User:AJ9/Sami

Casting and awards

The character was previously portrayed by seven child actresses. In 1993, Alison Sweeney stepped into the role. This was not her first role on the show; she had previously portrayed Adrienne Johnson as a child in 1987. Since Sweeney stepped into the role, Sami has been showcased as the series' primary troublemaker and "the girl you loved to hate" through her lying and scheming. In recent years, Sweeney has established herself as a leading heroine, with the show centering on the popular and controversial relationships between Sami and her love interests Lucas, EJ and Rafe. Sweeney’s portrayal of "Salem’s resident bad girl" has earned her various fan awards during her run, including five Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Special Fan Award for "America's Favorite Villain" at the 2002 Daytime Emmy Award ceremony. In 2005, the role was briefly recast with Dan Wells as the character of Sami's male alter ego "Stan" while Sweeney was on maternity leave. Sweeney first appeared in the role on January 22, 1993. For her work in the role, Sweeney has won Daytime Emmy Awards for "Best Performance in a Daytime Drama — Young Actress" (1997), "Best Youth Actress in a Soap Opera" (1994) and "America's Favorite Villain" (2002). Sweeney has also won seven Soap Opera Digest Awards, including three wins for "Outstanding Villainess" in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Alison Sweeney (pictured) has played the role for nearly 20 years

Sweeney has cited Deidre Hall (Marlena), Drake Hogestyn (John) and Wayne Northrop (Roman) as influences on her career playing the role, stating: "I learned so many lessons from them".

Development

Relationship with Lucas

The character has had an on and off relationship with Lucas Horton (Bryan Dattilo) since her teenage days. From 1993, Lucas and Sami worked together to break their brother and sister up, Carrie and Austin, as Sami was infatuated with Austin, while Lucas wanted Carrie. This storyline spawned over years, and even returned in the 21st century. Sami and Lucas first had sex in 1995, changing the dynamic of their relationship for good. Sami gave birth to a son in 1995, initially thought to be Austin's, by 1996 she found out that Lucas was the true father, however decided to deviously keep this information to herself. In 1998, Sami told the police that Lucas was abusive to Will by hitting him, while infact Lucas had actually dropped Will by accident, which Lucas resented Sami for. Lucas killed Franco Kelly in 1998, and framed Sami for the murder, and Sami was sentenced to death. While Sami was on death row. When her execution day finally arrived Lucas couldn't handle the guilt any longer. At the last second Lucas rushed in to save her life and admitted he was the killer. Over the years, their animosity calmed down and they became lovers once more, and married in 2007. That same year, Sami and Lucas' relationship was complicated when E.J. DiMera proposed marriage to Sami in order to end a vendetta between the DiMera and the Brady family. E.J. even threatened that Sami's father could die if she refused to do so. This added much strain to "Lumi" as a couple, as they were married at the time. Sami convinced Lucas that she should marry E.J. to save her family, however Lucas rejected this idea, and even accused Sami of actually being in love with E.J., however Sami assured Lucas she loved him, despite going back on her word by sleeping with E.J. Nelson Branco from TV Guide named them Soap's best supercouple. He described them (and their current situation at the time) –

“ For years all this couple could think of was breaking up Austin and Carrie, until one magical day, partners-in-crime and cohorts Sami and Lucas realized they were in love with each other! Now as Days’ reigning super couple, they face the evil wrath of EJ and his family, The DiMeras. Will Sami marry EJ, the man who raped her to end this family feud forever — and will Lucas be able to forgive her?—Nelson Branco ”

Since 2008, the relationship has ceased to exist, and Lucas has left town. In 2011, it was announced that Bryan Dattilo was to return to Days Of Our Lives. In a 2011 poll by Soap Opera Digest "Who Should Lucas Woo?" (who revealed that Dattilo would be returning to the soap) 54% of 5,175 voters said that Sami and Lucas should be paired back together.

In May 2012, their son Will came out as gay. During an interview with On-Air On-Soaps, Sweeney stated:

“ I am so excited for everyone to see the show. Sami does not have a great reaction which is something you may have seen so far. But I think, at the same time, it’s a classic or perfect way Sami would react. Bottom line is she is like, “What did I do?” And then, I had this great woman say to me at the Outfest Days of our Lives Coming Out Celebration panel that mother’s do feel this way. I thought that was a great. She put her blessing on it and that is the thing that I think the writer’s did. They acknowledged that everyone came at it from a different perspective. I feel that as actors, our job at the heart of it is to portray someone’s real feelings and their emotional heart. ”

Relationship with E.J.

Since 2006, Sami has had an on and off relationship with E.J. DiMera (James Scott). In 2012, commenting on whether the couple were working towards a reunion, Scott stated:

“ "They’re not really re-visiting it. They have never done it. I think it’s about time, frankly. There is a good opportunity for story there. Alison Sweeney (Sami) and I work very well together. It’s sort of a fairy tale. They don’t play it so much now, but the Bradys and the DiMeras have a history. You have these two waring families, and then this sort of love between these two people who should not really love each other. They do love each other. Not in a romantic way, necessarily. They care for each other very much. I think there is always the potential to have a very powerful relationship" ”