What to expect when Cherie Jimenez debuts as Days of our Lives' new Gabi

What to expect when Cherie Jimenez debuts as Days of our Lives' new Gabi

Days of our Lives' Cherie Jimenez offers a sneak peek at her first day as Salem's own Gabi Hernandez.

After months of being behind bars for a crime she didn't commit, Days of our Lives' Gabi is about to get good news -- and a brand-new face. Cherie Jimenez takes over the role of Rafe's scheming younger sister on Thursday, June 27, but Gabi isn't as sure as Stefan that her days in Statesville are almost over.

Last Fall, Gabi was arrested for killing her ex-husband Li Shin and sentenced to life behind bars for the third time. Her first prison stint was for killing Nick Fallon. The second time around, she was falsely accused of murdering Andre DiMera. During that stint in Statesville, she was beaten so badly that she was told she couldn't have any more children.

This time, Clyde Weston's minions got to her and caused a broken leg. Needless to say, Gabi is ready to get back to her life of luxury in the DiMera mansion. When Stefan visits his wife to tell her that she is almost in the clear, she is afraid to be hopeful. When he mentions that his brother E.J. is going to help, Gabi is sure she's not going home anytime soon.

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"Gabi is skeptical, of course," Jimenez told SheKnows Soaps. "It's like, 'Why is this going to happen?' And when he mentions that E J is the one who is going to help him, she just doesn't believe it. She's hopeful and thinking, 'OK, this is happening. This is possibly going to happen. And I think I can believe that this is going to happen -- until Stefan mentions EJ.'"

As fans recall, E.J. and Stefan do not exactly share a close brotherly bond. In fact, the battles between Nicole and E.J., and Gabi and Stefan for control of DiMera Enterprises were epic. Gabi can't imagine why he would want to help her. Will Stefan mention he is blackmailing his brother with the knowledge that Eric and not E.J. is really Jude's father?

Either way, Gabi will be free soon, and Jimenez claims her character is a changed woman in more ways than one.

"This has been a really tough situation for Gabi," Jimenez said. "So coming out of prison, she's obviously gonna be a changed person. It's going to bring a new dynamic and of course, me coming into this role, it's going to be my interpretation of Gabi, while also understanding that the fans have their view of who Gabi was."

Gabi first appeared on the Salem scene as Rafe Hernandez's baby sister in 2009, played by Gabriela Rodriguez. In 2010, Camila Banus took over the role and played Gabi off and on until last year, when she chose to leave DAYS behind and start a new chapter in her life.

Do you want to see Gabi and Stefan up to their old tricks? Would you like to see her reaction when she learns he slept with Ava? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.

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