After years of playing various and interesting characters on Days of Our Lives, such as the quirky and obsessive Nick, a Halloween zombie, and most recently, the gatekeeper to hell, Blake Berris is taking on something new and different: a real leading man. And he’s fully ready to welcome it.
Days of Our Lives: Embracing a New Challenge
Berris honestly admits, “I’ve sort of been fighting that my whole life. From an early age, I’ve played so many different roles. I portrayed a drug addict for years and was part of BREAKING BAD, in addition to a film called Meth Head, among other projects. In my heart, I believe I’m more of a character actor. My dad always says, ‘You’re more of a leading man.’ But I disagree. I enjoy the art of shape-shifting. So it’s been enjoyable to delve into a more romantic facet of a character and shoulder the responsibility of keeping the audience on Everett’s side. I genuinely don’t want to lose that.”
Berris doesn’t view this challenge as a burden but rather as a new opportunity. He expresses, “When I was on the show before as Nick, I approached it primarily from what intrigued me. There was a rebellious part of me that might have been resisting the genre, desiring to do things my way, especially since I was younger. This time around, my challenge has been figuring out how to embrace the daytime soap opera genre. I’m striving to fully embrace it instead of resisting it.”
His character, Everett, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of The Spectator, presents an ideal opportunity for this transformation. Berris enthusiastically states, “He’s such a remarkable character, and the storyline is so captivating. Everett possesses a warm and compassionate heart. There’s genuine goodness in him, and he’s in Salem to win back Stephanie, the love of his life. I’m thrilled for people to witness it.”
This character is a far cry from Berris’s previous role on Days of Our Lives. He reflects, “Nick was an amazing character, but I’m relieved that they’ve essentially started anew. There were numerous iterations of Nick, but certain aspects, like his struggles with homophobia and other actions, became challenging to redeem. It was becoming a complex role, and I was all over the place. Many different writers took their shot at him. I’m genuinely pleased to embrace a brand-new character in Everett.”
The idea of returning to Days of Our Lives began to take shape after Berris appeared in the Peacock special, A VERY SALEM CHRISTMAS, in 2021. He recalls, “It felt like something was brewing. Albert Alarr, then Co-Executive Producer, mentioned something like, ‘Don’t sit by the phone, but expect a call.’ However, I never received any further communication. Then the idea of the quick, heavenly storyline materialized. During this time, I began to think that returning for a more extended stint would be enjoyable.”
A Determined Effort
Berris continues, “In many ways, I had distanced myself from acting. I became more involved in writing and producing, and I was on the verge of directing a feature film in August. However, the writers’ strike complicated those plans. It dawned on me that it would be wonderful to return to the world of daytime, especially given the enjoyment I experienced every time I visited DAYS. It felt like home.”
Once he firmly established the idea in his mind, Berris launched an earnest campaign to rejoin the soap. He engaged in discussions with Deidre Hall, who plays Marlena, and scheduled another meeting with Albert. Berris even proposed three different storylines that could plausibly facilitate Nick’s return to Earth, utilizing his writing skills. “I believe Albert summed it up as, ‘Everyone here is very supportive, but ultimately, Ron Carlivati, the head writer, needs to craft the story.’”
Days of Our Lives: Persistence Pays Off
Never having met Ron Carlivati and lacking any prior relationship with him, Berris had to rely on intermediaries. He explains, “Deidre Hall was exceptionally helpful. She was determined to get me back on the show and texted Ron. It evolved into quite a campaign, and I embraced it fully. I thought, ‘I’m going to give it my all, regardless of the outcome. I want to make it abundantly clear that I’m eager to return.’”
For a while, Berris heard nothing about the status of his return. “So, I put it out of my mind. I was wholly focused on my film project last year,” he mentions. Then, in March or April, he received a call from Marnie Saitta, Days of Our Lives’ casting director. She informed him that it would be a 13-week stint, which ultimately extended beyond that. Berris began his involvement with the show at the end of April and remains actively engaged in it.
A Rewarding Experience
Berris couldn’t be more content with the longer stay. When asked about the most enjoyable aspect of his return, he highlights the perspective of maturity. He relishes, “Being older and able to appreciate the work in this format as an adult and as a father of three. When you’re younger, you have these grand ideas about what you want to do and how it’s going to be. Back when I was on the show previously, I considered it as a learning experience.
Now, I’m wholeheartedly embracing it as a significant part of my life. I relish the high-pressure nature of the job. It’s demanding, given the vast amount of material to memorize and the need to deliver it in a single take. I feel that I’ve developed considerably as an actor. I know the format inside out, and my confidence has grown.
As challenging as the job can be, it’s much easier than taking care of three kids and working from home. It’s been something of a dream come true, having an incredible storyline and character, and collaborating with such exceptional people. Being able to appreciate it without taking it for granted has been truly delightful.” For more exciting Days of Our Lives updates, stay tuned to TV Season & Spoilers.
