Kristen DiMera
Kristen Blake DiMera is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. The role was portrayed by Eileen Davidson. Davidson joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1993, and departed in 1998 after a five-year stint. After a 14-year absence, Davidson returned to the role of Kristen in the fall of 2012. Kristen and her brother Peter were raised by super villain Stefano DiMera at a very young age following the deaths of their parents; however, their mother Rachel was later revealed to be alive.
Davidson departed the series again in late 2013, although she made a brief appearance in early December 2013. She returned on July 28, 2014, for a twelve-week arc which concluded on November 6. She reprised the role again for an additional stint, which ran from April 14, to April 30, 2015. Davidson later reprised the role briefly on November 21, 2017. In 2018, Stacy Haiduk was cast in the role, appearing from August to October 2018 and for various stints since April 2019. Davidson reprised the role in September 2021 for the Peacock limited series, Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem. Davidson later reprised the role in November and December 2021 on the main show, sharing the role with Haiduk. Davidson also portrayed the role for the Christmas television film, Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas in December 2021.
Davidson's performance has been met with critical acclaim, garnering a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1998, before winning the award in 2014. Meanwhile, Haiduk received two consecutive Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nominations in 2022 and 2023.
Casting
The role of Kristen DiMera was played by soap actress Eileen Davidson. Kristen was introduced on May 17, 1993. During Davidson's various runs on the soap, she also portrayed four other characters; Susan Banks, Sister Mary Moira Banks, Thomas Banks and Penelope Kent. She also played Marlena Evans briefly in 1995 and 2021 when Marlena, who was possessed by the Devil, morphed to look like Kristen. Leslie Lunceford portrayed a young Kristen through flashbacks in 1996. Davidson departed the role of Kristen on April 24, 1998. Davidson's five roles earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1998. After five years on Days, Davidson was re-introduced as Ashley Abbott in 1999 on The Young and the Restless, a role she originated from 1982 to 1988. She took over the role from Shari Shattuck, who had portrayed the character from 1996 to 1999. After Davidson's 2006 release from The Young and the Restless, rumors began to circulate that she would return to Days of Our Lives. This speculation was later debunked when it was announced that her Y&R alter-ego would crossover to its sister series The Bold and the Beautiful.In May 2012, Davidson informed followers on her Twitter page that she had been let go from The Young and the Restless. Davidson further confirmed she did not know why she was let go, but was seeing the positive light from it. It was later announced by Nelson Branco that Sony Pictures Entertainment wanted Davidson on both The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives, but that Y&R would not share the actress, leading to Sony terminating her contract with that show. Thus it was announced that Davidson would reprise her roles of Kristen Blake and Susan Banks on the NBC Daytime soap. The Hollywood Reporter later confirmed that Davidson had signed on to return to Days of Our Lives in the role of Kristen, and possibly some of her other characters. In a statement she said, "I'm thrilled to embark on this new adventure at Days and excited to revisit Kristen and who knows who else! Not to mention my old friends in the cast and crew."
Davidson returned on October 11, 2012. In an interview with Megan Masters of TVLine, Davidson discussed what brings her and her Salem alter-ego back to town. She revealed: "I've said in so many scenes, which I've loved, she's had years of intense therapy; a lot of therapy. And she wants to come back now and show the world how she's changed. And how she's grown. And there's also, ah, some business matters in Salem that she needs to attend to."
In July 2013, Soap Opera Digest reported Davidson had decided to exit the series. In a post on her official Facebook page, Davidson said: "Hello! I just wanted to confirm that I have indeed left DOOL. My last day was July 16 but I will be airing until November. I'm taking some time off to enjoy my family however I am not retiring. Not really sure what's next for me work wise. But I am looking forward to figuring it out! Thanks to all of you for your support and love. I've had an incredible time on DOOL this year....." Davidson exited the role during the November 13 episode. That same month, it was announced Davidson would make a one-off appearance, which aired on December 3.
