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Jeannie Theresa Donovan is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Introduced in September 1990, she was portrayed by several child actors until the character left the series in 1992, with further guest appearances in both 1996 and 1997. She is currently portrayed by actress Jen Lilley, best known for her portrayal as Maxie Jones on the ABC Daytime soap, General Hospital. Lilley has portrayed the role (now going by her middle name, Theresa) since July 3, 2013.

Theresa is the daughter of supercouple Shane Donovan and Kimberly Brady (Charles Shaughnessy and, most prominently, Patsy Pease). With the casting of Lilley in the role, the character entered her first major storyline, opposite Casey Moss who portrays JJ Deveraux.

Casting

In April 2013, it was announced by Soap Opera Digest and several other sources that actress Jen Lilley, who was previously known for temporarily filling in for Kirsten Storms in her portrayal of Maxie Jones on ABC's General Hospital, was announced to have joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in a newly created role with ties to the canvas. Due to the show's advanced filming schedule, Lilley began filming in the (then-unknown) role in March 2013. Lilley made her on-screen debut as Theresa on July 3, 2013.

Character development

With the casting of Lilley, executive producer Ken Corday admits that seeing the actress' work on General Hospital helped with the casting of the actress in the role of Theresa. Upon Theresa's re-appearance on the canvas, she was characterized as the "bad girl". In an interview with MSN Entertainment on her role, Lilley spoke: "Part of me doesn't want to make excuses for her, because you can have horrible upbringing and make something positive of it. Some of the most amazing, well-grounded people have come from the wrong side of the tracks. Obviously, the Brady-Donovan family is a great family, but her dad Shane is a spy and I watched the episode where he leaves the kids with Kimberly. Theresa was probably one, at most, so she didn't have a dad growing up, which is a formula for trouble. Typical psychological path for a girl like that is to look for love in the wrong places and look for a father figure in older guys." The role of Theresa has been described as "Sarcastic, calculating, mischievous" and "mysterious". Lilley also called her "such a badass".

"Ugh, it's such a blessing. I feel like I'm finally part of something. On General Hospital, I had two bleeding ulcers because I was so stressed out. I never knew what was going to happen, day in and day out. I can finally relax a bit."

For her casting, Lilley stated she originally went in for two roles, the roles of both Theresa and Jordan Ridgeway. At the time, she was hoping to book the "good girl" role; however for her second audition, was asked to amp it up to a more bad girl persona and concentrate on Theresa. She revealed: "I got to skip the first audition, which is called a pre-read and is an audition to audition. So then I auditioned with everyone else, and I got to do my screen test twice, which is very unusual. I was the only girl who got to do that, so I went first and last. The reason they had me do it twice is that I wore my hair curly, and I have a really young face, and they said that I looked too sweet and innocent and young with the curly hair. So they straightened my hair and had me do it again. On the second take, I knew that I had nothing to lose. I had already done a perfect first take, and they told me it wasn't going to get better than that so I could do whatever I wanted. I just did everything out of the box, and that's what got me the job. I mean I took the guy's shirt off in the scene! I told the actor that this is a character with no concept of personal space, so I asked him if it's ok if I touch him. He said that was fine and it was my screen test. So I took his shirt off and I threw some props at him at the end. I broke all the rules, and I think thought, that is that character."

Storylines

Jeannie Theresa Donovan was born on-screen on September 3, 1990, to Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease) and was originally believed to be the daughter of Cal Winters. However, paternity tests and a confession from Cal proved her father to be Shane Donovan (Charles Shaughnessy). She grew up with her parents in Salem, before relocating to Los Angeles.

In July 2013, Jeannie returned to Salem, this time going by her middle name, Theresa. Initially, she strikes up a connection with resident bad boy JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) while trying to secure some marijuana. During a confrontation with JJ and his mother Jennifer Horton (Melissa Reeves) in her office, her aunt Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) confirms that Theresa is in fact Jeannie and that Jen promised to hire her as her assistant, a promise she reluctantly agrees to. Kayla reminds Theresa it is her last chance at a fresh start. Theresa also strikes up a bad first impression with Jennifer's daughter Abigail Deveraux (Kate Mansi) when Abigail smells marijuana on Theresa in her mother's office.

In early 2014, Theresa begins a relationship with Brady Black (Eric Martsolf), much to the disdain of his father, John (Drake Hogestyn) and other relatives.The two of them took a private jet to Vegas. Brady drank heavily and Theresa had to carry him out of the casino. As a passed-out Brady and Theresa flew home on the Titan jet, Theresa looked down at the new weddings rings on their hands.

Thrilled that she had finally landed Brady for good, Theresa and Brady flew back to Salem. John met them at the Kiriakis mansion and was irate to see Theresa there with a ring on her finger. He knew that Brady would get the marriage annulled once he sobered up and yelled at Theresa for being a disappointment to her family. But Theresa told John that for $1 million, she'd walk away from Brady. However, John had been recording their whole conversation. Theresa knew that John's tape would mean that Brady would get the annulment. So, she grabbed a fire poker from the fire place and struck John over the head.

