I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Lauren O’Connor, mother of twins Ailish and Julia, who recently played baby Grace. Lauren was actually gracious and understanding enough to take time to speak with me a second time, since my first recording with her didn’t take. She talks about being on set with them, the heartfelt storyline with baby Grace, the set teacher who worked with them, her praise for Alison Sweeney, and even a little upcoming spoiler which will air in July.
GM: So how was the first day on the set of DAYS with your twins, Ailish and Julia?
LO: Marnie (Saitta, the casting director) arranged for someone to be with us because it’s just too short notice to call a nanny or to get someone else to be with me. We were back-up for the prior baby Grace who was sick. Marnie loved the babies, she said how adorable they were. She introduced them to some cast and crew and said, “Can I introduce them to the producer?", and mentioned it would be great to fit them in a spot someday. I thought, “That would be great, sure!” So we did since the other babies (Lily and Sophie Gimbel) weren’t able to finish the baby Grace storyline. I don’t know if it was a couple weeks later or when exctly it was, but shortly afterwards we said, “Sure, we’ll do the fifteen episodes,” and I knew the tragic storyline. I was like, “Okay, I’m not superstitious, I’m not worried, it’s a character.”
GM: Good for you, because that’s the storyline of the year that’s going to go under my “Biggest Tearjerker,” definitely.
LO: It got harder as we got towards the end of the storyline because a lot of the earlier tapings were of the baby with Sami when she seemed okay - with a just a fever that eventally broke. Then she had a seizure and was hospitalized. I was actually crying just from the reading the script. It’s a subject that is hard for anyone. Even though it’s only make-believe. But watching the scenes with Sami, her emotions,it was just, well... I don’t think anyone could really contain themselves. The actors were so good.
GM: It was very hard to get through that week without needing a box of tissues, I agree. Even if you don’t normally watch the show, you couldn’t possibly sit through the show without feeling something. It was very emotional, very powerful.
LO: Yes! I’m standing maybe ten feet away right behind the cameras looking at them, Sami and Rafe, and tearing up. I was asked if it was okay if the babies just stayed on the set the whole time because they had a bunch of scenes with the baby Grace that weren't back to back. We stayed so that actors wouldn’t have to break character. The babies were at ease, and it all worked out.
GM: And tell me again, the set teacher named Bobbi, what it is that she did with them and what goes into working with a baby on the set?
LO: She’s very good. She ensures that there’s no liability, that they handle the babies correctly, she accompanies me and my babies on set. There are a lot of cords and cables sometimes, the cameras are huge, and she’s just there to ensure that everything’s okay with me and the babies. She's been wonderful with Ailish and Julia. I mean, she really loves babies. She’ll come into the dressing room and when she has time in between takes for other babies or kids she handles, she’ll stay and chat and play with the babies, just a lovely lady.
GM: And I remember you mentioned the other day that you hadn’t watched DAYS in about 14 years, you mentioned something about Jack and Jennifer. So did you understand this baby switch storyline, with it’s really Mia’s baby, but yet Sami doesn’t know it.
LO: It’s interesting, because the first day that I came on set with the babies to cover for the mom whose babies were sick, a young gal had introduced herself to me and said “Hi, I’m Taylor (Spreitler, Mia). I play the babies’ mom.” But then I thought, “Okay,an interesting storyline," as she only looked 15. I had no idea about the twist and the turn and the baby mixup or the baby switch. I was clueless. I was even confused the first week we were filming. It’s just interesting, and unless you have been watching the soap you haven't got a clue, You know I just haven’t been watching the soap. It’s been a long, long time and I’m not even up to date with what’s going on.
GM: And it’s even confusing for those of us who watch it consistently day after day.
LO: I’m sure they do that on purpose (laughs).
GM: Yes! (laughs).
LO: I really want to mention that the actors handled the babies very well. Alison (Sweeney, Sami), is WONDERFUL with Ailish and Julia. As you know she has a baby of her own and has always been considerate to me, very friendly, so it’s been a great, great experience working with her and Galen (Gering, Rafe).
GM: And you also mentioned to me that Alison was very concerned like if they needed a bottle warmed up.....
LO: Yeah, she just said, “Is this okay? Do you need to warm it up?” I just thought it was very sweet that she thought of the little details. She’s a mom, and she’s wonderful about it! She is also just a true professional, a wonderful actress. Sometimes they do readings on the set before they actually film it, I think it’s a very quick study. But she’s not just doing her part, she’s concerned with what’s going on with everybody else. There was this scene with Rafe, Sami and Grace, and they were doing inserts of the baby to fill in the scene. (Because a lot of times it’s easier to film the baby, and then insert it where they want it to fit in the scene). And I remember Alison pointing out that the baby was supposed to be smiling as Rafe mentions how she has Sami's smile, so I sat underneath the cameras and try to get little Julia to smile, and she did. I thought it was great that she (Alison) pays attention to what’s going on with the other characters around her and not just her own character.
GM: Yes, she’s a wonderful, wonderful actress all the way around. And you also mentioned how sweet Taylor Spreitler (Mia) was.
LO: Yes, very nice on the set, VERY good with Ailish and Julia. She and Dylan (Patton, Will) were both very good with handling the baby.