On January 28, 2014, Michael Logan of TV Guide announced that Davidson would return to Days with filming beginning in March, with appearances beginning during the summer. At press time, Davidson's return was described as a "powerful Kristen DiMera story arc." Days of Our Lives co-executive producer Greg Meng added: "The writers have some great things cooking for Kristen and we can’t wait for the fans to see what this will mean for Salem. Must-watch TV at its best!" In June 2014, Davidson announced she signed a two-year deal with The Young and the Restless, which would allow her to continue making appearances as Kristen. Davidson returned on July 28, and concluded her twelve-week stint on November 6, 2014. On November 17, 2014, Access Hollywood broke news Davidson was on-set of the soap, and reprised the role of Kristen for ten episodes, from April 14 to 30, 2015. In November 2017, it was announced Davidson would reprise her portrayal of an unspecified character, and returned as Susan on November 2, 2017. She briefly reprised the role of Kristen on November 21, 2017.
In June 2018, Daytime Confidential announced Stacy Haiduk had been cast in one or more of Davidson's former roles. The following month, Global Television Network announced Haiduk had been cast in the role of Kristen. She made her first appearance on August 21, 2018, and departed on October 31 of that year. Haiduk returned to the role on May 24, 2019. In the May 18, 2020, issue of Soap Opera Digest, it was announced Haiduk would exit the role. In June of the same year, it was announced that Haiduk would reprise the role; she returned during the final moments of the June 26 episode. That August, Soaps.com reported Haiduk would again reprise the role; she returned on September 3. Haiduk last appeared on July 7, 2021.
Later that year, it was announced that Davidson would reprise the role in September 2021 for the Peacock limited series, Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, airing from September 6–10 of that year.
Three other actresses have portrayed Kristen, when the character wore masks to look like other characters. Between April and August 2019, Arianne Zucker portrayed the role when Kristen masqueraded as Nicole Walker, whom Zucker has portrayed on and off since 1998. In March 2021, Linsey Godfrey portrayed the role when Kristen masqueraded as Sarah Horton, whom Godfrey portrayed from 2018 to 2021. Later that year, Lauren Koslow portrayed the role when Kristen masqueraded as Kate Roberts, whom Koslow has portrayed since 1996.
Character development
While her character on The Young and the Restless Ashley is considered a "heroine", Kristen is described as a "villainess". Davidson said that Kristen is written with "a lot of latitude". During her first run, she developed an unhealthy obsession over her love interest, John Black. Upon her return, she said that Kristen is "more mature and more together" after "lots of therapy" which has been "intense". Of Kristen's rivalry with Marlena Evans, she said "Marlena just doesn’t trust her. No matter what Kristen does it seems like she just can’t convince her that she’s definitely changed. So that’s been the biggest hurdle for Kristen to overcome, is getting Marlena to trust her again." For fourteen years, Kristen had been residing in Europe, and returned to Salem as a businesswoman, wanting to show everyone "how she's changed and how she's grown" although "they haven't forgiven and forgotten" her wrongdoing.In an interview with Michael Fairman of On Air On Soaps, Davidson opened up about the pressure to re-capture the magic she had with the series 14 years ago. She said that she feels "pressure, but in lots of different ways", "not only with the fans who knew me back then, but the fans who don’t know me now, because I had five years to build that character and all the insanity and the drama was so heightened because of what was going on with Marlena and John at that time." Davidson felt that she wasn't sure whether or not Kristen would "have enough of an impact" upon her return, but praised the writers as "terrific" and hoped that audiences would be receptive of her.
On whether or not she would have a "big storyline", Davidson called it a "multi-leveled and complicated story" which would "bring in lots of different characters". She said that Kristen had scenes with Nicole Walker who thinks "she is so tough" and doesn't know who is she is dealing with in Kristen. The actress has confessed that she is a lot more like Kristen than Ashley Abbott, "except for the evil part".
