Jen Lilley Exits DAYS OF OUR LIVES: ‘Never Beyond Redemption’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Actress Jen Lilley is leaving DAYS OF OUR LIVES, moving on from her decade-long role as Theresa Donovan.
“Last week of me exploring this girl’s shenanigans on screen,” Lilley said. “Playing…Theresa Donovan off and on for the last 10 years has taught me so much about empathy and grace. I have enjoyed every moment of her hilarious sass and ferocity, layered with brokenness.”
“To the cast and crew at @dayspeacock, I love you forever. You’re my family,” she continued. “And to the best fans a girl could ask or hope for: remember there is no pit so deep you could ever find yourself in where God’s love cannot find you still. You are never beyond redemption. You are called by grace and marked with love. Thank you for supporting me on this decade long journey.”
The List reported that Lilley was let go in the middle of her “four-week return but that her character Theresa Donovan would continue on with a recast.”
Knowing how harsh soap opera fans can be, Lilley has already asked fans to treat her replacement with kindness and to welcome her into the DAYS OF OUR LIVES family.
“Excited for all my #DOOL episodes this week and very happy for the lady taking over the role of Theresa. Be kind to her. She’s a stellar performer and being recast is super hard. We’re all family and I got nothing but love for all my @dayspeacock people,” she said.
While DAYS OF OUR LIVES explores sin and indulgence to the max, Lilley viewed her role as a form of ministry. In the same way that Jesus spent time with sinners, Lilley felt called to play Theresa to bring a redemptive light to the show.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Actress Jen Lilley, a devout Christian and co-host of the 2020 Movieguide® Awards, says each role she plays has something in common: She’s prayed and sought the Lord’s will for what project to take on.
“The truth is Jesus hung out with tax collectors and harlots,” Lilley said. “I’m open to doing roles that are maybe edgier, as long as there’s a redemptive message to them, which is why I played the role of Theresa on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.”
The DAYS OF OUR LIVES spot was initially not one Lilley was interested in, until she said the Lord spoke to her clearly about why that character mattered.
