While the world sees glamour, romance, and dramatic chaos on Days of Our Lives, the reality behind the scenes is a world of intense filming schedules, emotional performances, and surprising moments that only the cast and crew truly understand. Soap operas are famous for their fast-paced production style, and Days is no exception.
Most viewers don’t realize that soap actors often film over 100 pages of script per day—far more than primetime actors. A typical TV drama films 8–10 script pages a day. Soap actors? Ten times that.
This means the cast must memorize huge amounts of dialogue, rehearse emotional scenes in minutes, and film scenes in just one or two takes. There’s no luxury of reshoots, long rehearsals, or extended improvisation. Everything must be precise, fast, and emotionally powerful.
Deidre Hall, known for her polished performances, is often praised for her ability to memorize scenes quickly and deliver them flawlessly. Many actors have said that working with her feels like being on stage with a master.
Robert Scott Wilson, who portrays Ben Weston, has talked about the emotional exhaustion of portraying a complex character with a traumatic past. Some days he films heartbreak, terror, love, and violence all in one afternoon.
Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady) is famous for her incredible speed—she can memorize a script in one sitting and deliver an explosive performance immediately. Crew members often joke that she’s “a one-take tornado.”
The crew works just as hard. Set designers must rebuild scenes in minutes. Costume teams rush to fix tears, stains, or hair mishaps between takes. Camera crews must capture everything from dramatic slaps to tender moments without missing a beat.
Despite the intensity, the cast is known for being extremely close. Between takes, actors joke, share snacks, rehearse lines together, and offer emotional support. Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn (John Black) often share heartfelt stories with younger cast members. Alison Sweeney brings contagious energy. Victoria Konefal (Ciara) is known for making everyone laugh during tense filming days.
One of the biggest secrets of the set? Many emotional scenes are filmed totally out of order. A character might film a death scene first, a romantic reunion next, and a fight scene afterward—all before lunch.
This requires emotional flexibility that few actors possess. But that’s the magic of soap opera acting: it’s an art form that blends theater, improvisation, and intense stamina.
And then there are the unexpected moments—props breaking, wigs shifting, actors trying not to laugh during serious scenes, and surprise visits from cast members who aren’t filming that day.
The crew also celebrates birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones together. When long-time cast member John Aniston (Victor Kiriakis) filmed his final scenes, the entire set paused to share stories, tears, and applause.
Behind the drama, Days of Our Lives operates like a big family—a hardworking, slightly chaotic, but deeply loving family. And that warmth translates onto the screen.
