Nicole’s unmitigated loss (or so she’s been led to believe) has most certainly been actress Arianne Zucker’s gain as the much-loved DAYS star has plumbed the depths of her alter-ego’s pain and emboldened her with a fierce resolve. For that, she has been chosen as Soap Hub’s powerhouse performer for November.
Arianne Zucker: DAYS’ Powerhouse Performer
The birth of Nicole’s son provided Zucker the opportunity to act out high comedy and high drama in equal measure. She managed to match co-stars Greg Rikaart (Leo) and Peter Porte (Dimitri) yuck for yuck. Her terming the pair “morons” while simultaneously coming around from a serious head injury and suffering from labor pains probably elicited the most guffaws. That or her deadpan delivery of, “Do I look okay,” in response to Leo’s obviously stupid question, were highlights until the inevitable tragic turn.
Her silent, internal debate as to whether she should turn her newborn over to Dimitri or take her chances with him in the wilderness was surprisingly riveting stuff. But, it was in the aftermath of Nicole being told that her baby had died that Zucker truly went next level. Prior to that moment, she’d wavered between a raw bundle of nerves and boundless optimism. And, there had been tears. Lots of tears. Happy tears. Sad tears. Tears of utter frustration at her circumstance. Each and every torrent absolutely discernible from the last.
Stunned silence was the initial reaction to the news (lie) that her son hadn’t made it. Disbelief washed over Zucker’s face in waves. “My baby was perfectly fine when Dimitri left with him. He was fine. I saw him,” she choked out.
The tears again flowed when devilish Dr. Pierce produced the blanket the babe had been swaddled in as proof of his story. Zucker reached out for the item the recoiled as if it would scald her. Then, she inched her hand forward to accept it. A small but powerful acting choice.
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In the episodes that followed, Zucker was, at times, eerily quiet and composed, at others volatile. She snapped bitterly at Nicole’s loved ones. When Dr. Pierce spun a story about the baby accidentally being cremated, she lunged for his jugular, threatening murder.
Then, something amazing happened, akin to a miracle. Nicole came face-to-face with her little bundle of joy. Only it was being chauffeured around town by Eric (Greg Vaughan) and he was claiming it was the baby that he and Sloan (Jessica Serfaty) had adopted.
Nicole feigned acceptance of the story and convinced Eric and EJ that she understood it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Thanks to Arianne Zucker’s performance we almost believed her — but of course, we were thrilled when Nicole privately resolved to prove her suspicions correct.
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