Emily O’Brien returns to Days of our Lives on July 8, reprising the position of Gwen Rizczech, which she initially performed from 2020 to 2023.
The invitation to return as Jack Deveraux’s (Matthew Ashford) daughter got here as a shock to O’Brien. After Gwen left city in October 2023, the actress transitioned into enjoying Theresa Donovan, a stint that ended when the character went to jail in August 2024. “I believed that was it,” she remembers. “I used to be very emotional on the final day; I stated my goodbyes.”
So, O’Brien saved herself busy in her time away from Salem. “I do movement seize and voice for lots of animation and video video games,” she explains. “That’s been my principal job since 2008, and that’s what I began off doing. However then we had a strike in July [2024], in order that form of stopped, after which I wasn’t doing the present, so I put all of my consideration into my home. I made a decision I used to be going to get my fingers soiled and do quite a lot of it myself, so I taught myself learn how to tile, my dad taught me learn how to plumb, I used to be studying learn how to concrete patch, and I did quite a lot of portray and quite a lot of gardening. I made myself actually helpful, and I really feel fairly pleased with that.”
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Whereas she was centered on dwelling enchancment, O’Brien bought a name from Days’ casting director, Marnie Saitta. “She stated, ‘Two issues. Would you be keen to return again for 2 weeks to complete the story arc with Teresa? After which now we have a storyline with Gwen; would you have an interest? That might begin October [2024],’” O’Brien remembers. “I’ve at all times liked enjoying Gwen, so it was a straightforward reply for me, actually.”
She additionally grew to like enjoying Theresa. “It was unbelievable,” she raves. “That was really a present. I had quite a lot of scenes with [Robert Scott Wilson, Alex Kiriakis], whom I simply adore. He’s at all times able to play, and he at all times delivers. And Eric [Martsolf, Brady Black]. I really feel like you might put the 2 of us anyplace, and we don’t even should say something. There was a move that we discovered that I feel was so pure. I actually bought to know him throughout that point, and we grew to become mates. After which I set to work with Deidre Corridor [Marlena Evans], whom I hadn’t labored with ever actually earlier than, I had an entire new household that I used to be a part of, and new units that I used to be entering into.
“Once I was in it, I believed, ‘That is enjoyable,’” she continues. “After which after it ended, I believed, ‘As annoying and bizarre because it was to be entering into this new position, I ended up really loving it.’ I gave it every thing that I had, and I performed it the way in which I believed match for myself. I can’t emulate anyone. I might simply be myself and I loved it.”
Now, she’s able to step again into Gwen’s footwear, a personality whose fortunes have shifted dramatically since her final look, due to a windfall from her ill-fated marriage to Dimitri von Leuschner (Peter Porte). “Gwen has at all times been scrappy and at all times looking for somebody to like her, somebody to make use of,” she factors out. “However now, she doesn’t want that. Now, she has every thing aside from love, so she’s form of again to the place she was, however with a full pockets.”
Anticipate to see a really completely different Gwen, who has modified in stunning methods. “The brand new writers have refined her,” O’Brien previews. “She went away and frolicked with the elite, and now she has information and standing, in order that’s been a special twist to return again and play her. She’s spending time with new characters, and it’s been enjoyable to find the place every thing goes along with her now.”
Although she’s no stranger to the set, O’Brien admits to having day one butterflies. “I used to be gone nearly a 12 months, and I used to be nervous,” she relays. “I had this recent new haircut, and also you’ve been your traces for weeks, and also you’re able to go, and then you definitely simply stroll within the halls, and also you see these acquainted faces, and it feels such as you’re again on this bubble with a household once more. I simply immediately felt nice seeing all the photographs on the partitions and the ‘Hey, hello, how are you? What’s been taking place?’ It simply picks up the place every thing left off, and it took my nerves away since you’re simply leaping again into it. It’s like using a motorcycle.”
O’Brien says she was particularly pleased to reconnect with Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark), whom she first met almost 20 years in the past once they appeared on The Younger and the Stressed collectively as Jana Hawkes and Kevin Fisher. “We appeared like we had slept with hangers in our mouths after these scenes as a result of we couldn’t cease laughing,” she experiences. “It was nice; actually good enjoyable.”
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And whereas she’s at present mixing it up with actors she hasn’t labored with earlier than, O’Brien has one costar on her want checklist of scene companions: Jackée Harry (Paulina Value). “I like watching her when she’s on display screen; I feel she’s such a presence,” O’Brien praises. “We had one scene collectively, if I may even name it that, the place I’m exiting the room and he or she’s coming in, and that was it. I simply suppose she’s implausible, and if there was room for even one scene along with her, I’d be delighted.”
As her first episode is about to air, O’Brien says she feels honored that the writers proceed to search out inventive methods to incorporate her into their storytelling. “It’s flattering,” she says. “I feel anyone could be flattered to play two characters, and them placing their belief in me to try this. It’s implausible. I can’t complain. I’m doing what I like, and I’ve been there on and off now for 5 years, and I really feel extremely lucky. It’s the best praise, and I’m very grateful.”
Days of our Lives, Streaming Weekdays, Peacock