She knocked John out cold and he fell to the floor. In a panic, she dragged John's body next to Brady's passed-out body, wiped her prints off the fire poker, and put the poker in Brady's hands. Then, she screamed for Henderson, who saw the scene and called 911. Theresa told the police that John was attacking Brady and Brady swung back in self defense. When Brady awoke in a hospital room, she told Brady the same story. He was horrified that he had hurt his father.

John was more than hurt. He was in a coma. The doctors had no idea when or if he would come out of it. Brady started going back to NA meetings and told Theresa that they needed to annul their marriage. He said that he needed to get his life back together.

He tried to fly in doctors to look at John's case, but they all said that it was hopeless. But, around the same time, Kristen was captured and brought back to town. She told Marlena that in exchange for Eric refusing to testify against her, she would produce a doctor with a new formula that would save John. But, she didn't want Brady to know about the offer. Marlena agreed and, reluctantly, so did Eric.

Brady was horrified to see Kristen in town. He told her to stay away from John. And, even though he told her that he wanted space, Brady returned to Theresa for comfort to forget about Kristen. Theresa thought there was hope that they'd reunite. Brady wasn't ready for anything serious with Theresa, but she kept moving forward.

The only thing that could stop her is if John woke up. And thanks to Kristen's drug, he did. However, when he woke up and learned that Kristen was in town, he went along with Theresa's story so that she would still be an obstacle in Kristen's path to Brady. But he warned Theresa that if she hurt Brady, he'd tell him everything.

But, Kristen beat John to it. Kristen noticed Theresa acting strange each time someone mentioned John coming out of the coma. So, she planted a recording device in Anne's purse and captures a conversation between Anne and Theresa where Theresa confessed to hitting John. Then, Kristen played the recording for Brady.

Brady didn't believe her at first and went to talk to John. Outside of John's room, Brady heard John and Theresa talking about the night of John's attack. He was furious and confronted them both. John told the truth but Theresa continued to deny it. She swore that Kristen doctored the recording.

Theresa tried repeatedly to get Brady to listen to her, but he refused. The one thing she wasn't telling him was that she was pregnant. She told Anne the news and Kristen overheard. Knowing that she'd lost Brady for good, Kristen had Theresa kidnapped and hired doctors that transferred the embryo Theresa was carrying into Kristen. Then, Kristen left town with Brady and Theresa's baby. Theresa had no memory of that night.

But Theresa was adamant that Brady listen to her. So, she told him that she was pregnant and agreed to a pregnancy test to prove it. However, the test showed that Theresa wasn't pregnant. Almost everyone thought Theresa had made it up. Brady was furious with her, but he conceded that she probably did really believe that she was pregnant. Still, they were through.

To take her mind off Brady, Theresa decided to go out drinking with Anne. That night, Theresa met a man named Clint. She found him mysterious. But mostly, she needed someone to take her mind off Brady. So, Clint and Theresa began sleeping together.

However, their meeting was no accident. Kristen had sent Clint to make sure that Theresa never got her memory back of the night that her embryo was stolen. Clint would report back to Dr. Mandrake after dates with Theresa.

Brady moved on as well, with Melanie Jonas. Melanie and Theresa did not get along, but Melanie did overhear Clint talking on the phone with Dr. Mandrake about Theresa. So, Melanie started investigating.

It turned out that Kristen DiMera hired Clint to keep track of Theresa and make sure that she never remembered what happened the night Kristen stole Theresa's embryo. So, Clint would report back to Dr. Mandrake, who performed the procedure on Theresa, after each date with her. Mandrake ordered Clint to get blood samples from Theresa and Brady to see if either was a bone marrow match for the baby. Clint drugged them both and took vials of blood. Melanie caught Clint leaving Theresa's apartment with the blood. Her suspicion grew even more. Melanie enlisted Nicole's help to investigate Dr. Mandrake. They confirmed that Mandrake was a fertility specialist. It didn't take Melanie long to figure out that Theresa could have been pregnant and Kristen stole the baby.

Mandrake ordered Clint to get blood samples from Theresa and Brady to see if either was a bone marrow match for the baby. Clint drugged them both and took vials of blood. He returned the blood to Kristen for testing. It turns out that Theresa was a match. So, Clint returned to Salem to bring Theresa to Italy

He told her that he had come into a bunch of money and wanted to take her on an grand vacation. Theresa believed him and went along. But, as soon as they got to Kristen's castle in Italy, Theresa was drugged and taken to prep for the transfer. There, Theresa saw her son for the first time. Instantly, she felt a connection. Mandrake had a syringe to sedate Theresa. But, she struggled with him and was able to stick him with the syringe instead.

While Mandrake took Theresa, Clint went down to the basement to watch Brady and Melanie, who had showed up at the castle and taken prisoner. But, Brady and Melanie had managed to loosen their restraints. Brady and Clint struggled over the gun. It went off. And Clint fell to the ground dead.

