Susan Seaforth Hayes had no idea that her role as Julie Olson would change her career and life forever. The star is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Days of our Lives, which continues to make an impact on pop culture.
Key Takeaways
- Susan Seaforth Hayes has been on DAYS for 57 years.
- Her storyline is best known for Julie Olson’s romance with Doug Williams, played by Hayes’ real-life husband, Bill Hayes.
- Hayes discussed the legacy of the soap and why it continues to draw a new generation of fans.
Cultural Impact
To this day, DAYS continues to make its mark on daytime television and pop culture. Seaforth Hayes has been part of the soap for 57 years. In an interview with TV Insider, she admitted that she is still in awe over the show’s longevity.
What’s the secret behind the show’s staying power? The storylines resonate with people, regardless of their age or background. The soap has remained fresh to this day.
“It has a cornucopia of everything that life’s about: loss, gain, love, anger, frustration, education, and more,” Seaforth Hayes explained. “Some people live a life that goes worldwide. Some people get to travel. Some have great gains and great losses.”
Fifty-seven years ago, Seaforth Hayes never imagined that she would still be part of the show’s longevity. Had she not had a career in soaps, she would’ve acted in more movies. “I imagined I would move through this to perhaps films,” Seaforth Hayes said.
She assumed her time was up when she first joined the soap. Seaforth Hayes imagined that she wouldn’t be on the show much longer, since she hadn’t been “discovered.” Then, the show catapulted her personal life and career.
Greatest Love Story Ever Told
What changed everything was in 1970 when fans fell in love with Julie Olson and Doug Williams. It’s also the time when Seaforth Hayes met her husband, Bill Hayes.
Of course, like with all soap couples, they couldn’t stay together for long. “This spun out for a long time, that they loved each other and longed for each other, but couldn’t have each other. It was wonderful to play,” Seaforth Hayes recalled.
Then, one day, she was told by producer Jack Herzberg that she would never film with Bill Hayes ever again. She realized she was in love with him. Thankfully, they changed the storyline, and the two became a power couple on and off the soap.
