After a big escape (from her captor in Mexico) and a major win (being awarded custody of her son Tate), Jen Lilley is leaving Days of our Lives and Theresa Donovan is splitting Salem, again.
For Lilley the 10-week stint flew by. One minute, she was back at the studio bearing homemade baked goods for her co-workers. The next, she was cleaning out her dressing room and saying goodbye. But was her return everything she’d hoped it would be?
The Highs
“It was, and it wasn’t,” admits Lilley candidly. “It was in the sense that it was so wonderful to be back on the set.
“And I got to work with [DAYS head writer] Ron Carlivati, who I had worked with briefly when I was on General Hospital [subbing as Maxie Jones], and Kassie DePaiva (Eve), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Casey Moss (JJ). For me it’s all about the cast and crew, and it was awesome to be back with all of them.”
At the top of that list is veteran John Aniston (Victor).
“I have such a heart for John Aniston,” confides Lilley. “I love him, and I am a spoiled little girl in that he loves me. That’s something I never dreamed I’d be able to say. We have a great relationship. Working with him was just the bee’s knees. He’s fantastic in every way.”
The Truth
From a storyline standpoint, Lilley was grateful to be able to play Theresa’s true feelings about abandoning Brady and their family in 2016.
“I was excited to finally be able to release the emotions and the tears that I had to hold back on my exit, so that Brady wouldn’t know why Theresa was really leaving,” says Lilley, referring to her character protecting her man and her son from crime lord Mateo.
“That was nice. Theresa didn’t have to be tough anymore. She could show how she really felt, and it was fantastic.”
The Lows
Yet, there was one turn that did irk Lilley. “The only thing that was disappointing, to me, was that …continue reading on the next page —>
Yet, there was one turn that did irk Lilley. “The only thing that was disappointing, to me, was that I wanted Brady to accept Theresa quicker,” acknowledges Lilley.
“Theresa felt completely let down that it was not all rainbows and flowers, when she came back home. She’d dreamed about it and built up these hopes and expectations. Instead, it was bittersweet. There was a lot of emotional turmoil.
“At the same time, it was great [that it played out the way it did], because it was realistic that Brady had built a relationship with Eve,” continues Lilley. “Still, that was the only feeling of regret that I had, but I can’t argue with it, because it was the right decision for there to be this horrible struggle between all three of them.”
Bye-Bye Take 2
As Lilley prepares to leave DAYS again this week, her character will endure another emotional departure. “I want to cry just talking about it,” shares Lilley, whose Theresa learns her mother Kimberly’s cancer has returned and has to head to California with her son, immediately.
“It’s very difficult for her, because Theresa does love Brady and Tate in the most selfless way and now they’ll be apart.”
Well, at least until Lilley returns to the soap for her next visit. And that’s something she is very open to.
“In a heartbeat… Tomorrow,” delivers Lilley with a smile. “I talked about [returning] with Ron at the Emmys and with [Co-Executive Producer] Greg Meng, too. DAYS is my family, and I will visit them for as long as they will have me.”
Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.
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