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- Days of Our Lives actor Kristian Alfonso announced that she is leaving the soapie after 37 years.
- The 56-year-old played the character Hope Williams Brady.
- In an interview with Soap Opera Digest about her exit she said: "Days of Our Lives is not the Days of Our Lives as I know it."
Days of our Lives actor Kristian Alfonso has shared her reasons for leaving the daily soapie.
Earlier this month the 56-year-old announced that she would exit from the role of Hope Williams Brady which she played for 37 years.
She said in a statement that she would not be returning to Days when production resumes in September and that she filmed her last episode months ago.
READ MORE | No more 'Hope' for Days of Our Lives
In an interview with Soap Opera Digest Kristian opened up about her decision to leave the long-running soapie, reports People.
Kristian revealed that she had a conversation with Ken Corday before her announcement and was told the head writer and executive producer wanted to take her character off-screen for four to five months and then bring her back for a storyline with a Navy Seal that would be Hope's new love interest.
"During our conversation, he reiterated that they felt like I needed to be off-canvas for four to five months. In that moment, I thought to myself, 'I think it's time to leave,'" she said.
She added that she is grateful that she was part of the Days of Our Lives family for so long. "But in the last few years, Days of Our Lives is not the Days of Our Lives as I know it," she added.
About her final episode - which will air in the US on 15 October - Kristian said nothing was planned in terms of story and added that she "would have liked to have given the fans that have been so devoted to Days of Our Lives all of these years a final good-bye."
On a possible return to the show, Kristian said she would not be coming back. "It's time for me to start a new chapter professionally. The time has come," she said.
Two other Days of Our Lives actors have also announced that they are leaving the show.
Greg Vaughan who played Eric Brady said he finished his reign on the show and Victoria Konefal who played Ciara Brady said she would not return to the show as a full-time cast member.
In South Africa season 51 (2016) airs on e.tv (DStv 194) weekdays at 17:15.
