Exclusive Interview: DAYS’ Suzanne Rogers Chat DAYS, Maggie, And Life

Suzanne Rogers has played Maggie Simmons Horton Kiriakis on Days of our Lives since 1973, which makes her daytime’s longest-running continuous actress in a role.

Exclusive Interview: Suzanne Rogers

Soap Hub chatted with her about shooting soaps in a COVID-world, why Maggie is just the moral shot in the arm the Kiriakis clan needs, and so much more!

On Her Early DAYS
“When I first started on the show, DAYS was only half an hour long. Maggie was introduced as a crippled farm girl who’d never been into the big city. As a child, she’d been in a car accident that killed her parents.”

On what it’s like shooting DAYS with COVID-19 safety protocols
“A typical day now is we get to the studio and we get our temperatures taken. We’re tested. Then, we go back and sit in our cars until the tests come back. It made for some long days, but they’ve gotten much better with the amount of time it takes. Once inside, you put your mask on and you don’t go anywhere without your mask. I’ve found that some masks are better for me.”

On how safety protocols mean less interacting with cast and crew
“You don’t get to see as many people. You stay in your room. You come in knowing exactly what you need to do. You take your mask off when you do your scene and when you’re finished, you put it back on. You come in with your hair and makeup done [as much as possible]. The hair and makeup people have 12 minutes each with you.”

On Suzanne Rogers’ pre-Days of our Lives life as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall in New York City
“I was 17 years old when I went to Radio City. It was my first professional job. I was paid to wear these beautiful costumes and be one of 36 girls. Radio City holds 6,200 people. During Christmas and Easter, there were five shows a day, other times, we had four shows a day. I always felt that when that curtain went up, there was someone among those 6,200 people who were looking right at me. I wanted to do my best. That’s been my philosophy my whole career.”

On which of Maggie’s storylines fans ask about the most
“They love the red shoes storyline [where Mickey brought Maggie some red shoes for her to wear]. It was a throwback to a movie. It was a nice story, something that Hallmark might do today — and I mean that in the best possible way!”

On how Maggie has brought light into the Kiriakis family
“Oh, my goodness! She’s a much-needed entity in that family. She’s a sounding board for Philip (Jay Johnson) and Xander [Paul Telfer] [as she was for her] her daughter Sarah [Linsey Godfrey]. I didn’t think I could ever be a part of another family after being a part of the Horton family. It all started when Victor [John Aniston] came to my door with flowers and condolences because Maggie had just lost her husband [Mickey]. There’s something that the writers and the audience both saw. I don’t think John and I saw it, but it worked.”

On what Maggie brings to Victor’s life
“I think she helped give him humanity and he gave her a purpose. All of a sudden, Maggie had a purpose, which was to guide him gently from being this kind of strong-armed businessman into a human being.”

On what Days of our Lives brings to fans – especially in today’s world
“During these crazy times, I think the fans are enjoying something that gives them a break from COVID. We’ve always been a fan-based show. Fans love the families on DAYS and they’ve been so loyal for 55 years. I was in a Costco a few years ago and this good-looking guy stopped me and said, ‘I know who you are.’ I said, ‘You do?’ He said ‘Well, Station 51 watches you every day!’ He was a fireman! That’s why we have the most devoted fans. They all get invested. I think we need to get invested in something other than all the sadness in the world today.”

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on DAYS spoilers.