Kristian Alfonso Exits "Days of Our Lives" after 37 Years
by Nellie Andreeva
July 6, 2020


It’s an end of an era for "Days of Our Lives". Kristian Alfonso, one of the daytime drama’s most recognizable and longest-tenured stars as Hope Williams Brady, is leaving the NBC series, which she first joined in 1983.

“Days of Our Lives has been a vital part of both my personal and professional journey,” the actress said in a statement on Monday.




“I am forever grateful to NBC and the late Betty Corday, who took a chance on me many years ago and changed my life. I have built some lifelong friendships with my extraordinarily talented castmates. Days has one of the hardest working crews in all of television, many of whom have become part of my extended family. I feel blessed and honored to have been invited into people’s homes for over three decades.”

Alfonso continued, “However, it is now time for me to write my next chapter. I will not be returning to Days when it resumes production in September. I’ve already filmed my last episode several months ago. Finally, to the incredibly loyal fans of Days, many of you have been with me on this journey from the beginning. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity, love and support. I could not have done it without YOU!!!”

https://deadline.com/2020/07/kristian-alfonso-exits-days-of-our-lives-after-37-years-1202978733/

Kristian Alfonso's Days of Our Lives co-stars react to her departure after 37 years (https://tvline.com/lists/days-of-our-lives-kristian-alfonso-leaving-cast-reactions-hope-brady/chrishell-stause-jordan/)

“It was an absolute pleasure to share the stage with you @kristianalfonso – your professionalism, talent and work ethic has inspired me so much!" co-star Freddie Smith wrote on Instagram. "Anytime we’d see each other at work, you would always greet me with a big hug and smile asking how myself and Alyssa were doing. That meant the world to me. Thank you for your kind words and advice throughout the years. I’m excited to see your next chapter!”

Kristian Alfonso Reveals why she Quit "Days of Our Lives" after 37 Years
by Michael Ausiello
July 16, 2020


"Days of Our Lives" apparently made Kristian Alfonso an offer she could refuse.

The actress told "Entertainment Tonight" in a segment that aired on Thursday that she decided to exit the NBC soap after nearly four decades when producers suggested pulling her from the show for five months before bringing her back in a new storyline.

“I don’t plan on returning and popping in as others have done in the past,” she said. “I think that chapter is closed and a new one needs to be started.”



Since going public earlier this month with her decision to leave "Days", Alfonso admitted to ET, “It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions,” before quickly adding, “I have no regrets.”

Alfonso’s final episode as Hope, which she shot prior to the show’s coronavirus-fueled production shutdown back in March, is slated to air in October.

https://tvline.com/2020/07/16/kristian-alfonso-leaving-days-of-our-lives-hope/

Victoria Konefal announces she's leaving Days of Our Lives two weeks after TV mom Kristian Alfonso's exit (https://deadline.com/2020/07/victoria-konefal-exits-days-of-our-lives-full-time-cast-member-ciara-brady-1202991949/)

Konefal played Ciara Brady, the daughter of Kristian Alfonso's Hope Brady. Speculation of Konefal's departure surfaced earlier this month following Alfonso's exit after 37 years (https://deadline.com/2020/07/kristian-alfonso-exits-days-of-our-lives-after-37-years-1202978733/). But the two departures aren't related, according to Deadline. Konefal is the third major departure from the NBC daytime soap opera this month. Greg Vaughn announced his exit earlier from Days earlier this week.

Kristian Alfonso Reveals why she Quit "Days of Our Lives" after 37 Years
by Michael Ausiello
July 16, 2020


"Days of Our Lives" apparently made Kristian Alfonso an offer she could refuse.

The actress told "Entertainment Tonight" in a segment that aired on Thursday that she decided to exit the NBC soap after nearly four decades when producers suggested pulling her from the show for five months before bringing her back in a new storyline.

“I don’t plan on returning and popping in as others have done in the past,” she said. “I think that chapter is closed and a new one needs to be started.”



Since going public earlier this month with her decision to leave "Days", Alfonso admitted to ET, “It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions,” before quickly adding, “I have no regrets.”

Alfonso’s final episode as Hope, which she shot prior to the show’s coronavirus-fueled production shutdown back in March, is slated to air in October.

https://tvline.com/2020/07/16/kristian-alfonso-leaving-days-of-our-lives-hope/

Kristian Alfonso: “In the last few years, Days of Our Lives is not the Days of Our Lives as I know it" (https://tvline.com/2020/07/27/kristian-alfonso-days-of-our-lives-leaving-interview-hope/)

In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Alfonso threw shade at the NBC daytime soap opera (https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/41368-salem-international-casting-notes-arrivals-departures/page/53/#comments) she announced earlier this month she was leaving after 37 years. She also confirmed she filmed her final episode earlier this year before the coronavirus shutdown.

