Johnny and Chanel finally brought Baby T home on Days of our Lives, and the sweetness of that moment hits a little differently when you remember how hard-fought Chanel’s path has been—on-screen and off. And right in the middle of that joy, Raven Bowens peeled back the curtain on a journey that almost took her somewhere completely different. Her story isn’t the typical “right role at the right time” arc; it’s one of those zig-zag Hollywood rides where the job you didn’t get ends up becoming the life that fits.
Key Takeaways
- Chanel’s adoption joy lands differently once you know Bowens’ path.
- Bowens once auditioned for GH’s Trina Robinson.
- She felt supported in the room but knew the role wasn’t meant for her.
- Her acting coach pushed her to study soaps long before DAYS called.
- After multiple near-misses, DAYS finally offered her Chanel—no new audition needed.
- Bowens’ first week was a trial by fire, but it proved she could handle anything.
The Audition She Thought Would Change Everything
Bowens appeared on Maurice Benard’s State of Mind, and the conversation drifted toward the moment she nearly landed in Port Charles. She talked about auditioning for General Hospital’s Trina Robinson early in her career, remembering how kind and grounding the process felt. “Mark Teschner is one of my favorite casting directors to this day,” she said, describing how seen she felt in those early auditions. There was even a meeting with executive producer Frank Valentini, a moment that told her she was close—but maybe not quite the puzzle piece they needed.
She didn’t sugarcoat it. She knew the age range wasn’t quite working in her favor. “I think I was a little older than they needed,” she admitted, but she didn’t frame it as a missed shot. She framed it the way actors do when they’ve been around long enough to spot fate’s fingerprints—something meant for her simply hadn’t shown up yet.
She told Benard, “I knew I was going to be on a soap opera. I always knew.” Her acting coach drilled her on old issues of Soap Opera Digest, insisting she study the genre. And ironically, that same coach got hooked on GH after seeing the “Sonnylicious” ads—something Bowens jokingly reminded Benard he was responsible for.
The Detour That Became Home
When DAYS called years later, it wasn’t with a straight line—it was more like a reroute. Bowens had screen-tested, hit all the beats, and still walked away empty-handed. She told Benard how jarring that was after a strong audition: “And then I was like, ‘Oh, okay,’” she said, remembering the heartbreak of thinking it was hers. That’s when the drought hit—the stretch where even the most resilient actors start questioning whether waitressing might outlast the dream.
Then, right in the middle of one of those emotional spirals, life shifted. First came a chemistry test she didn’t get. Then came Mrs. Maisel. And then, on her birthday, came the email that changed everything: DAYS wanted her after all. She didn’t need another audition—just confirmation she was comfortable with the updated character breakdown. It was the same role, a different door.
She started work on her grandmother’s birthday. She named her first storyline after her grandmother (“Ply May”). And she began her run with 15 episodes’ worth of dialogue in the first week—a trial by fire she now laughs about because she came out the other side stronger. “Once I did it, I was like, ‘Okay, I can do anything,’ ” she said, sounding like someone recognizing their own foundation for the first time, and five years later, she’s right where she should be.
