By Nelson Branco
After a 21-year absence from ‘Days’, prime-time success Leann Hunley returns to her Emmy-winning role to help revive Salem
Leann Hunley is all smiles |
Budgets, be damned! Desperate to fix their dismal ratings and return Days of Our Lives (which is now considered an endangered species) to its former glory, headwriter Hogan Sheffer and executive producer Ken Corday wisely decided to rehire old-time favourites like Joe Mascolo (Stefano), Renee Jones (Lexie) and Thaao Penghlis (Tony).
The soap’s biggest coup, however, was luring back the alluring Leann Hunley, who left the soap as the sophisticated yet sassy Anna DiMera in 1986 to pursue what would become a relatively successful tenure on prime-time television.
Hunley jumped onto the nighttime scene immediately after departing Days as Dana Waring Carrington on Dynasty from 1986 to 1988, and then hopped over as a regular on Aaron Spelling's short-lived Models, Inc. Other credits include playing teacher Tamara Jacobs, who had a tempestuous affair with Pacey (Joshua Jackson) on Dawson's Creek, and Shira Huntzberger on Gilmore Girls in 2000.
Now back where she belongs, TV Guide caught up with Hunley on the Emmy red carpet last week in Los Angeles to find out how long the beautiful and talented actress plans to stay in Salem.
TV Guide: Welcome back! Boy, does Days ever need your level of talent and glamour back on the show!
Leann Hunley: Thank you! It’s been 21 years since I left Days — can you believe that? It’s actually my anniversary of leaving this month.
TVG: So far, the role is labeled ‘short-term’. Would you be open to extending your contract?
LH: I’m hoping to stay for a while. I’ve enjoyed it so much so far. All my old friends are on the show. It’s like finding an old, favourite dress at the back of the closet. It still fits and looks great on me. We’ll see what the show decides, but so far, it’s all been a wonderful experience. It’s been surreal but a joy to work with Deidre Hall [Marlena], Thaoo, Josh Taylor [Roman], Kristian Alfonso [Hope], and Peter Reckell [Bo] again, as well as the newer cast.
TVG: Are you happy with your storyline — helping sort out the reason why the Brady/DiMera feud really began?
LH: So far, so good! What’s interesting is that they’ve been dropping me in all various kind of storylines, not just this big umbrella storyline they’ve constructed. Anna holds the key to the mystery, but that’s all I can say — you’ll have to tune in to find out the genesis of what is perhaps the greatest feud in daytime television.
TVG: You’re one of the few Days actors to win an Emmy Award; you won for outstanding supporting actress in 1986. Now you’re here at the 34th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards – it’s all come full circle.
LH: I was negotiating my contract to return to the show when I was nominated, but then I won and landed the role of Dana Warring on Dynasty a week later, so I left the show.
TVG: Where do you keep your Emmy?
LH: I’m sad to say it’s in storage. However, I’m going in soon because I have to pull a bunch of old Days tapes, because I taped all the old shows when I was on and the writers asked me if they could borrow them. I saved everything back in the day. The writers really want to familiarize themselves with that time and what Anna was like back then. So I think I’ll also bring the Emmy out of hibernation. I haven’t had her on my shelf in a long time.
TVG: You didn’t attend the Emmy ceremony when you won, right?
LH: No, I didn’t get to go. I had quit Days just around ceremony time, and since I wasn’t sure when I’d work again I took a job on Hotel. Since the Emmys were being held in New York back then, I opted to work instead of attending the ceremony.
TVG: If Days is smart, you'll be signed indefinitely. You were always one of my favourite characters. In fact, Days was the first soap I ever watched, and Tony and Anna hooked me in 1985— so I have you to blame for my passion for soaps!
LH: [Laughs.] Well, hopefully, I’ll hook more people — especially new and old viewers.
Published: Thursday, June 21, 2007