"Days of Our Lives" Boss "Dismayed" by Kristian Alfonso's Decision to Quit
by Michael Ausiello
August 18, 2020


With Kristian Alfonso‘s "Days of Our Lives" swan song set to air in less than two months, the NBC soap’s top EP is breaking his silence on the actress’ decision to depart the show after nearly four decades as Hope.

In a new interview with EW.com, Corday — who said that he was “dismayed” by Alfonso’s exit announcement — confirmed that he did indeed propose temporarily removing Hope from the canvas.




“In order to launch a new story — and we had a great story for her, we still do — I needed her off-camera for three or four months,” he explained to the site. “During that time, something very interesting happens so she comes back to Salem with a secret. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.”

Asked whether Alfonso — whose final episode is slated to air Oct. 15 — could reverse course and decide to stay, Corday hedged, “That’s up to Kristian.”

https://tvline.com/2020/08/18/days-of-our-lives-hope-leaving-kristian-alfonso-final-episode/

The Real Reason Hope Won't Be Returning To Days Of Our Lives (https://www.looper.com/786375/the-real-reason-hope-wont-be-returning-to-days-of-our-lives/)

https://www.looper.com/img/gallery/the-real-reason-hope-wont-be-returning-to-days-of-our-lives/intro-1646317767.webp

BY JENNIFER MASHUGA/MARCH 3, 2022 9:31 AM EST

The role of Hope Williams Brady on "Days of Our Lives (https://www.looper.com/725399/are-jack-and-jennifer-really-leaving-days-of-our-lives/)" was played by four other actresses before Kristian Alfonso stepped into the role in 1983. But when Alfonso took over, she made the role an extension of herself, and as the actress who's played Hope for the past few decades, she is the first face that comes to mind when thinking of the character. Hope and Bo (Peter Reckell) were one of the soap supercouples of the '80s, and for a lot of "Days of Our Lives" fans, they're number one (Soap Opera Digest (https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/whos-the-greatest-couple-of-all-time-you-decide/)).

Even after Reckell made the decision to leave "Days of Our Lives (https://www.looper.com/488210/who-is-leaving-days-of-our-lives-in-2021/)" in 2015, Alfonso stayed in the show. "I actually really thought about leaving Days four years ago," Alfonso told Glamour (https://www.glamour.com/story/kristian-alfonso-what-ive-learned-from-nearly-30-years-on-days-of-our-lives). "And I didn't. I stayed. [Executive Producer] Ken Corday asked me not to leave, so I stayed for him. I don't regret my decision because Ken Corday has been truly wonderful to me." Fans were shocked when Alfonso posted on her Twitter and Instagram page July 6, 2020 that she was leaving "Days of Our Lives" to start her "next chapter (https://www.instagram.com/p/CCUQ5U6Jwtn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)," with many wondering if something had occurred to change her mind about staying with the soap.

Kristian Alfonso's lack of screen time was the deciding factor

https://www.looper.com/img/gallery/the-real-reason-hope-wont-be-returning-to-days-of-our-lives/kristian-alfonsos-lack-of-screen-time-was-the-deciding-factor-1646317767.webp

When COVID-19 hit and businesses started shutting their doors, most people had no idea how long things would remain closed. Kristian Alfonso was one of those people. Her last day of work was March 13th, 2020, and she had more scripts at home for the next week. But the next week didn't come, and it wasn't until summer when she got a call from Ken Corday to let her know what the plan was for her iconic character. She was taken aback when he told her that the writers planned to take her offscreen for four to five months, and bring her back with a new love interest. "I thought, 'You know what? I think it's time for a new chapter,'" she told Glamour (https://www.glamour.com/story/kristian-alfonso-what-ive-learned-from-nearly-30-years-on-days-of-our-lives).

"Did my heart sink? Yes," Alfonso told the magazine. "I was not expecting that. But was I relieved? Yes, absolutely. After I hung up, I took a deep breath and thought, 'Okay, I don't have to learn that next script.'" Corday told Alfonso that he wouldn't recast Hope, even though some fans think it would make more sense, rather than to have such an ingrained character never appear again. As for Alfonso, she is pals with Alison Sweeney, who has played Sami Brady on "Days of Our Lives" since 1993, and co-starred with her in "The Chronicle Mysteries: The Wrong Man" in 2021, as well as "V.C. Andrews' Landry Family (via IMDB (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0019172/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1))." As promised, Alfonso is moving on to the next chapter.

She played a good villian as high end Madam Lauren in Melrose Place back in 1993-94. :)