Days of our Lives Casting News: Tamara Braun Returns As Ava

She seemed extremely dead back in 2016 when Joey Johnson smothered her in her hospital room, but it looks like Ava Vitali is indeed alive on Days of our Lives — and Tamara Braun is bringing her back.

Tamara Braun Makes Her Comeback

According to the September 14, 2020, issue of Soap Opera Digest, Braun is returning to DAYS and Salem this fall as Steve’s (Stephen Nichols) ex-lover and Tripp’s mother. When we last saw Ava, she was faking a bout with cancer to play on Steve’s sympathies while also manipulating Joey, who had fallen for the older woman.

When Joey (James Lastovic) learned Ava had kidnapped and held his mother, Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) hostage, he killed her in a rage as she laid sleeping in her hospital bed. Joey eventually confessed to the crime and went to prison. We have still never learned whether he is out for good behavior as he has seemingly disappeared from his parents’ conversations and minds.

Before dying, Ava told Steve she had bore him a son years earlier that her father told her had died. She learned he was given up for adoption and that son turned out to be Tripp. Lucas Adams is bringing Tripp back, so this is finally the chance for mother and son to meet.

During her time off DAYS, Braun created the role of Kim Nero on General Hospital, winning a Daytime Emmy earlier this year for playing the grieving mom. She previously played Ava on DAYS in 2008, as well as Taylor Walker in 2011.

How will Ava’s return affect Steve and Kayla’s renewed relationship? Also, how did she survive Joey’s attack? Might this have something to do with Dr. Rolf (William Utay), who proves over and over that dead is never really dead in Salem? Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.