The Secrets You Missed From Day Of Days Of Our Lives

As attendees of the annual Day of DAYS fan event (in which actors from Days of Our Lives meet their fans) are aware, the program is split into three parts — cast members sign autographs, they do interviews with numerous outlets (including Soap Hub!), and they partake in a Q&A session to wrap up the fun-filled day!

Days of Our Lives Fan Fun

Soap Hub was on the scene for the Q&A portion when actors gathered on stage and revealed some interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits including who’s returning, which role Kristian Alfonso (Hope/Princess Gina) prefers playing more, and what scenes Bill Hayes (Doug) found the most difficult to play.

Asked if Stefan (Brandon Barash) would be coming back, Camila Banus, who is simultaneously tearing up and steaming up the screen as the unstoppable and irrepressible Gabi, said, “I’m not exactly sure, but I will say that both Camilla and Gabi wishes he were back!”

Jarlena Time

A fan from South Africa and some pals held up over-sized photos of Drake Hogestyn (John) and Deidre Hall (Marlena) kissing on the Day of DAYS stage from the years 2013, 2015, and 2017.

“I wasn’t here last year because of the fires [near my home],” Hogestyn says. “The year before last, my wife, Victoria, saw [Deidre and me kissing at Day of DAYS] on social media and she didn’t make love to me for three…hours! What took you so long to ask [us to kiss]?” Then, of course, the Days of Our Lives supercouple obliged by sharing their traditional smooch on stage!

Unique Stories

Does Alfonso prefer playing her long-running role of Hope or Princess Gina, which she’s reprised after a 21-year absence?

“I love playing them both,” she replied. “I have to say [Princess Gina] is deliciously naughty! I love her one-liners. Remember, she does have a heart, but she needs to get what she wants. And everybody wants love. We all want to love and be loved.”

Asked if his character was going to have a boy or a baby boy or a girl, Eric Martsolf (Brady) quipped: “Am I pregnant? I wouldn’t put it past Ron to write that!”

Days of Our Lives Heartbreak

One of the show’s most touching stories this year was Doug keeping vigil at Julie’s (Susan Seaforth Hayes) bedside throughout her heart attack and transplant. Hayes describes having to play heavy emotions over his TV wife being near death as “excruciating.”

“Watching her in these scenes, I thought for a moment what if this were Susan instead of Julie,” Hayes recalls. “I almost couldn’t finish the scene. Every once in a while, you get so deeply involved in a scene that it can be a killer. What Ron [Carlivati, headwriter] and the other writers came up with [gets to me] every time. It cuts that deep.”

Asked if the cast members spend the holidays with each other, Seaforth Hayes smiled, “Every day is a holiday when you’re married to Bill Hayes!” Days of Our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. Check local listings for air times.