The world of Days of Our Lives has always been a stage for unforgettable performances, but few stars have illuminated that stage quite like Emily O’Brien. This year, the gifted actress stands

on the precipice of her greatest professional triumph yet—an Emmy win that would crown a year of unmatched emotional depth, complexity, and brilliance. Nominated for Best Supporting Actress

at the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards, O’Brien’s portrayal of Theresa Donovan wasn’t just compelling television—it was a masterclass in character transformation

that redefined what it means to play the “troubled heroine” of Salem.

When 2024 began, no one could have foreseen the extraordinary journey Theresa would take—or the emotional storm Emily O’Brien would unleash. What started as another scandalous scheme in Salem evolved into one of the most nuanced, heartbreaking, and fiery performances of the year. O’Brien took a familiar soap archetype—the manipulative schemer—and infused her with raw humanity, creating a portrait of a woman consumed by love, greed, and guilt.

This wasn’t just about deceit. It was about survival. It was about a woman clawing her way through chaos, convinced that lies could somehow build a life worth living. Every smirk, every trembling confession, every tear that slipped past Theresa’s mask carried the weight of a thousand unspoken fears—and fans felt every one of them.

The Scheme That Shook Salem

The drama exploded when Theresa became entangled in one of the most shocking cons in Days of Our Lives history: the forged inheritance plot involving Victor Kiriakis’s will. Alongside the slippery Constantine Meleounis, Theresa schemed to make Alex Kiriakis believe he was Victor’s long-lost son—and rightful heir to the Kiriakis empire. The plot had everything—betrayal, greed, seduction, and danger—and at the heart of it all stood O’Brien, commanding every frame with magnetic precision.

As the story unfolded, viewers watched Theresa’s desperation grow. Each lie she told dug her deeper into a pit she couldn’t escape. O’Brien’s performance was a study in psychological unraveling. Her eyes flickered between triumph and terror, her voice cracked under the pressure of keeping the lie alive, and her expressions betrayed the moral conflict gnawing beneath her polished exterior.

When the truth finally surfaced—that Alex was not Victor’s son and that the forged letter came from the devious Constantine—the entire house of cards collapsed. In that moment, O’Brien delivered one of her finest performances to date. The anguish, disbelief, and sheer panic in her portrayal reminded fans why she belongs among the elite of daytime drama.

The Abduction That Crossed Every Line

Just when viewers thought Theresa couldn’t fall any further, she shocked Salem again—becoming entangled in the kidnapping of baby Victoria Horton Cook. While the child emerged unharmed, the moral cost was devastating. O’Brien had to balance the horror of a mother participating in such a crime with the tortured love of a woman trying—and failing—to justify her choices.

Her portrayal was hauntingly authentic. The scene where Theresa confronted the reality of what she’d done—her trembling hands, her voice breaking as she whispered apologies no one could hear—was a defining moment in Days history. Emily O’Brien didn’t play Theresa as a villain; she played her as a human being—flawed, frightened, and tragically self-destructive.

Love, Loss, and Consequences

By the time Theresa’s world imploded—her lies exposed, her relationships shattered, her freedom gone—O’Brien’s performance had reached operatic intensity. The aftermath was devastating. Her romance with Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) disintegrated in flames of fury and betrayal. Her fragile truce with Brady Black (Eric Martsolf), the father of her son, collapsed completely. And perhaps most painful of all, her bond with Tate (Leo Howard) was destroyed—leaving her son to question whether the woman who raised him ever truly knew right from wrong.

In the emotional wreckage, O’Brien’s portrayal turned inward. Behind the prison walls of Statesville, she showed us a broken woman stripped of her defenses. Gone were the smirks and schemes; what remained was remorse—and a faint, flickering hope for redemption. These scenes were some of her most powerful to date, proving that true acting brilliance lies not in spectacle, but in sincerity.

A Career of Range and Reinvention

For longtime fans, O’Brien’s nomination is not just recognition of a single year—it’s a celebration of a remarkable career. The Bedfordshire-born actress has been a powerhouse of performance since her early days as Jana Hawkes Fisher on The Young and the Restless, earning three consecutive Daytime Emmy nominations between 2008 and 2011. Her blend of emotional intelligence and commanding presence has made her one of soap’s most versatile stars.

But her talent extends far beyond daytime drama. O’Brien has lent her voice to some of pop culture’s biggest franchises, from Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series to Amelie in Death Stranding, Camille and Samira in League of Legends, and Y’shtola in Final Fantasy XIV. Her performances across video games, animation, and television have solidified her as a multifaceted artist capable of breathing life into any role.

Two Roles, One Powerhouse

One of the most extraordinary aspects of O’Brien’s Days of Our Lives tenure is her dual role—portraying both Gwen Rizczech and Theresa Donovan. Few actors could convincingly embody two entirely different women in the same universe, but O’Brien did it with breathtaking ease. Gwen, with her posh bitterness and wounded pride, was a far cry from Theresa’s fiery impulsiveness and street-smart charm. Yet O’Brien made each character distinct, believable, and compelling.

In 2023, she made the seamless transition from Gwen to Theresa in a perfectly cheeky soap twist—one plane leaving Salem as another arrived. The transition became a fan-favorite moment, symbolizing O’Brien’s rare ability to reinvent herself while staying rooted in the Days legacy.

Recognition at Last

Now, in 2025, Emily O’Brien stands nominated for Best Supporting Actress, her fifth Emmy nomination overall and her second consecutive one for Days of Our Lives—last year as Gwen, this year as Theresa. Few performers have achieved back-to-back nominations for entirely different characters on the same show, a testament to her extraordinary range and command of her craft.

The 52nd Daytime Emmy Awards, set for October 17, 2025, will be a night to remember. O’Brien faces fierce competition, including co-star Linsey Godfrey, but regardless of the outcome, one truth is clear—Emily O’Brien has already secured her place among the greats of daytime drama.

Why Fans Can’t Get Enough

What makes O’Brien’s work resonate so deeply with fans isn’t just her technical excellence—it’s her emotional honesty. She doesn’t just play her characters; she lives them. Whether Theresa is plotting, pleading, or paying for her sins, O’Brien makes us understand her. We might not forgive her, but we can’t look away.

In a genre often dismissed as melodramatic, O’Brien proves that soap opera acting can be art. Her 2024 storyline wasn’t just a series of shocking twists—it was an exploration of human fragility, the cost of ambition, and the desperate longing for love in a world that never stops judging.

The Final Word

Win or lose, Emily O’Brien has already claimed victory in the hearts of Days of Our Lives fans. Her portrayal of Theresa Donovan was bold, fearless, and achingly human—a performance that reminded viewers why they fell in love with Salem in the first place.

When the envelope is opened on Emmy night, one thing will be certain: Emily O’Brien has redefined excellence in daytime television. Whether she walks away with the trophy or not, her legacy as one of Days of Our Lives’ most captivating actresses is already sealed.