Fans of the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives were treated to a very special and emotional return this week as Kristian Alfonso reprised her iconic role of Hope Brady. However, the circumstances surrounding her latest stint in Salem were tinged with sadness, as Alfonso’s comeback was to film tribute episodes honoring the legendary Bill Hayes, who played her on-screen father Doug Williams before his passing in January 2023 at the age of 92.
For over four decades, Alfonso and Hayes had shared a unique bond both on the show and behind the scenes. Their characters’ father-daughter relationship was a beloved part of Days’ rich history and decades of storylines. So Alfonso’s return to the set was “very bittersweet” as she put it, having lost such a dear friend and mentor.
“I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart,” the actress told TV Insider. She expressed being “very sad” about this particular comeback.
Of her first moments acting opposite Hayes back in 1983, Alfonso recalled how warmly he welcomed her as the new Hope. “He was very loving, very welcoming,” she said of the iconic star, who had been a Days staple since 1970. Despite his immense popularity and pedigree on the show, Alfonso said Hayes always made her feel at ease. “My personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home. Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”
That made it all the more disappointing for Alfonso that she didn’t get one final chance to share scenes with Hayes during what was supposed to be her previous return stint in 2023. As she explained, “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron [Carlivati, headwriter] had planned. It was great; [my character and husband Bo] returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”
While that plotline never made it to air due to Hayes’ unexpected passing, Alfonso is nonetheless thrilled to be back among her Days family to pay tribute to her former screen partner and dear friend. She expressed particular excitement about working once again with castmates like Melissa Reeves, Mary Beth Evans, Stephen Nichols, Josh Taylor, Victoria Konefal, Brandon Beemer and Susan Seaforth Hayes – Bill’s real-life wife.
“I’m excited to be working with Susan and Brandon and Victoria, of course, as well as Mary Beth and Steven,” Alfonso shared. “And I love the sweet moment that Roman and Hope have.”
As for the possibility of Alfonso sticking around Salem longer this time to revisit her much-loved super-couple pairing with Peter Reckell’s Bo Brady, the actress had an encouraging message for “Bope” fans: “Don’t give up hope” on their story continuing in the future.
