actress poll, and then let us know in the comment section who you think deserves to win the coveted Lead Actress Emmy.
And in case you missed it, several of the nominated stars chatted with the Michael Fairman Channel about their reels and their reaction to their nominations, and you can find that below the poll as well.
Watros if I could vote Been watching her since GL days
Annika Nichol Smith as Hope on B& B
I agree!
It’s Annika Noelle..No Smith. Maybe you were thinking of Anna Nicole Smith, who has been dead many years.
LMAO
Wasn’t she great as Annie and she got so hilarious right before she left the show I was so disappointed when she left!
Agreed! Cynthia made me HATE Nina, so she must be doing something right!! I have to admit, I’m a lot more fond of the character now that she’s not Mrs Corinthos.
I agree now shes not with Sonny, I can stand her, and dislike Ava. Lol And, she is fun to watch. You never know what she’s gonna do next. Carly had to gulp yesterday when Drew told her he tagged along with Nina to meet the Congressman. Lol
I think a lot of fans felt like she was taking Sonny away from Carly.
Weird. Cynthia made me love Nina because she can play shades of nuances while Stafford just mugged it up like she always does. Sonny came alive with Nina, and finally was at peace and happy.
The resentment from Carly fans would always cause them to hate “Nina.”
And then the more vicious viewers decided that Stafford was more attractive than Watros (not in my opinion), so they threw that into the mix to attack “Nina.”
I agree; Sonny did seem happier, more relaxed with Nina. Unless Stafford had learned to tame down her performances I can’t see how that would’ve worked with Sonny; she was way too manic. Watros doesn’t play her that way. As for the couple, I loved how loyal Sonny was to Nina, until he decided to go to Michael and Willow’s wedding without her. That to me was the ultimate betrayal; I think she should’ve dumped him instead of once again having to hide her tears and put on a happy face for him.
I agree, Watros, hands down
1 Stafford
2 Watros
3 Braun
4 Noelle
5 Lang Lol
6 Hughes
Noelle or Watros. I enjoy all these actresses work, but since these are the choices Noelles really went through alot this past year, & Watros was really great also.
I would be happy to see Finola or Cynthia win from GH, but I’m rooting for Finola. Her one and only previous win was in 1991, so she’s long overdue after 33 years. And she was brilliant in the storyline where Anna shot Charlotte, which are the scenes I would assume she submitted. Particularly the scene where Anna tore Valentin a new one in the stairwell at the hospital.
Once again, I miss the days when NATAS would release the Emmy reels on YouTube, or at the very least a written synopsis of the scenes that each nominee submitted, so we the fans can judge for ourselves. That’s especially beneficial for people like myself that only watch one soap (GH), and therefore not familiar with the work of the other nominees. I’m not sure why they stopped doing that.
The anacronym is creepy – NATAS??? Yikes!
What’s creepy about that?
Why is that creepy?
I suspect Tank thinks it looks like my most unholy name spelled backwards. You know…. just like all those rumors about backwards messages on rock albums in the 70s & 80s, and how I made Led Zeppelin suffer in a little tool shed and all that.
Of course I have no connection to NATAS. If I did, there wouldn’t be any CBS soaps up for nomination, because they don’t air down here in Hell.
It’s a lot easier than having to type out National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, lol.
How dumb worry about something else please
Finola
Finola or Cynthia. They deserve it!
Cynthia Watros! This was her year to finally win.
Though, I have a feeling that underdog Tamara Braun May very well win!!!!
Wish Ari Zucker was submitted, perhaps next year.
They did that woman WRONG!!!
Congrats to her and Christian on the upcoming nuptials!
KKL could get it as a consolation prize for hanging in there all these years but really she sounds like an imbecile sometimes!
Well, Ridge is giving her, her old job back, so she won’t be hanging around like the Queen Bee or minding everyone’s business.
All of these fine actresses are deserving except KKL.
Or Stafford. She had a terrible year.
Stafford has been awful since she returned to the role of Phyllis. I soooo miss Gina’s version of the character. Gina brought depth and nuance and maturity. Stafford is a spoiled brat, as is her daughter (though I do prefer Alison’s portrayal above Hunter King). These storylines are exhausting to watch and thus I fast forward through any of their whiny dialogue.
Tamara Brawn
Anna on GH should win.outstanding actress
Anna is good but I sure dont like her recent story lines, turning on Sonny, being one of them.
On the other horn, now that she knows Val the Bastard has been running Pikeman and was behind the recent attempt to kill Jason and frame Sonny for it she might be about to deliver some material worthy of next year”s Emmy reel. And she doesn’t even know he messed with Sonny’s meds yet.
Noelle absolutely!!
I agree. I love what Noelle is bringing to the character of Hope. She is no longer the shy quiet little mouse she use to be. She is giving just as good as she gets as far as Steffie is concerned. There have been some good scenes between Steffie and Hope. I hope it continues.
I agree. She has had some really good story lines and I thought, she was superb.
Waltros
Hughes or Noelle
finola hughes all the way !
Ariana zucker
I think Annika Noelle, aka Hope Logan. I think Annika Noelle has been terrific & is overwhelmingly my favorite. She’s the reason why I watch the B&B. She makes me cry & laugh. Which is two of the most important attributes for a Actress. I truly hope she wins this year.
WTH! Michelle Stafford won Lead Actress … ??? Unbelievable! I was positive that this was Cynthia or Fiona’s year. Tamara Braun for me was the underdog, I would have been happier for her than Michelle winning. A lot of the lead and supporting categories were mixed bags, in my opinion.
Wish Maura West was submitted for Supporting Actress.
West has always submitted in lead. Ava, however, in recent years might be considered a strong supporting character (but usually the storylines revolve around her – making her lead).
Nancy & Genie’s wins have all come in supporting (while losing when they submit as lead). Maura’s won 3 times as lead, so submitting as supporting might feel off at this point.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!
After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.
So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.

