Birthday blessings: Days of our Lives' Susan Seaforth Hayes reflects on soap opera and real-life grief

Days of our Lives and soap opera icon Susan Seaforth Hayes celebrates a major milestone on July 11, 2025, as she turns 82 years old. The actress was also the talk of the soap world after not receiving a Daytime Emmy nomination.

Days of our Lives legend remembers a lifetime on soaps

In a long statement, she addressed the Emmy situation, but also reflected on her career and the last year of her life after losing her beloved husband, Bill Hayes, in 2024. Bill's death was written into the DAYS storyline as his longtime character, Doug, also passed.

Seaforth Hayes channeled her real-life grief into her performance. In a social media statement, she talked about the appeal of soap operas and how lucky she has been to be a part of them.

"I have had the chance to stay a working actress for...thousands of shows," she said. "Studying lines, going through the studio gate, being present with the creative cast and crew for one of the longest-running dramas on American television.

"I feel that's pretty great, and I'll be 82 tomorrow," she continued. "Here is the nugget I've been digesting about all of this history. Daytime drama is entertainment. The stories promise romance and beautiful people with intriguing complications. For the audience, it's an hour of happy escape from reality."

Susan Seaforth Hayes' real-life loss

Seaforth Hayes described what it's like for both herself and her Days of our Lives alter-ego, Julie, to mourn the loss of the loves of their lives, while also feeling blessed for what she had.

"Suasn and Julie are facing the reality of growing old," she wrote. "Reality is a deep dive. I was lucky enough to meet the love of my life in full view of a daytime audience. We caught the imaginations for a long, fulfilling time. Then faded into grandparents, then a dear, sweet couple, then we were parted...not by a change of writers. But death itself. Only a widow with memories remains."

Finally, Seaforth Hayes addressed the Emmy snub and what the academy may have thought about her flawless performance under unusual circumstances for a daytime actress.

"Is she 'entertaining'? This is not the usual path of a soap opera leading lady," Seaforth Hayes noted. "In that story of loss, I was more than an actress; I was a wife. My husband deserved all I could give to show the reality of grief and loss. Perhaps the judges felt I wasn't acting for the camera. I got the news, I kissed the body goodbye, and gave the eulogy."

Seaforth Hayes also remained pragmatic about not receiving an Emmy nod, as she knew she accomplished what she set out to do.

"No matter, my truth was based on a love that was real for an audience that loved him too," she continued. "My reward in 2024 was that I honored Doug and Julie, members of a family millions have opened their hearts to. I am hugely blessed and promise you I will keep on keeping on."

Soap fans also feel blessed to still have Julie and Seaforth Hayes in our lives on Days of our Lives every day.

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