Jen Lilley hasn’t stepped into Theresa’s heels since the moment Emily O’Brien took over the Days of our Lives role. Since then, Lilley has poured herself into work, family, and enough Christmas trees to fill a small forest. Now, she’s opening up about the oddball film she just released, the devotional she’s launching, and how she really feels about returning to DAYS.
Key Takeaways
- Lilley embraces her Christmas-loving persona, even joking about giving away extra trees.
- Chrismystery marks a shift from her usual cozy holiday films, leaning into a quirky, offbeat tone.
- She’s releasing her first devotional, aiming to help readers feel grounded and seen.
- Lilley calls her DAYS recast “super wild,” but doesn’t hold any resentment about how it unfolded.
- She still loves Theresa and is open to returning when the timing is right.
A Holiday Movie That Isn’t Trying To Be Cozy
Lilley spoke with Soaps about the film that’s currently sitting on your streaming menu, Chrismystery. Before she even explained the plot, she set the tone: “I feel like my life is Christmas,” she said, adding, “I have so many Christmas trees that I had to start giving them away to charities that I love. I’m like the Oprah of Christmas trees! You get a tree, and you get a tree!”
But Chrismystery isn’t cut from the same cloth as her usual holiday fare, and she wanted people to know that before they settle in expecting twinkling lights and warm cocoa. She called it odd, sharp around the edges, its own little creature — and that’s exactly why she signed on. The movie leans into its offbeat setup: a small-town sheriff whose holiday spirit burned out long ago, surrounded by neighbors who feel like they wandered in from a slightly stranger dimension.
And while she’s promoting the film, she’s also rolling out her first devotional, Wake Up Your Faith. It isn’t a side project for her; it’s stitched directly to how she moves through the world. She wants it to make readers feel grounded and seen, the way the best faith writing does.
A Recast, A Reset, And The Door That Isn’t Closed
Eventually, the conversation circled back to DAYS, and Lilley didn’t sidestep the topic. She remembers the recast clearly — “It was super wild,” she says — but she never assigns malice. Miscommunication, timing, logistics… that’s how she explained it.
And would she go back? She doesn’t hesitate. She loved playing Theresa and still carries her with a kind of fondness that never faded. The only barrier right now is the life she’s built — four kids under nine, multiple projects, a calendar packed too tight for long-term arcs. One day, though? She didn’t rule it out for a second. As she put it, “If I didn’t have kids, I’d probably be on DAYS now! I love it!”
It’s not a no, it’s a not-yet — and in Salem, that’s more than enough to keep hope alive.
