‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Susan Seaforth-Hayes Addresses Fan Outcry Over Emmy Snub
When does a performance become so real it can no longer be judged as acting? That’s the profound question at the heart of the reaction to the Daytime Emmy nominations, though it wasn’t posed by critics or fans, but by the legendary actress at the center of the conversation: Susan Seaforth-Hayes.
Following the announcement that she was not nominated for her role in a tribute episode to her late husband, Bill Hayes, the “Days of Our Lives” star took to social media with a message of pure grace. Instead of expressing disappointment, she offered a moving theory. “Perhaps the judges felt I wasn’t acting,” she mused, “when for the camera, I got the news, kissed the body goodbye, and gave the eulogy. No matter, my truth was based on a love that was real for an audience that loved him, too.”
Her words cut straight to the core of what made her performance so unforgettable. The episode, the 15,000th for the historic soap, saw her character Julie mourn the death of her husband Doug Williams. But for the actress, it was a raw and public grieving for her real-life husband of nearly 50 years. Bill Hayes passed away in January 2024, and the show crafted a storyline that allowed his wife and his legion of fans to say a final, televised goodbye.
The lack of a nomination for Seaforth-Hayes sparked immediate disappointment from viewers who felt her heart-wrenching portrayal was the most deserving of recognition. While the show itself earned a nomination for Outstanding Daytime Drama, and several of its actors were recognized, the omission of its matriarch in her most challenging moment felt glaring.
Ultimately, Seaforth-Hayes’s reflection reframes the entire situation. The debate is no longer about a “snub,” but about the blurred line between art and life. Her performance wasn’t just a masterclass in acting; it was an act of love and remembrance broadcast for the world to see. And as she and her husband were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2018, their legacy is already cemented. This year’s performance was simply a final, poignant chapter in a love story that no award could ever fully capture.