Days of our Lives Casting News Update: Emily O’Brien Debuts Next Week

Looks like Salem is about to get a lot more interesting as Days of our Lives brings on three-time Daytime Emmy nominee Emily O’Brien, who used to play Jana on The Young and the Restless, for a brand new role next week — and she’s already connected to someone in town!

Emily O’Brien Takes On Gwen

As reported by Soap Opera Digest, O’Brien will be playing the character of Gwen who has two ties to folks we care about in Salem. First, she will be revealed as Jake’s (Brandon Barash) ex-girlfriend, which sets her up nicely to go toe-to-toe with Gabi (Camila Banus). Now that Abby (Kate Mansi) is leaving town, Gabi could use another foil to go up against.

We also learn she was recently in Bayview with Claire (Olivia Rose Keegan) — and any friend of Claire Bear’s has got to be fun and ready for trouble. She’ll be introduced first through Claire, with the Jake connection coming afterward and it will surely be something to watch.

Fans of YR know that O’Brien can play endearing one second and crazy as a loon the next, like she did when she was in love with Kevin (Greg Rikaart; ex-Leo, DAYS). She was on and off YR from 2006-2011 and has been appearing all over the place ever since.

The actress has appeared in shorts, but a bulk of her work has been lending her voice to a myriad of video games, including Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series. She also recently finished production on the TV movie Beautifully Flawed with Justin Gaston (ex-Ben, DAYS, also married to YR’s Melissa Ordway, who plays Abby).

She is set to make her Salem debut a week from this Friday. Fans should look forward to seeing how this newcomer sets the town on fire (though since she’s friends with Claire, we have to hope not literally). Stay tuned!