Days Of Our Lives Casting Director Reveals Secrets To Her Emmy Win!

Days Of Our Lives won three Daytime Emmys on Friday night at the Creative Arts ceremony and one of them was for Outstanding Casting In A Drama Series. The award recipients are Marnie Saitta, casting director, and Bob Lambert, her associate.

Soap Hub chatted with Saitta backstage to get the scoop on her win, which is her second in this category!

Soap Hub: How does winning again feel!
Marnie Saitta: Wonderful! But I forgot to thank my daughter, Valentina, and the wonderful writers at DAYS! And my man, Shawn, who is wonderfully supportive of me! Casting can be a 24-hour a day job!

Who was on your submission reel?
Tyler Christopher (ex-Stefan), Thia Megia (Haley), Stacy Haiduk (ex-Kristen/ex-Susan), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Kyle Lowder (Rex), Gilles Marini (Ted), and Greg Rikaart (ex-Leo). I put together a reel of series regulars, major recurring of people I’ve cast over the last year. You’re picking an Emmy reel for many people! It’s labor-intensive for sure, but so worth it.

This is your associate Bob’s first win as associates weren’t on the ballot when you won your first.
Yes. [Bob] just makes my day happy every day. We work together and separately. He does a wonderful job with all the extras and he’s so supportive in what I do. He’s so positive. The assistants and associates do so much in every category. They definitely deserve to be acknowledged.

The most challenging part of your job?
Casting the actors who are ‘under-fives’ – actors with five lines or less. The actors sometimes want to make so much of those parts, but they just need to deliver the information.

You know folks at lots of shows; who do you root for?
It’s amazing. [Daytime’s] one big family, for sure. I love them all for different reasons. I love [all the nominees]. Anyone of them could walk away and be incredibly deserving.

I heard the actresses testing for the role of Sarah (which went to Linsey Godfrey) read like a “Who’s Who” of daytime.
It was. The women of daytime are un-friggin-believable actresses!

How has your casting process changed now that shows are shot so quickly?
My auditioning process has changed because production has changed. If it’s one take on set, it has to be one take in my office. There are actors I see in prime time in film and they’re used to having multiple takes.

And craft services!
(Laughs) Yes, that, too! That’s right!

What advice do you give actors?
I tell actors to think about themselves when they’re 80 years old and rocking in a rocking chair and they only have themselves to be accountable to and that they should be able to put a smile on themselves and look back and feel joy. Don’t get outside yourself.

Where will you keep this?
Next to my daughter’s ballet trophies! (Laughs) I have two awards, but she has three!

Days Of Our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. Check local listings for air times.