Storylines
Kristen Blake was born to Rachel Blake and an unnamed father. She had a brother named Peter. After her parents' presumed deaths, Kristen and Peter were adopted and fostered by Stefano DiMera, with Kristen promising to marry his son, Tony DiMera.1993–1998
Kristen first appears in Salem as a social worker with wealthy connections. After being attacked by a mugger, she is rescued by a mysterious stranger. Kristen is grateful until she realizes her savior is none other than John Black, Stefano 's longtime rival. Alice Horton notices the attraction between the two and sets it up for the two to continue running into one another. They later end up at the Horton family cabin where they make love for the first time. John soon discovers that Stefano raised Kristen and is a father figure to her, but he is still very much in love with Kristen. However, Kristen had promised her ailing father that she would marry Tony DiMera. When Roman and Marlena Evans 's daughter Belle is kidnapped by their oldest daughter Sami, Kristen and John pose as a married couple to help get her back. Stefano quickly breaks them up by revealing that John is actually Belle's father. Realizing John will go back to Marlena, Kristen goes through with the marriage in February 1994 only for John to show up at the wedding accusing Stefano of Curtis Reed's murder.After Stefano is presumably killed by John, Kristen goes through with the wedding to Tony, who is later revealed to be Tony's lookalike, André. Kristen later travels to the family estate in New Orleans, Maison Blanche, where she is taken captive by a very much alive Stefano forcing John to come to the rescue. She later discovers "Tony's" schemes to impregnate her and moves in with John. She and John are about to marry when it is revealed that John is actually a priest; Kristen, a devout Catholic, returns to "Tony." In 1995, when Marlena becomes possessed by a demon, Kristen assists Father John in her exorcism. Later, John and Kristen are reunited after he is released from his vows and her marriage to "Tony" is annulled. Kristen is diagnosed with a medical condition that will cause her to be infertile and she immediately begins trying to have a child. In November 1995, Kristen goes to Aremid as Peter is preparing to marry Jennifer Horton. While there, "Tony" fakes his death and frames John. Though she believes in John's innocence, Peter forces Kristen to testify against him despite John being exonerated.
In 1996, the mysterious Woman in White comes to Salem and moves into the DiMera mansion with Kristen, John and Marlena. Kristen soon discovers she is pregnant and Marlena agrees to move out due to her pregnancy being very high risk. The Woman in White is soon revealed to be her presumed dead mother, Rachel. Realizing John would always love Marlena more than her, Kristen helps Stefano fake her death in a plane crash. John discovers Marlena is alive and goes to rescue her in Paris forcing Rachel and Kristen to follow. In August 1996, Kristen is hospitalized after an explosion kills her mother and she miscarries her child. Stefano soon reappears in Salem and hires Kristen's lookalike Susan Banks to carry a child that Kristen would raise as her and John's. With the help of her father and Peter, Kristen fakes her pregnancy. When Susan goes into labor, Kristen disguised as a nurse is forced to watch as John marries Susan, believing she is really Kristen. Kristen gets custody of the child long enough to name him John Black, Jr. and Susan soon returns to claim her child and husband. Kristen enlists Vivian Alamain and Ivan in keeping Susan locked in a secret room but Marlena puts the pieces together and Kristen is forced to lock her away. When Susan discovers the truth, sick of Kristen's manipulations she locks Kristen inside the room and attempts to marry John until Laura Horton confronts her at the wedding. After being rejected by John due to her scheming, Kristen's failed attempt to kill Marlena lands her in jail. After being released on bail, she attempts suicide after hearing about John and Marlena's engagement. She then reveals Marlena's presumed dead husband, Roman Brady ; John and Kristen then pretend to marry to keep Roman from becoming suspicious. When John and Stefano ruin her attempt to get back Susan's son, Elvis, she reveals that Roman and Marlena have been seeing one another.
Kristen's attempt to force Susan into giving the child back ends with the death of Susan's identical sister, Penelope Kent. Fearing she'll be charged with murder, Kristen pretends to be Susan and is forced to marry Susan's boyfriend, Edmund Crumb. In the meantime, "Susan" and Edmund go on a honeymoon and Laura is arrested for Kristen's murder. Edmund admits to Kristen's "murder" and they soon run into the real Susan who explains that Kristen sold her into a harem; it is then revealed that the dead person was Susan's other sibling, Penelope Kent. To get revenge against Kristen, Susan exchanges her freedom for Kristen to be sold to the harem.