Days of our Lives Performer of the Week: Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady

Nobody knows Days of our Lives' Samantha Gene Brady the way that Alison Sweeney does. After all, she has been playing Roman and Marlena's complicated offspring since 1993, when she was just 16 years old.

We have watched Sweeney grow up before our eyes over the last three decades, and every time she returns to DAYS, we are reminded why and how she embodies this complicated character. This past week was no exception.

Sami will forever be Sami

When we saw Sweeney on our Salem screens for the first time since 2023 on Thursday, she was still the tough-as-nails, sarcastic Sami we know and love so well. It was as if no time had passed as we watched Sweeney slip back into the character she has brought to life for the last three decades. However, as soon as Belle (Martha Madison) was gone, we didn't just see the tough veneer vanish, but we also felt it, and that is thanks to Sweeney's ability to imbue a quiet vulnerability into a classic soap schemer.

Once Sami was alone with EJ (Daniel Feuerriegel), her mask came off, and the tears began to shed. Sami's love for EJ has never been simple or even comprehensible to some, but we knew it was there. Then, Johnny (Carson Boatman) entered the room.

Alison Sweeney breaks Days of our Lives fans' hearts

It was Sami's moment of truth and Sweeney's task to turn this moment into one the audience could get lost in — and she did just that while giving an Emmy-worthy performance.

Friday's episode delved into Sami's traumatic and toxic history with men as both the abused and the abuser. Since Sweeney played out this history over many years, we believed every word she said about Sami's shame and regrets. She also helped us understand how she was able to come to a place where she forgave EJ for sexually assaulting her all those years ago.

Even though we watched all of these stories play out, we finally understood Sami's motivations and feelings better than ever before, thanks to Sweeney's quiet yet gut-wrenching performance explaining herself and her life to her young adult son.

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Sweeney showed us what soaps are all about and made us remember why we keep coming back for more.

Catch all-new episodes of Days of our Lives weekdays on Peacock.

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