Gabi Hernandez is flourishing on Days of our Lives. Her personal life and career are thriving. That’s how Cherie Jimenez felt when she landed her “dream role.”
Key Takeaways
- Jimenez shared her journey to landing the role.
- It started with a single audition.
- The actress is celebrating one year on the Peacock soap.
The One Shot That Started It All
Cherie Jimenez appeared on the Talk About It with Franjez podcast, where she discussed her journey to landing the role of Gabi Hernandez. In 2023, the writers’ strike slowed down everything in Hollywood, including movie production and scripted dramas.
This wasn’t her first audition with the soap. Surprisingly, she wanted to land the role of Gabi earlier in her career.
“I got the audition for Days of our Lives and thought, ‘Wow, I haven’t auditioned for DAYS since I was 22 for the role of Gabi,” Jimenez said.
She noticed a fake name on the audition slides. Jimenez assumed she was auditioning to be Gabi’s sister. The audition took place over Zoom, and it was as awkward as one would assume.
Jimenez recalled stumbling over her lines. She thought that was the last she would hear from them. A week later, she was called back for a screen test. Her journey to Salem picked up fairly quickly.
“She noticed that the role wasn’t for one of Gabi’s relatives. “It said Gabi Hernandez,” she said. That moment hit her, and she’ll never forget it.
Landing Her Dream Role
Jimenez noticed a sign on the set itself. Before she started filming, she spotted a phoenix statue, which is a symbol of the DiMera family, but also her son’s name.
“I looked over and saw a phoenix statue,” Jimenez exclaimed. When she got the call that the role was officially hers, she felt that it was meant to be. “For the first time, it was my turn,” the actress said.
What’s Next For Gabi Hernandez?
Over a year after landing “a dream role,” Jimenez’s Gabi, ever the troublemaker, took her shot at becoming the CEO of DiMera again. But it backfired when Tony (Thaao Penghlis) betrayed her.
However, she owns Gabi Chic outright, and she’s involved with Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier, get these fast facts about him). Now, if she could just keep the fact that she spilled Titan secrets in order to go for that DiMera CEO gig, she’ll be okay.
Gabi is just getting started in Salem. She has a new killer wardrobe and a renewed sense of hope and purpose. DAYS fans love seeing this side of Gabi on the screen. She’s become a fierce, powerful, and fashionable woman who’s a force to be reckoned with. And her chemistry with Phillip is sizzling.