They all rushed to the living room just in time to see Marlena and Kristen struggling over a gun . Then, Kristen fell out the window. The Italian police soon arrived. They knew Kristen fell, but they could not find her body. So, they could not charge anyone with a crime. The group returned home to Salem. Brady and Theresa renamed the baby Tate.

Theresa remains in love with Brady who has a hard time believing her after all the lies she's told in the past. She continuously tries to pursue him, much to disdain of Viktor who continuously calls her rude and discriminating names and believes that she'll always be a lying 'skank'. Brady starts to see how she has changed since having Tate and the two share a kiss on the night of Salem bicentennial. Brady and Theresa sleep together that same night much to the disdain of Viktor. They start a relationship much to the disapproval of Nicole and other Salem citizens who believe Theresa is a deceiving, lying girl. Viktor puts his foot down and says that she will move out and won't be allowed to see Tate or Brady.

Reception

Upon the news of Lilley joining the cast, Michael Fairman of On-Air On-Soaps credited her casting as, "fantastic news for fans". Despite rumors of Lilley joining the cast as a recast for either Belle Black or Cassie Brady, it was informed she would portray a new character. Janet DiLauro of About.com praised Theresa as a "riveting character", writing: "Days of our Lives has been seriously lacking in the bad girl department Enter the deliciously naughty Theresa Donovan and suddenly it seems like Salem will never be the same."

References

1. ^ SOD (April 6, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE! Jen Lilley joins DAYS". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
2. Kroll, Dan J. (April 6, 2013). "Jen Lilley joins DAYS cast". Soap Central. Soapcentral.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
3. Simms, Richard M. (April 9, 2013). "Jen Lilley Has Moved To Salem!". Soaps In Depth. ABC.soapsindepth.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
4. Clifford, Kimbra (April 9, 2013). "Jen Lilley Headed to 'DAYS'". Soap Opera Network. Soapoperanetwork.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
5. Bowe, Jillian (April 9, 2013). "Jen Lilley Heads to Days of Our Lives!". Daytime Confidential. Daytimeconfidential.zap2it.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
6. ^ Fairman, Michael (April 9, 2013). "Jen Lilley Joins The Cast of Days Of Our Lives! But … Who Is She Playing?". On Air On Soaps. Michaelfairmansoaps.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
7. ^ White-Nobles, Omar (April 9, 2013). "Jen Lilley Cast on 'Days of our Lives'". TV Source Magazine. TVsourcemagazine.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
8. Newcomb, Roger (April 9, 2013). "Jen Lilley Joins DAYS OF OUR LIVES". We Love Soaps. Welovesoaps.net. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
9. Purvis, Matt (April 9, 2013). "Days Of Our Lives Casts Jen Lilley". Soaps She Knows. Soaps.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
10. "Comings and Goings". Soap Opera Digest (July 9, 2013). 2013. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
11. Brar, Jeevan (July 1, 2013). "Soap News: Kelly Sullivan exits GH while Lisa LoCicero is sticking around – Plus: Jen Lilley debuts on DAYS". MSN Entertainment Canada. Blogs.TV.MSN.ca. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
12. Sloane, Stephanie (July 9, 2013). "Jen Lilley Debuts on DAYS". Soap Opera Digest (via Zinio). Soapoperadigest.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
13. Fairman, Michael (July 2, 2013). "The Ken Corday Interview – Days of our Lives". On Air On Soaps. Michaelfairmansoaps.com. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
14. ^ Barnert, Deanna (July 26, 2013). "Q&A: Jen Lilley of 'Days of Our Lives' gets feisty". MSN Entertainment. Social.entertainment.msn.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
15. ^ Di Lauro, Janet. "Theresa Donovan Quick Profile". About. About.com. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
16. "A day in the life of… Jen Lilley". TV Week. Bauer Media Group. January 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
17. Ellie (July 26, 2013). "Daytime Royalty Interview with Jen Lilley". Daytime Royalty. Daytimeroyaltyonline.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
18. "The Soaps: Clay and Gwyn in love again?". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. May 10, 1990. p. 8. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
19. Nancy Reichardt (November 29, 1991). "On the Soapbox". The Telegraph-Herald. p. 46. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
20. Nancy Reichardt (November 6, 1992). "Speaking of Soaps". The Post and Courier. p. 28. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
21. Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell (July 3, 2013). "Daily Episode Update for July 2013 (7/03/2013)". National Broadcasting Company. NBC.com/Daysourlives. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
22. Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell (July 9, 2013). "Daily Episode Update for July 2013 (7/09/2013)". National Broadcasting Company. NBC.com/Daysofourlives. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
23. Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell (July 16, 2013). "Daily Episode Update for July 2013 (7/03/2013)". National Broadcasting Company. NBC.com/Daysofourlives. Retrieved July 28, 2013.

External links

• Soapcentral.com | Who's Who in Salem | Jeannie Donovan

• Days of Our Lives characters
• Fictional characters introduced in 1990