Days of our Lives may have merely written Paul Telfer’s character Xander Cook dinner as a one-dimensional villain. Nonetheless, the present’s inventive workforce acknowledged—due in no small half to Telfer’s skills as an actor—his potential as a romantic main man. Actually, the pairing of Telfer and Linsey Godfrey, who performs Sarah, is one in every of cleaning soap opera’s hottest duos. Affectionately dubbed “Xarah” by the couple’s fan base, the husband and spouse have been nearly separated perpetually by Xander’s unbalanced mom, Fiona, performed by Serena Scott Thomas.
Now, a brand new hurdle awaits the 2 on Friday’s episode when Xander and a wheelchair-bound Sarah confront one other impediment associated to her restoration.
TV Insider caught up with Telfer and Godfrey on the latest annual Day of DAYS fan occasion in downtown Los Angeles to speak with them about Telfer’s anniversary with the Peacock drama, working with Scott Thomas, and what turned Xander from an antagonist right into a protagonist.
Xander’s a strong, romantic main man—however as soon as crossed or if his family members, particularly Sarah, are in jeopardy, we shortly see a well-recognized aspect to him floor as evidenced by discovering his mom, Fiona, about to hurt Sarah.
Paul Telfer: Oh, thanks, mate. Clearly, they’ve to jot down it for me to do it. So, I’m glad that Ron [Carlivati, former head writer] gave me all that materials to play with. For me, the anger, rage, robust man stuff has been my bread and butter. The susceptible little boy really is, too. The deep profound grief [over his mother] was a brand new wrinkle. I feel I’ll have been holding again on a few of that. However I used to be able to go there. Linsey and [my wife/actress] Carmen [Cusack] helped me get there and do my finest work.
And congrats in your 10-year anniversary with DAYS.
Telfer: Technically, it’s 10 years of taking pictures. I began as Damon [Victor’s henchman] in August of 2014 [before being cast as Xander], I imagine. It’s ten years of taking pictures—not airing.
Was there a degree once you realized Xander may do some unhealthy issues, offered he didn’t go too far, and be redeemed and built-in into Salem society?
Telfer: Solely once they paired me with Linsey and Suzanne [Rogers, Maggie]. That’s after I realized there’s a place for me. Previous to that, Xander would come into city, do one thing terrible, after which, he’d get punished. Now, he has Sarah from whom he can beg for forgiveness.
Linsey, I’ve seen some troubled mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamics on soaps however Fiona tried to push a wheelchair-bound Sarah down a flight of stairs—to her dying! Yikes! What was it like working with Serena?
Linsey Godfrey: I really like Serena so very a lot. We bonded instantly. I appreciated how a lot she loved [being] “backstage of daytime.” On the finish of the day, what we do is so completely different than different genres. The best way we work is exclusive. You need to have a love for it. Serena walked in and stated, “That is enjoyable!” I really like her a lot. It was really easy to be together with her and to be related together with her.
I assumed for positive you have been taking place the steps, however then, I noticed daytime doesn’t have as many staircases because the olden days.
Telfer: [Laughs] We don’t have as many stairs as we used to!
Fortuitously, Xander got here to the rescue! How lengthy will Sarah be in her wheelchair?
Telfer: There’s the [matter of the] serum, getting that from Kristen [Stacy Haiduk].
Godfrey: I’ve acquired to stand up and round. That’ll be an fascinating journey. It’s one thing I can relate to. [Note: Godfrey had a real-life recovery after being struck by a car in 2015, which resulted in her having two broken ankles.]
Telfer: The storyline has been so much about how Xander has been affected by Sarah’s accident. Throughout this time of transition, we begin to see Xander and Sarah join extra. The love remains to be there.
Days of our Lives, Weekdays, Peacock