Emily O’Brien is "Days'" New Theresa Donovan - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 10-02-2023, 06:41 PM

Is This "Days of Our Lives’" Most Insane Recasting Ever? Exiting Actress Calls It a "Horrible Situation" in New Interview
by Andy Swift
Oct. 2, 2023

The only thing wilder than "Days of Our Lives‘" latest recast is the story behind it.

The role of Theresa Donovan, which has been portrayed by Jen Lilley on and off since 2013, is being taken over by a new-yet-familiar actress — one who’s already playing another character on the show.

As confirmed in the credits for the Peacock soap’s Oct. 2 episode, the new Theresa is none other than Emily O’Brien, whom viewers have known as Gwen Rizczech (now von Leuschner) since 2020.

Lilley tells Soaps.com that she learned about the recast on set, calling it a “horrible situation. Top to bottom, it was just not handled the right way. … Everybody was mad, because everybody was kind of lied to.”

According to Lilley, she had reached out to "Days‘" former co-executive producer Albert Alarr — who has since been fired following a separate misconduct investigation — about bringing Theresa back to Salem for Victor Kiriakis’ funeral. Following a bit of back and forth, Lilley says an agreement was made for her to shoot 12 weeks’ worth of scenes in the four weeks she was available.

So imagine Lilley’s surprise when her four weeks on set came to a close, yet Theresa’s storyline remained unfinished. Lilley recalls confronting Alarr in his office, at which point he finally admitted, “Theresa’s still going to do all of that… it’s just we’re going to do it with a different Theresa.”

Lilley previously suspected that her 12-week arc hadn’t actually been fully written when she signed on (“I think they were bluffing at the time”), and this seemed to confirm those suspicions.

For what it’s worth, Lilley has “no hard feelings” towards O’Brien, to whom she was happy to provide pointers about playing “the funniest, sassiest character in daytime.” In fact, as she expresses in her interview, “That poor girl has had to have conversations with me [on set, knowing she was going to replace me]. How horrible she must have felt!”

https://tvline.com/casting-news/days...sa-1235053176/

JamesG · 10-13-2023, 06:24 AM

Emily O’Brien Asks Fans to "Keep an Open Mind" about her Shocking Recast as Theresa
by Andy Swift
Oct. 12, 2023

One week since her debut in the role of Theresa Donovan, Emily O’Brien has taken to social media to address the major change, expressing her excitement while also acknowledging fans’ concerns.

“As I step into the shoes (and wig) of a very different role, I hope that you can keep an open mind, have fun with my interpretation, and enjoy the ride,” O’Brien wrote Thursday on Instagram. “After all, it’s just a bit of dress up and make believe, really.”

O’Brien also takes a moment to show her “utmost gratitude” for getting to play a “beautifully layered character” like Gwen for the past four years.

“She has taken me through such a delicious discovery of who she is, and what she ultimately always yearned for — despite all her pain, vengeance and deceit,” O’Brien writes. “To be loved. Perhaps someday, somewhere away from Salem, she can finally find it.”

https://tvline.com/news/days-of-our-...nt-1235059939/

PF7074 · 10-13-2023, 11:28 AM

EOB is a good actress and has always been very believable as Gwen, but this new (and hopefully temporary) incarnation of Theresa is difficult, if almost painful, to watch. Her performance doesn't come off the least bit natural and, again, it isn't because she's not talented. It's because she's terribly miscast (through no fault of her own). Yes, DOOL is struggling with budget cuts, but this decision by ex-CoEP Albert Alarr was lazy, condescending to viewers, and totally avoidable. If JL had a scheduling conflict, another more suitable actress could have been brought in to finish out the s/l. Days is well-rid of Alarr, his alleged abusiveness and his poor leadership.

10-02-2023, 06:41 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,008	Emily O’Brien is "Days'" New Theresa Donovan *Is This "Days of Our Lives’" Most Insane Recasting Ever? Exiting Actress Calls It a "Horrible Situation" in New Interview* by Andy Swift Oct. 2, 2023 The only thing wilder than "Days of Our Lives‘" latest recast is the story behind it. The role of Theresa Donovan, which has been portrayed by Jen Lilley on and off since 2013, is being taken over by a new-yet-familiar actress — one who’s already playing another character on the show. As confirmed in the credits for the Peacock soap’s Oct. 2 episode, the new Theresa is none other than Emily O’Brien, whom viewers have known as Gwen Rizczech (now von Leuschner) since 2020. Lilley tells Soaps.com that she learned about the recast on set, calling it a “horrible situation. Top to bottom, it was just not handled the right way. … Everybody was mad, because everybody was kind of lied to.” According to Lilley, she had reached out to "Days‘" former co-executive producer Albert Alarr — who has since been fired following a separate misconduct investigation — about bringing Theresa back to Salem for Victor Kiriakis’ funeral. Following a bit of back and forth, Lilley says an agreement was made for her to shoot 12 weeks’ worth of scenes in the four weeks she was available. So imagine Lilley’s surprise when her four weeks on set came to a close, yet Theresa’s storyline remained unfinished. Lilley recalls confronting Alarr in his office, at which point he finally admitted, “Theresa’s still going to do all of that… it’s just we’re going to do it with a different Theresa.” Lilley previously suspected that her 12-week arc hadn’t actually been fully written when she signed on (“I think they were bluffing at the time”), and this seemed to confirm those suspicions. For what it’s worth, Lilley has “no hard feelings” towards O’Brien, to whom she was happy to provide pointers about playing “the funniest, sassiest character in daytime.” In fact, as she expresses in her interview, “That poor girl has had to have conversations with me [on set, knowing she was going to replace me]. How horrible she must have felt!” https://tvline.com/casting-news/days...sa-1235053176/ Attached Images

10-13-2023, 06:24 AM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,008	*Emily O’Brien Asks Fans to "Keep an Open Mind" about her Shocking Recast as Theresa* by Andy Swift Oct. 12, 2023 One week since her debut in the role of Theresa Donovan, Emily O’Brien has taken to social media to address the major change, expressing her excitement while also acknowledging fans’ concerns. “As I step into the shoes (and wig) of a very different role, I hope that you can keep an open mind, have fun with my interpretation, and enjoy the ride,” O’Brien wrote Thursday on Instagram. “After all, it’s just a bit of dress up and make believe, really.” O’Brien also takes a moment to show her “utmost gratitude” for getting to play a “beautifully layered character” like Gwen for the past four years. “She has taken me through such a delicious discovery of who she is, and what she ultimately always yearned for — despite all her pain, vengeance and deceit,” O’Brien writes. “To be loved. Perhaps someday, somewhere away from Salem, she can finally find it.” https://tvline.com/news/days-of-our-...nt-1235059939/

10-13-2023, 11:28 AM	#3
PF7074 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 40	EOB is a good actress and has always been very believable as Gwen, but this new (and hopefully temporary) incarnation of Theresa is difficult, if almost painful, to watch. Her performance doesn't come off the least bit natural and, again, it isn't because she's not talented. It's because she's terribly miscast (through no fault of her own). Yes, DOOL is struggling with budget cuts, but this decision by ex-CoEP Albert Alarr was lazy, condescending to viewers, and totally avoidable. If JL had a scheduling conflict, another more suitable actress could have been brought in to finish out the s/l. Days is well-rid of Alarr, his alleged abusiveness and his poor leadership.