Since joining Days of our Lives as Holly Jonas in 2023, Ashley Puzemis has endured the highs and lows of teenage drama. (Find out more about the daytime newcomer.) Her portrayal of the complex character has garnered Puzemis a 2025 Daytime Emmy nomination in the Emerging Talent category, a first for the young actress.
Key Takeaways
- Ashley Puzemis earned her first Daytime Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Holly Jonas in DAYS.
- Holly’s 2024 storyline began with a shocking overdose that left her in a coma.
- After awakening, she confessed to owning the drugs that sent Tate to juvenile detention.
- Holly and Tate’s secret romance led to multiple scandals, including a prom disaster and secret summer meetings.
- Sophia’s jealousy caused chaos, culminating in a breakup, a rebound fling, and an unexpected pregnancy.
- The pregnancy bombshell threatens to destroy Holly and Tate’s renewed relationship.
Coma and Confession
Poor Holly began the 2024 year in a coma, the result of a drug overdose on New Year’s Eve. When she awakened in February, she learned Tate (Leo Howard) had been sent to juvenile detention, since everyone believed he’d provided the drugs to Holly.
For months, Holly kept the truth that it was actually hers to herself, not wanting to disappoint her mother, Nicole (Arianne Zucker, who had settled her lawsuit). But as her guilt rose, Holly finally confessed the truth, and Tate was set free.
Secret Rendezvous
Forbidden by their parents to see each other, Holly and Tate began meeting secretly. Their attempt at going to prom on a double date with others — namely, Sophia (Rachel Boyd — here’s how she got the part) and Aaron (Louis Tomeo) — and secretly convene at a hotel backfired when a jealous Sophia tattled, Tate’s parents, Theresa (Emily O’Brien) and Brady (Eric Martsolf) showed up, and busted them.
Yet, the undeterred young couple spent the summer meeting secretly at the Horton cabin, after Tate had convinced his parents that he was off at lacrosse camp.
Sophia Lurking
Meanwhile, Sophia hovered in the background, lusting over Tate and constantly needling Holly about not having had sex with her boyfriend. Sophia got her chance to move in on Tate when Holly’s aunt, Sarah (Linsey Godfrey), was struck by a hit-and-run driver, and all signs pointed wrongly to Brady.
After Tate caught Holly going through his dad’s room looking for evidence against him, the pair broke up. Sophia moved in on Tate and, before long, was in his bed. Yet, the new relationship ended abruptly when Tate called Sophia “Holly” in bed, and she promptly ended things with him.
Baby Drama
Holly and Tate soon reconciled and once again began dreaming of a future together. But things hit a major snag when Sophia announced she was pregnant with Tate’s baby. Holly found out the news upon discovering the pair sneaking out of town so Sophia could get an abortion.
Tate apologized to Holly, noting that he’d only recently learned the truth and didn’t want to hurt her. He explained that he and Sophia were on the same page about terminating the pregnancy and insisted that this didn’t have to change anything between him and Holly. Although Holly struggled to believe that was true, the pair proclaimed their love for each other and determination to get through this together, neither realizing that this would be the biggest test of their relationship.
