In the unpredictable, high-stakes world of Days of Our Lives, one name stood out in 2024 for bringing both chaos and brilliance to Salem — Theresa Donovan, portrayed

with fiery precision by Emily O’Brien. If last year proved anything, it’s that Theresa doesn’t just stir the pot — she flips it, lights a match, and walks away smiling. For O’Brien,

this was the year she took her craft to dazzling new heights, earning her a well-deserved 2025 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

With her signature blend of cunning charm and fragile vulnerability, O’Brien transformed Theresa into a masterclass of modern soap villainy — a woman whose every move left viewers on edge and emotionally invested in equal measure.

 

A Year of Fire and Fallout

2024 was the year Theresa Donovan’s world imploded — and Emily O’Brien made sure every second of it was mesmerizing. The storyline that defined her arc revolved around one of Salem’s most shocking twists: the forged letter that changed Victor Kiriakis’ (the late John Aniston) inheritance. What began as a clever con spiraled into a tangled web of deceit involving Konstantin Meleounis (John Kapelos) and Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson), creating a domino effect of betrayal and heartbreak.

For Theresa, it was the ultimate gamble. For O’Brien, it was an acting tour de force.

Watching Theresa struggle to keep her lies afloat was like watching a woman juggle dynamite. Every scene pulsed with panic just beneath her confident exterior. As her carefully constructed world began to crack, O’Brien revealed Theresa’s layers — the schemer, the survivor, and the woman desperate for love and redemption. Her ability to shift seamlessly between cold calculation and raw emotional collapse was nothing short of magnetic.

The Schemer We Can’t Help But Root For

Theresa Donovan has always been one of Days of Our Lives’ most deliciously complex women — part femme fatale, part tragic heroine. And in 2024, O’Brien reminded audiences exactly why. Whether she was conspiring with Konstantin to secure her place in the Kiriakis fortune or spiraling as her deceit unraveled, O’Brien infused every moment with truth.

The year took Theresa from glamorous parties to prison walls. Her crimes — including her shocking involvement in Victoria’s kidnapping — eventually landed her behind bars in Statesville, where she was forced to confront the destruction she’d caused. Yet, even in defeat, O’Brien found a haunting stillness that made viewers ache for her.

Her strained relationships with Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and their son Tate (Leo Howard) added even more emotional weight. The moments when Theresa tried — and failed — to reconnect with her family gave O’Brien the chance to show a softer, heartbreaking side beneath the chaos. It’s that emotional duality that made her performance unforgettable.

From Victor’s Legacy to Theresa’s Redemption

The forged letter plotline was a stroke of daytime genius, intertwining the legacy of Victor Kiriakis with Theresa’s desperation for relevance and security. The fallout became one of the year’s most-talked-about storylines, sparking debates across fan forums and social media.

Theresa’s decision to manipulate Victor’s will — a scheme that tied her fate to the powerful Kiriakis dynasty — wasn’t just about greed. Beneath the plotting lay a woman terrified of being left behind, struggling to survive in a world that never gave her grace. O’Brien understood that pain, channeling it into every tear, smirk, and confession.

It’s rare to see a soap character embody both villainy and vulnerability so flawlessly. O’Brien’s Theresa wasn’t a cartoonish schemer; she was a woman clawing for control in a life that had always spiraled away from her.

A Career Built on Excellence

Emily O’Brien’s Daytime Emmy nomination is far from her first brush with recognition. Longtime soap fans will remember her acclaimed run on The Young and the Restless, where she earned multiple nominations for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series. Her resume is a testament to her range, discipline, and passion for storytelling.

Born in Bedfordshire, England, O’Brien trained at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, a foundation that shaped her commanding screen presence. Beyond daytime drama, she has made a name for herself as a voiceover artist, lending her talent to acclaimed projects such as Love, Death & Robots and voicing Wonder Woman in DC Heroes United.

But it’s in Salem where she’s truly flourished — seamlessly embodying not one, but two major characters on Days of Our Lives: Gwen Rizczech and Theresa Donovan.

A Dual Role Masterclass

Few actors could navigate playing two complex, emotionally charged women on the same show without missing a beat. But O’Brien made it look effortless. Her portrayal of Gwen was sharp and grounded, while her Theresa radiated chaotic energy and irresistible charm.

Transitioning between the two roles required extraordinary precision — not just in performance, but in emotional balance. O’Brien gave each woman her own rhythm, her own pain, her own world. It was a rare display of acting versatility that reminded fans and critics alike why she’s one of daytime television’s most formidable talents.

The fact that she moved from Gwen’s heartbreak to Theresa’s deception — often within the same production schedule — only underscored her brilliance.

Owning 2024: A Performance for the Ages

From the moment Theresa’s schemes began to unravel to her tearful confessions behind prison walls, Emily O’Brien delivered one of the most nuanced performances of her career.

Her 2024 run wasn’t just a highlight for Days of Our Lives — it was a defining chapter in modern daytime storytelling. She made audiences furious one moment, sympathetic the next, and completely captivated all the way through.

Every smirk, breakdown, and desperate lie built toward a portrait of a woman who was as flawed as she was fascinating.

The Heart Behind the Schemes

What makes O’Brien’s portrayal so powerful isn’t just her ability to play a manipulative schemer — it’s the heart she brings to Theresa’s chaos. Beneath all the deception, O’Brien reveals a woman who is lonely, misunderstood, and deeply human.

In a world of betrayals and high-stakes drama, O’Brien found quiet moments of vulnerability that reminded viewers why we care about Theresa at all. That emotional authenticity is what separates a great soap performance from a legendary one.

The Verdict: A Deserved Nomination

As the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards approach, Emily O’Brien’s nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress feels less like recognition and more like validation. After a year of commanding storylines, emotional depth, and technical brilliance, she has proven — once again — that she’s one of daytime’s brightest stars.

Win or lose, O’Brien’s portrayal of Theresa Donovan will go down as one of Days of Our Lives’ defining performances. It was daring, devastating, and utterly unforgettable.