DAYS Stars Camila Banus & Eric Martsolf Talk Characters Returning from the Dead

Gabi Hernandez DiMera, played by Camila Banus, has seen her love, Stefan O. DiMera, back among the living on Days of our Lives. Stefan’s not the only one to rise like a, well, phoenix from the ashes. Characters in Salem often do the Lazarus bit. Does DAYS bring too many characters back from that great soap in the sky? Soap Hub chatted with Banus and co-star Eric Martsolf about this and more.

Camila Banus and Eric Martsolf Discuss a DAYS Specialty

Banus and Martsolf (Brady Black) spoke with us about DAYS’ move from NBC to Peacock. We also got their thoughts on this soap opera device (back from the dead), which is arguably used to a greater degree on DAYS than on other soaps.

Soap Hub: What did it mean to Gabi — losing Stefan (Brandon Barash) when she thought he was lost to her forever?
Camila Banus: To Gabi, it meant her utter destruction. She didn’t care about anyone after that. To hear that his heart was being put into Julie Williams [Susan Seaforth Hayes] was even more crushing. Especially to her faith. Gabi is a very faithful person. Stefan’s death broke her down emotionally and physically. She’s had no hope since then. She’s been angry and grief-stricken.

Soap Hub: But she’s still…entertaining and fun? You walk that line quite well.
Camila Banus: Thank you. It’s because she has no [expletives] to give.

Soap Hub: A lot of people come back from the dead, and each time DAYS actors sell it to the audience. How do you play the reality of something that’s unreal?
Camila Banus: Somebody brought that up in an interview a few weeks ago with me. We can bring things up, but the writers are going to write what they want. I’m as shocked as fans are when I see the scripts. We roll with the punches and try to make it as truthful as possible.

Eric Martsolf: I’m so glad my training was at Passions [the supernatural soap on which he played Ethan Winthrop]. That show got me ready for some of the lunacy we’re experiencing — and I say ‘lunacy’ in a lovely way. It’s okay to ask the audience to stretch their imaginations once in a while. It’s healthy and good. As long as you bring it around with something that will touch the heartstrings and make it relatable. It’s got to maintain the roots. People tune in [to DAYS] for the relationships. I think this show is only as strong as its couplings.

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Starting September 12, you will need Peacock+ in the U.S. and The W Network or Global TV App in Canada. 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.

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