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Days of our Lives star Molly Burnett (Melanie) has opted not to re-sign her contract and exit at the soap next month; Ian Buchanan (Ian) is also heading out as his character will be written out.
Soap Opera Digest reports the two-time Daytime Emmy nominated Burnett will exit at the end of June. “Going in, I knew it was a four-year contract and look, it’s been the most amazing experience. Everyone is so loving and so wonderful and so supportive,” said the actress to SOD. “It’s going to be so hard…. I mean, this is my family. I came out here and I knew nothing, I knew no one and DAYS just kind of opened its arms and took me in. I look at it as four years of the best training any actor could have ever been given.”
Joining DAYS in 2008 as troublemaker Melanie Layton, no one could have imagined just how integral her character would become over the years. Though fans struggled to connect with Melanie in the beginning, it was then-head writer Dena Higley’s decision to establish a relationship between her and the beloved Maggie Horton that changed things. Through Maggie, Melanie became a multi-layered character who would go on to find love with Philip Kiriakis, Nathan Horton and Chad DiMera. Her character would develop ties to the canvas when she was revealed to be the biological child of Carly Manning and Daniel Jonas in 2010. In 2011 it was revealed that Daniel is the biological child of Maggie Horton, making Maggie her grandmother!
Burnett shouldn’t have any difficulties finding work as the actress has done guest spots on True Blood, Good Luck Charlie and CSI: NY while working on DAYS. In fact, the actress has had to turn down projects due to her commitments to the soap.
What does the future have in store for Burnett? She tells SOD, “I just want to go explore; see what’s up with this whole world.”
Also exiting stage left is soap vet Ian Buchanan, who joined the show last November as Ian McAllister. Though he didn’t make his debut until February, Ian quickly made enemies in Salem, having issues with Brady Black, Victor Kiriakis and most recently, Stefano DiMera. Buchanan is expected to air throughout the summer.
Hated Molly as Melanie – finally a casting decision I’m happy about! I loved Ian Buchanan though, he was a great actor! Too bad he was never given the material for him to really shine! Total waste!
Hate that Molly is leaving DOOL but so excited that she will be on Venice the Series along side Crystal Chappell and Peter Reckell!