Soap Hub Performer of the Week for DAYS: Nadia Bjorlin

DAYS’ late in life coming out storyline is poised to give a whole host of actors a much-deserved spotlight, and Nadia Bjorlin – the recipient of Soap Hub’s Performer of the Week honors – is the first to reap that benefit.

Nadia Bjorlin – Performer of the Week

Bjorlin excels at just about everything. High camp, low brow comedy, moments big and small. Her first scene was an intimate little number with Eric Martsolf’s Brady Black. The former marrieds played catch up, and an invitation for breakfast was extended from her to him.

The meal itself, attended as it were by Chloe’s mom and dad, was both jovial and introspective. Bjorlin perfectly captured the inherent embarrassment of listening to a parent list a plethora of their own personal faults – who knew that Nancy Wesley (Patrika Darbo) was holding on to so much insecurity and self-doubt? – and the joy and comfort Chloe found in Nancy and Craig’s apparent rapprochement registered proudly on the actress’s face.

But Bjorlin star shone brightest during a contentious, and ultimately cathartic, face-to-face with alter ego’s father.

Chloe had caught Craig Wesley (Kevin Spirtas), cellphone in hand, cooing to his lover, and she was not best pleased. “I brought you your coat,” she explained thrusting the item into his arms. “Mom thought that you could be cold, but you sounded like you were pretty hot to me!”

More harsh words were exchanged, tears pooled in Bjorlin’s eyes, and then Craig lowered the boom. He is cheating on Nancy…and his lover is a man!

Bjorlin sold Chloe’s surprise, her anger at Craig for hurting Nancy, and her sorrow that he’d never been able to live his truth.

Honorable Mention: Patrika Darbo

Nancy Wesley’s emotions and moods are infectious. When she hurts, her public hurts. When she delights in something, so do they. And that’s all down to the majesty that is Patrika Darbo. She’s been running the emotional gamut as of late, putting in splendid performance after splendid performance, especially opposite Bjorlin’s Chloe. The mother/daughter chemistry is sublime. You’d swear the two were really family.

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, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.