Photo: JPI
FIERY FACE OFF
The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.
Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.

Photo: JPI
A BROKEN SOPHIA
Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”

Photo: JPI
A DEADLY TRAP
Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.
So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.

Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Conner Floyd on Chad’s Quest For Abigail’s Resurrection; But Who Should Be Cast as NuAbby?
Former Y&R favorite, Conner Floyd made his debut as the recast Chad DiMera on Days of our Lives last week on the April 21 episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera
Floyd replaced Billy Flynn in the role who is firmly cemented in his old stomping grounds of Genoa City and The Young and the Restless as Chad DiMera. For the last year or two of Chad’s story, he believed his wife, Abigail Devereaux DiMera could be alive, he even thought Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) was Abigail until the story turned.
Now with Floyd taking over the role and Lexie coming back to life after years of being dead, and Chad noting how Dr. Rolf (Richard Wharton) and his brother, EJ (Dan Feuerriegel), could resurrect somehow they all love, he thinks, how about Abigail? The part of Abigail was played by Kate Mansi and then Marci Miller.

Photo: JPI
Speaking with Stephanie Sloane for her new Daytime Dish Newsletter on the matter, Conner shared, “Any kind of idea that she could possibly be coming back, as farfetched as that may seem, he’s stuck on it. The idea gets in his head, and he’s locked in on it.”
CHAD WRESTLES WITH THE FATE OF ABIGAIL
Floyd added that Chad, “He’s asking Theo (Joseph Tyler Andrews) about it. He’s asking EJ about it. It’s one of those things where he loves her so much that the peace in his mind that he’s made with this kind of comes unbroken. So the fact that that she might be able to come back, he’s so bent on it, he thinks it’s going to happen and he kind of spirals away.”
A NEW ABIGAIL ON THE HORIZON?

Photo: ABC
That begs the question, with Days of Our Lives taping ten months in advance, which is already taking them into the beginning of 2027, is it possible that the soap has already recast Abigail and its being kept top secret?
Recently, it was revealed that former General Hospital favorite, Sofia Mattsson (ex-Sasha) has joined Days of our Lives. Back on March 30 it was reported that Mattsson is now taping all-new episodes that will be seen in 2027, but her role was being hush-hush! Could she the new Abby?
If not, the question is, since it seems that Kate Mansi is not coming back as she is firmly entrenched in her role as Kristina Corinthos-Davis on General Hospital and other outside projects, and Marci Miller has also been away from soaps for awhile working on other TV and film roles and indie motion pictures, who should play nuAbby?
Now below, let us know, who do you think would make the perfect leading lady opposite Conner Floyd as a recast Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Be our armchair quarterback casting director and drop your pick in the comment section.
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