Back in 1976, Marlena Evans arrived in Salem for what was supposed to be a brief 13-week run on Days of Our Lives. Fifty years later, Deidre Hall is still standing at the center of the show after demonic possession, kidnappings, presumed deaths, secret islands, exploding planes, multiple invalid marriages, and enough emotional trauma to keep Salem’s therapy industry permanently employed. As the show celebrated Hall’s massive milestone, the actress opened up about her gratitude for the people around her, the family atmosphere behind the scenes, and why she has absolutely no intention of leaving anytime soon.
Key Takeaways
- Deidre Hall reflected emotionally on 50 years as Marlena Evans.
- She called her decades on DAYS “a gift.”
- Stephen Nichols praised her as “the queen” of daytime television.
- Eric Martsolf recalled Hall warmly welcoming him to the show.
- Hall said she has no plans to leave DAYS anytime soon.
Hall Shocked by Marlena’s Legacy
Hall spoke to Access Hollywood and still sounded slightly stunned that the whole thing happened at all. “I’m very touched,” she admitted. “Every moment has been a gift.” Looking around at her castmates during the event clearly hit her hard emotionally, too. “I’ve worked with all of you,” she said. “I’ve suffered with all of you. I’ve wept with all of you. It’s a family.”
That feeling clearly runs both ways. Stephen Nichols (Steve) practically arrived dressed like he was attending daytime television royalty night, calling Hall “the queen, the diva of daytime television.” He knew she would appreciate his effort, “Because she’s always so perfectly quaffed and beautiful.”
Eric Martsolf (Brady) also remembered how Hall welcomed him immediately when he joined the show. He recalled her giving him “this giant enveloped hug” on his first day, which instantly made him feel like he belonged there long-term. Considering how many actors cycle through Salem every year while Marlena somehow survives literally everything short of the apocalypse, that warm welcome probably helps.
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Marlena’s Story Is Not Finished Yet
Hall also made it crystal clear she has no plans to step away from DAYS anytime soon. “I will be here as long as my key card opens the gate,” she joked, which honestly sounds exactly like something Marlena herself would say moments before Stefano emerged from a secret tunnel somewhere carrying another revenge scheme in a briefcase.
Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) became emotional while reflecting on Hall supporting her during Bill Hayes’ (Doug) final days. She remembered Hall being at Bill’s bedside and said “the support and the tenderness” stayed with her deeply afterward. The whole tribute carried this overwhelming sense that Hall is not just important to the show itself, but to the people surrounding it.
And then, because reality occasionally decides to behave like a fever dream, the interview also circled back to Ryan Gosling publicly praising Hall’s acting during Marlena’s possession storyline. Hall laughed off the attention, calling it “completely unexpected,” while revealing she had already been in touch with Eva Mendes afterward. Somewhere in the middle of all this, Marlena somehow became beloved by both daytime television and Ken from Barbie, which honestly feels weirdly appropriate for Salem.
