Alison Sweeney Leaves ‘Days Of Our Lives’ After 22 Years — Exclusive Interview – Hollywood Life

Allison Sweeney Says Farewell To ‘Days Of Our Lives’ – Why I’m Leaving

Alison Sweeney has starred on 'Days Of Our Lives' for 22 years, but on Oct. 30, the soap star makes her final exit. Alison told HollywoodLife.com what's next for her and Sami Brady. Alison Sweeney's first episode on Days Of Our Lives aired on January 6, 1993. Over two decades later, she's leaving the show. Why did she make the decision that's killing all soap fans? We've got the exclusive scoop, directly from Alison, plus the actress tells us about her favorite Sami Brady moments.

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Reading Time: 3 minutes
October 30, 2014 9:00AM EDT
Alison Sweeney Days Of Our Lives
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Alison Sweeney arrives at the World Premiere of Disney's "Christopher Robin" at the Walt Disney Studios, in Burbank, Calif World Premiere of "Christopher Robin", Burbank, USA - 30 Jul 2018
Alison Sweeney is seen at the 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Awards at The Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills, Calif 2018 American Humane Hero Dog Awards, Beverly Hills, USA - 29 Sep 2018
Alison Sweeney Hallmark Channel TCA Summer Event, Los Angeles, USA - 26 Jul 2019
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC

Alison Sweeney: Why I’m Leaving ‘Days Of Our Lives’

Alison, 38, is leaving the Days Of Our Lives, but that doesn’t mean she’ll have an empty schedule. It will be far less dramatic, but the mother-of-two is going on to direct General Hospital, and she’s currently hosting The Biggest Loser.

But why is she really ending her 22-year run on Days Of Our Lives?

“The head of it was wanting to be more available for my family and have more time to spend with them and be more flexible with my hours,” Alison told HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY. “I still have a lot of big stuff I want to work on and projects I want to be a part of, and if I want to make all those things happen there would be something I’d have to give. So I decided to take some time away from Days and see what else is out there.”

Alison Sweeney Leaves ‘Days Of Our Lives’: Will Sami Brady Return?

Though she’ll still be busy in the soap world with her General Hospital duties, Alison will certainly miss the show.

“Well, gosh, I’m going to miss these people! I’ve been friends with these people for a long time and they’re like family to me and so that part is really hard for me,” Alison reveals. “I grew up with them!”

What’s Next For Sami Brady?

Sami Brady is leaving Salem for Hollywood to write a tell-all script. Kind of perfectly fitting for her.

So is Alison happy with Sami’s ending?

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Stars & Fans Bid Adieu To Alison Sweeney

“Yes. I am,” she told HollywoodLife.com. “Can’t make promises about it, I don’t know how other people will feel, but yes, I’m happy with it. Given the circumstances of how everything got to that point, yeah.”

Sami’s future in showbiz is unclear, but Alison looks back on the past, and tells us some of her favorite moments.

“Shooting those scenes with Nick (Blake Berris), getting drowned in the river [was] so fun and different,” she recalls. “That fantasy scene where he drowns me, that was super fun and adventurous and I had never done anything like that before. But in terms of storylines and challenging…every year, I feel like they gave me such great storylines and such great opportunities to stretch myself and to, hopefully, do the best work I could.”

As for Sami, Alison will miss her “sassy, spunky” dark side. “She had a multidimensional character. That’s what I enjoyed most.”

HollywoodLifers, will you miss Alison on Days? What’s your favorite Sami moment? Let us know!

— Elizabeth Wagmeister

More ‘Alison Sweeney’ News:

  1. Alison Sweeney Leaves ‘Days Of Our Lives’: Will Sami Brady Return?
  2. ‘The Biggest Loser’: Alison Sweeney Reveals Her Secret Weight Loss Tip
  3. ‘The Biggest Loser: Glory Days’ — Pro Athletes Weigh In On Season 16
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