Alison Sweeney Thankful Parents Protected Her from Dangers as Child Actor
By Movieguide® Contributor
DAYS OF OUR LIVES star Alison Sweeney is thankful her parents protected her as a child actress.
After she saw the trailer for the documentary QUIET ON SET: THE DARK SIDE OF KIDS TV, she “was shocked.”
“I guess I should say shocked, but not surprised,” she told Fox News. “In fact, when I was watching the trailer, I thought to myself, ‘This is exactly what my mother worked so hard to protect me from as a child actor.’”
“It’s my parents who I give all the credit [to],” she said.
Sweeney’s parent never pushed her to be an actress; she decided that for herself. Her mom only allowed her to act on the condition that she made good grades and remained respectful to her superiors.
“I had to work hard and get good grades and study and be respectful and follow the rules,” Sweeney said.
She added that her parents were “really exemplary” and kept her away from “all that stuff.”
“I had one incident on the show where there was like a cool stunt they wanted to do and the teacher, who is also like a social worker, expressed concern about me breathing in the smoke or whatever that was going to happen,” she said. “My mom was like, ‘Well, no she’s not doing it’, and [we] figured out another way to shoot it.”
Sweeney said it’s uncommon for something like that to happen, as “parents are really intimidated by production schedules and directors.”
“My parents just never went along with any of that,” she told Fox News. “And I’m so grateful and lucky because that’s how, unfortunately, a lot of those kids end up in those situations because the parents feel pressured or they want so badly for their kid to succeed.”
While other parents surrendered their “authority” and “power,” hers did just the opposite.
“They were like, ‘Nope, not doing it,’” Sweeney laughed.
Sweeney starred in several Hallmark movies and her executive-produced movie ONE BAD APPLE: A HANNAH SWENSEN MYSTERY and guest starred in FRIENDS.
“It was really cool to work with Jennifer Aniston because, of course, her father played on DAYS OF OUR LIVES for many years before he passed away,” she said. “He played Victor Kiriakis, who was the real villain on the show, and he is a legend. So, it felt full circle to work with her.”
TV Insider reported that her DAYS OF OUR LIVES co-star, Victor Webster, joins her in ONE BAD APPLE.
“I’ve always loved working with Victor – from our years in daytime to our work together on THE WEDDING VEIL,” Sweeney told TV Insider. “When writing the script and developing this movie, I knew he’d be a great addition to the Hannah Swensen family, and am thrilled that he said yes.”
Sweeney is married to David Sanov, and they share two children, Benjamin, 19, and Megan, 15.
“I think the most rewarding part is watching your kids flourish and find the things that they’re good at and celebrate that and encourage that,” Sweeney told Closer Weekly in 2019. “They’re just great kids. I’m so lucky.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Sweeney’s marriage:
The actress has been married to David Sanov for 22 years and points to the fact that he has “a completely different career” than her as part of the reason their relationship has lasted. Sanov is a police officer.
“We came into the marriage really honest with each other about what we wanted from life and who we were as people,” Sweeney explained. “And even though we were both really young, we sort of grew up together, and grew together, and learned together and have always been respectful of each other and our differences and our different career paths.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
