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Judi Evans makes a return to Salem as Adrienne Kiriakis.
Soap Opera Digest announced today actress Judi Evans will be returning to Days of Our Lives as Justin Kiriakis’ wife, Adrienne. Her return to Salem has been long awaited by DAYS fans since Wally Kurth returned as Justin Kiriakis last summer. Judi hasn’t worked with Wally since 1991, but the actress missed working with him and is happy to be back in Salem. “He’s just the greatest sweetheart and a wonderful actor and a little teddy bear,” she said to Soap Opera Digest. “Through the years, I have really missed working with him, so it’s nice to see him on a professional basis.”
Judi began her daytime career in 1983, originating the role of Beth Raines on CBS’ Guiding Light, a role in which she won an Emmy for in 1984 for Outstanding Supporting Actress. In 1986, she vacated the GL role and auditioned for a role on Days of Our Lives, landing the role of Adrienne Johnson, sister of Steve ‘Patch’ Johnson (Stephen Nichols) and Jack Deveraux (Matt Ashford). She left Days of Our Lives in 1991 and moved on another popular NBC soap, Another World, portraying the role of Paulina Cory Carlino for 8 years until the show’s cancellation in 1999. Evan’s portrayal of Paulina Cory won her a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1998.
After Another World‘s cancellation, the actress spent some time with her family and moved back to California. In 2003, she returned to Days of Our Lives but in a different role. Evans took over the role of Bonnie Lockhart, the mother of teen Mimi (Farah Fath) and Patrick Lockheart (Brody Hutzler). In early 2007, then head writer Hogan Sheffer wrote off Bonnie and the Lockhart family. Evans returned late spring, reprising her role as Adrienne Kiriakis for a storyline involving involving her brother Patch. She exited the show eight months later. Evans garnered an Supporting Actress Emmy nomination in 2008 for her work as Bonnie & Adrienne. Last year, Judi took on the short-term role of Maeve Stone on CBS’ As The World Turns.
We’re sure Wally Kurth is happy with this news. When TVSource Magazine associate editor William Dallman visited the set of DAYS back in November 2009, he asked Wally if he’d like to see Judi return. His response? “Oh yes, absolutely.”
How will the return of Adrienne effect Justin’s growing feelings for Hope (Kristian Alfonso)? It’s no secret Justin has been crushing on his cousin-in-law, but now that her marriage to Bo (Peter Reckell) is over, the hot-shot attorney really believes he could have a shot with her. There’s no telling how much Adrienne’s return to Salem could impact Justin. Might seeing his soon-to-be-ex-wife bring the return of some old feelings?
Information regarding the length of her return is unknown at press time. For more on Evans’ return, pick up next week’s issue of Soap Opera Digest.
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(Additional reporting and editing by Omar Nobles — Follow me on Twitter at @SourceRyan)
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