Emily O’Brien embraces playing both Theresa and Gwen on Days of Our Lives

Days of Our Lives is pulling out all the stops for the show’s upcoming 60th anniversary in November. To that end, Emily O’Brien is doing double duty as both Theresa and Gwen. It’s unclear if both characters will be on the show simultaneously, but Theresa already returned to Salem at the end of the March 7 episode.

Jen Lilley previously played Theresa but was let go in 2023 and replaced with O’Brien, who had been playing Gwen at that time. Changing between the characters can require some effort. O’Brien opened up about how that all comes together for her.

The start of something interesting on Days of our Lives

On Days of Our Lives, as Gwen got on one plane to exit Salem, Theresa (now played by O’Brien) arrived on another plane shortly thereafter. O’Brien recalled the strangeness of that transition to Woman’s World.

"It was so bizarre," O'Brien said. "I was going from Gwen into hair and makeup to get the wig on and change into Theresa...I was nervous, but after I was on camera in full Theresa hair and makeup and did the scenes, they gave me a round of applause. I thought, ‘Wow, okay, here’s the start of something interesting.’ And then I embraced it."

Fans were reticent at first to accept not only Gwen’s portrayer now playing Theresa, but also Lilley being ousted and replaced. But in the end, O'Brien proved her worth by delivering performances as Theresa that were so good, she made the part her own.

Emily O'Brien takes it all in stride

It's still a strange situation that may very well be unprecedented and wholly peculiar.

"In a situation like that, you just have to laugh and say, 'How amazing that they’re trusting me with this. I get to play these two people.’ ” The actress then referenced Stacey Haiduk who plays Kristen, but has also played Susan on DAYS.

“I looked at it like that," she explained. "And now, Theresa is airing, but I’m on stage as Gwen!"

What she meant was that the show shoots so far in advance, she’s currently filming scenes as Gwen while her Theresa scenes were filmed months ago and are now airing.

Although O’Brien was caught in a situation that irked some fans, she embraced the challenge.

"It was my opportunity to be this frivolous, fun-loving blonde, which I would never play anywhere else, so I just soak it up," O'Brien told Women's Word. "Theresa will just say what she feels and strut off in a tight skirt. And everyone still loves her, right?”

We certainly do and are glad to see her back!

Catch all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives each weekday on Peacock.