Days of Our Lives was one of three daytime dramas to earn a nomination today in the top category, but fans still had a bone to pick with NATAS over who wasn’t included in one of the acting categories.
For several of the soap categories, the Peacock sudser submitted its 15,000th episode that addressed the passing of Doug Williams, the iconic character played since 1970 by the late Bill Hayes. The longtime soap star died at 98 in January of 2024.
What made the milestone episode so memorable – at least to fans and the production – was that it included emotional scenes with Hayes’ real-life wife Susan Seaforth-Hayes, who has played Doug’s wife Julie for decades.
But the actress who turns 82 on July 11 wasn’t nominated this year for lead actress, prompting objections from fans on social media. Hayes took to Instagram to post a reaction of her own.
“For everyone who was upset by the Emmy nominations, I am amazed and moved that so many cared that deeply about Susan Hayes and Julie, her other self.” She went on to say that “I have not been snubbed by all the judges of NATAS over time” and “perhaps the judges felt I wasn’t acting when for the camera, I got the news, kissed the body goodbye, and gave the eulogy. No matter, my truth was based on a love that was real for an audience that loved him, too.”
The last time Hayes was nominated for playing Julie was in 2020. In 2018, she and her husband received a Lifetime Achievement Award for their work on DOOL.
DOOL was one of three soaps that received a nomination July 10 for Outstanding Daytime Drama. The soap’s Eric Martsolf (Brady Black) and Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark) received lead actor nominations, while Lindsay Godfrey (Sarah Horton), Emily O’Brien (Theresa Donovan) and Blake Berris (Everett Lynch) receiving nods in supporting.
The 52nd Annual Daytime Emmys are set for October 17 in Pasadena.
