Soap Hub December Powerhouse Performer for DAYS: Dan Feuerriegel

Last month, Arianne Zucker was rightfully spotlighted for her harrowing turn as a gaslit mother mourning the baby she didn’t actually lose. Now, her co-star and onscreen husband, Dan Feuerriegel, is getting the praise for his masterful handling of his alter-ego’s grief, his overwhelming need for revenge, and (surely) patented smugness.

Dan Feuerriegel: DAYS’ Powerhouse Performer

In scenes opposite grieving mother Nicole, Feuerriegel was equal parts empathetic and stern — but never cruel — even when she went to extremes, like abducting the tot that she (rightfully) believes to be her tot. In speaking with his onscreen wife, Feuerriegel spoke calmly and in low tones. Barely a whisper. He matched her grief pitch perfectly while managing to stay tethered to the reality of the situation, namely, the need to return Sloan (Jessica Serfaty) and Eric’s (Greg Vaughan) baby to them (refresh your memory about what happened here).

But while Feuerriegel played it as evenly keeled as possible with Zucker, co-stars like Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark) were not so lucky. When in the presence of Mr. Stark, the actor was a ball of barely controlled rage at the best of times, an unpredictable fireball at the worst.

Feuerriegel spit venom at Leo when EJ confronted the duplicitous character at the police station, and gloried in EJ’s decking the villain when he came calling (ostensibly) with blackmail on the mind.

But in was in EJ’s gleefully denying his brother Stefan’s (Brandon Barash) request for assistance in dealing with megalomaniacal Clyde (James Read) where Dan Feuerriegel really shone. In much the same way he addressed Nicole, EJ remained collected and poised, but his words were as barbered as when dealing with scum like Leo. With family like this, who needs enemies?

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