In the 4th of July special, the characters of Days imagine themselves playing out a scene from a 2010 Oscar-nominated movie. We caught up with the actors to learn a little more about the experience of switching out their Days persona for a completely unique experience.
How did you prepare to play your character?
MOLLY BURNETT: Peter and I watched "True Grit"!
KATE MANSI: My character was one of the more minor roles, so I didn't have to do too much research. I watched the films I was portraying characters from ("The Fighter" and "The Social Network") and a few others I felt were in the same vein ("Gone Baby Gone," "The Town" and "Up in the Air").
JUDI EVANS: I watched "The Fighter" a few times and attempted to speak with a Boston accent for a few weeks in my downtime around the house.
How was shooting the scene different for you than working on a regular Days episode?
MOLLY BURNETT: I've never worn anything that hot in my life! Wool is a very uncomfortable fabric!
KATE MANSI: It was different in one major way: I was coming in and out of playing my character on Days, Abigail Deveraux, and one of the sisters from "The Fighter" and a lawyer in "The Social Network."
JUDI EVANS: I was a little more nervous than usual. So much pressure... so little time... lol.
What was your favorite part about shooting your scene?
MOLLY BURNETT: When all the girls were in their blond wigs for "The Fighter"! That was hysterical!
ERIC MARTSOLF: The best part of my shoot was the steak. Needless to say, I didn't have to visit the commissary that day, since we did four takes of my consuming "meat."
KATE MANSI: It's always exciting to play a new character and it presents a bit of a challenge as well, so my favorite part was the opportunity to switch into a new role as well as the opportunity to practice the Boston accent.
JUDI EVANS: Watching Eric Martsolf... he is sooooo funny.
Did you feel at all personally connected to the character you were playing?
MOLLY BURNETT: Well Mattie from "True Grit" is a little spitfire, which I'd like to think I connect to. :)
ERIC MARTSOLF: Playing "The Fighter" wasn't a stretch... Brady seems to be having his fair share of brawls these days! This episode actually marked the first line swapping I shared with Judi Evans. What can I say... The woman is not inhibited in the least. Reminds me of myself. Love her.
KATE MANSI: I made it personal by creating a full character although she was one of the minor roles in the whole flashback scenarios.
JUDI EVANS: Oh yes. I come from a long line of trailer park folk.
Was it a strange experience playing a character other than your Days persona?
MOLLY BURNETT: Well sure but every character is strange and different and fun!
KATE MANSI: It was not strange to play a character other than Abigail; however, it WAS strange to switch between the two simultaneously. But strange in a fun way!
JUDI EVANS: Not really. Days has allowed me to play more than one character, so that was comforting.
Of all the movie spoofs, which one was your personal favorite?
MOLLY BURNETT: I think "The Fighter" is hilarious!
KATE MANSI: "The Fighter" was my favorite because for the entire day since our wigs went on us ladies were talkin' smack and living the lives of those tough females.
JUDI EVANS: I haven't seen the others, so I'll have to say "The Fighter."
Did anything funny happen on set that you'd like to share?
MOLLY BURNETT: Peter kept walking into the chickens hanging in the "True Grit" set. Those things are dangerous!
KATE MANSI: We all had a blast doing this episode because we were challenged to go outside our comfort zones to try on a new role. In "The Social Network" scene, I accidentally pulled the chair out from Judy and she fell on her bum! I was mortified! But she stayed in character like a pro! All in good fun - she forgave me, thank God! But I didn't hear the end of that one for a couple weeks! It was fun to see the little one - Lauren - dressed up like one of the sisters from "The Fighter" - she was like a tough little lady and fit right in; but we all had so much fun in hair and makeup being those characters (sisters), accents included - all day long!
JUDI EVANS: Eric Martsolf was in the scene... nuff said!
