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Days of Our Lives recasts the role of Taylor Walker with Daytime Emmy winner Tamara Braun just weeks of Natalia Livingston’s debut.
DAYS Recast Shocker: Livingston Out, Braun In!
After just three short weeks on-air as Taylor Walker (formerly Raines), Days of Our Lives has fired Daytime Emmy winner Natalia Livingston. The shocking news doesn’t end there…Soap Opera Digest reports Livingston’s former co-star and fellow Daytime Emmy winner Tamara Braun has assumed the role of Taylor and began filming earlier today. Braun is set to first air in late April.
Why the need for change? Days of Our Lives co-executive producer Gary Tomlin says the move was a decision to take the character in a new direction. Tomlin had kind words to say about Livingston, “Natalia Livingston is an amazing actress and a consummate professional. She is a class act and everyone at the studio adores her.”
Livingston spent five years playing Emily Quartermaine on ABC’s General Hospital. The actress departed the series in 2008, only to return as Emily’s long-lost twin sister Rebecca Shaw, in 2009. Livingston would exit the series less than a year later. In 2005, Livingston won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
As for Tamara Braun, the actress is no stranger to the DAYS cast, having played the role of mob princess Ava Vitali on the show from February 2008 to August 2008. Ava, the slightly psychotic (and murderous) ex-lover of Steve “Patch” Johnson (Stephen Nichols), came to town hell bent on seeking revenge against Patch. Ava brought a lot of drama to Salem, and even had a brief romance with John Black (Drake Hogestyn).
Braun earned herself a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2009 for her role as Ava, taking home the golden statue for the first time. Braun’s victory brought the NBC sudser its first female acting win in over 20 years. Braun’s win also made her the fourth DAYS actress to win an Emmy award, placing her in the company of Susan Flannery (1975 win for Best Actress as Laura Horton), Suzanne Rogers (1979 win for Supporting Actress as Maggie Horton) and Leanne Hunley (1986 win for Supporting Actress as Anna DiMera).
Just months after departing DAYS, Braun took on the role of architect Reese Williams on ABC’s All My Children. Braun would go on to depart AMC in the spring of 2009. Prior to her stints on AMC and DAYS, the actress spent four years (2001-2005) as Carly Corinthos on General Hospital, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2004 for Outstanding Lead Actress.
Editor’s POV: Surprising a strong enough word to describe this news. Personally, I adore Natalia Livingston and I’m sad to see her go, but if DAYS had to recast, they chose a great actress in Braun for the role. Braun’s a powerhouse and popular with the fans and if they take Taylor in the direction I think they will, then this should be really good. Braun’s showed great chemistry with Arianne Zucker and James Scott during her previous visit to Salem, so this is another benefit to the recast. If DAYS plans on casting any more GH’ers…might I suggest Rebecca Herbst and Megan Ward? Just saying…
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