Days of Our Lives fans were stunned in January 2009, when the show abruptly wrote off longtime leading lady Deidre Hall (Marlena), and so was she. It left a huge void in Hall’s life, but she filled it up with family, friends and a few adventures. Now, she's returning to the Salem soap, a new and revitalized woman.
You had been off Days for 2-1/2 years. Had it gotten to the point where you thought returning might not ever happen?I didn’t give it a lot of thought. [Getting written off] was a surprise, and it took me a little bit of time to readjust my thinking; to not identify myself as Deidre Hall, Days of Our Lives. But my other life has been so rich and so full; that of Deidre Hall mom, Deidre Hall friend, Deidre Hall neighbor, Deidre Hall school volunteer... Things slipped right into place. Don’t forget Deidre Hall hairdresser.
(Laughs.) Oh my gosh! That’s so funny. What a memory you have. I did pick up a few more clients. (Note: Hall colors and styles the hair of many of her friends, including Jane Elliot (Tracy, General Hospital). Anything you got to do that you never would have had the chance, if you hadn’t have left Days?
Yes. Make long range plans. During the time I was off the show I took my son, David, to Brazil to volunteer with Operation Smile. We also went to Washington DC. I was very active in the Child Nutrition Act. We met members of Congress. We went to the White House. We met with Senators. Did you get to meet the President and First Lady?
We did not. We were at the White House and we saw them, but we did not talk with them. We played with their dog instead. (Laughs.) How did you change during your time away from the show?
I became more relaxed in my own life. There’s something about waking up without a script in your hand that’s replenishing. I spent a lot more time with girlfriends. I walked to the ocean every day. I planted a garden. I take exercise classes. I take swim classes. I cook more. I sleep more. I read. It was such an enriching time. During my 30 years of daytime I didn’t get to do that. I always had time for the kids and school events and their things, but I never had me time. What did you miss most about Marlena and Days of Our Lives?
I missed the identification. It was over half my life that I played the character. So I really had to chisel apart those two entities. What’s in been like seeing everyone again; particularly, Drake Hogestyn (John)? Was there a moment where you just hugged?
There wasn’t that so much as just, “Hey.” “Hey.” And I want you to hear a smile in that. Drake was so eager to come back, and that was wonderful. It was fun to see his excitement and enthusiasm. We fell into a rhythm, which was the same rhythm we had when we left. So you didn’t have to reacclimate to your Marlena and John relationship?
When there’s a part of your brain that you’ve used so many times, there’s a solid connection there. That doesn’t go away. It’s funny. We were working one day, and I looked down on the floor. There was my script, highlighted the way I do it, and his script, highlighted the way he does it, all wrapped up in a ball. I just started to laugh. I thought, We’re baaaaccck! We do everything the same. It’s so interesting.
