From Gwen to Theresa
Let’s rewind the tape a bit, shall we? Emily burst onto our screens back in 2020, bringing Gwen Rizczech to life. Remember her? Jack Deveraux’s long-lost daughter with a chip on her shoulder the size of the DiMera mansion! She waltzed into Salem and turned Abigail and Chad’s world upside down faster than you can say “paternity test.”
But wait, there’s more! Just when we thought we had Emily pegged as the deliciously devious Gwen, she pulled a soap opera switcheroo. In the fall of 2023, she slipped into Theresa Donovan’s shoes when Jen Lilley exited stage left. Talk about range!
Tearful Farewell
Hold onto your remote controls, because this is where it gets emotional. Emily recently spilled the tea to Soap Opera Digest, and let me tell you, it’s a three-hanky situation. Picture this: Emily, standing on stage, facing the cast and crew she’s worked with for years. She’s not just misty-eyed, folks – she’s full-on waterworks!
In her own words, she told everyone how “incredibly lucky” she was. Can you imagine? Standing there, probably wearing something fabulous (because, hello, it’s Emily O’Brien), and just pouring her heart out? It’s like a scene straight out of… well, Days of Our Lives!
Soap Opera Journey
Now, let’s take a stroll down memory lane. After Emily’s character Jana Hawkes was written off The Young and the Restless in 2011, she thought her soap opera days were done. Finito. Kaput. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes (or maybe more like a soap character coming back from the dead), she found her way back to daytime TV.
And boy, did she make the most of it! Emily knocked it out of the park with both Gwen and Theresa. Need proof? Just look at her recent Daytime Emmy nomination for Supporting Actress in 2024. That’s right, our girl got the nod for her work as Gwen. If that’s not a mic drop moment, I don’t know what is!
What’s Next for Emily?
So, what’s next for Emily? And more importantly, what’s next for Gwen and Theresa? Well, my fellow soap sleuths, that’s the million-dollar question. While Emily’s gone for now, the door to Salem is never fully closed. Both Gwen and Theresa have roots deeper than the Kiriakis family tree in that little town. Could we see a triumphant return? Only time (and the soap gods) will tell!
