Days of our Lives News: Kristian Alfonso Talks Tom Cruise Bo Audition

Kristian Alfonso will sadly be leaving Days of our Lives soon — having already taped her last episodes — and the actress is looking forward to what’s ahead, but reflecting on the past as well.

Kristian Alfonso Looks Back

In an interview with Access Hollywood, Alfonso reiterates that she’s not calling it quits and is too young to retire, but she is looking forward to that next chapter in her acting career.

“I’m happy I made the decision and I do feel a sense of relief,” she said. “I have to say, I have so many incredible memories that I will always have and wherever I go, I will always be able to share.”

One of those memories was her first audition and Alfonso shared a story about her first time for the movie The Star Maker on NBC that starred Rock Hudson, Jack Scalia, and Suzanne Pleshette.

“It was the first time that Rock ever died onscreen and it was in my arms,” Alfonso recounts. “He was such a magnificent, magnificent human being. He was so lovely and there I was not knowing anything, totally in the lucky club.”

She used the phrase, “the lucky club” to also describe her feeling about being part of Days of our Lives for so many years, and talked about some fun memories reading for Hope for the first time.

“It was all very new,” she said, explaining she didn’t even have a driver’s license at the time since she was living in New York City. “I was called in to screen test and was so incredibly nervous.”

One of her tests was with Wayne Northrop (ex-Roman) in the Horton house and Alfonso had to descend the iconic Horton stairs – when the railing broke off!

“About a week or so later, they were casting the character of Bo and they wanted me to come in and test with the Bos,” she explained. Worried that they may realize, “they made the wrong choice,” she told her agent to say she was out of town, and she did not test with any of the actors trying out.

“Years later, one of our stage managers — Francesca Bellini — was flying back to Los Angeles and sitting next to Tom Cruise and he mentioned to her that he had actually tested for the role of Bo,” Kristian Alfonso shared, with a bit of regret.

Reflecting back on her time, she says her exit isn’t bittersweet, but just sweet. She explained that when she had the conversation about leaving with executive producer Ken Corday, the writers had made the decision of taking Hope off the canvas for four to five months, and had planned an exciting story ahead for her, but she felt that it was time to start her next chapter.

Since the decision was made during COVID, Alfonso doesn’t believe that fans will be satisfied with the way Hope exits. She shared that she stays in touch with a lot of her DAYS co-stars and talks almost daily with many of them.

“I’ve had such an incredible run and I’m forever grateful to that and the amazing people and I just mean it with my whole heart,” Alfonso said. You can watch the entire interview below. Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.