Soap Wire's Performer of the Week: Deidre Hall Days of Our Lives

I kind of had a hard time figuring out the exact words to say this—or even how to fully express my emotions to name this week’s Performer of the Week. After watching a few of this week’s episodes, I was overwhelmed with sadness and moved to tears. So much was being felt and displayed.

This week’s Performer of the Week goes to no one other than the incomparable, the legendary, the amazing Deidre Hall.

We saw Deidre Hall portray Dr. Marlena Evans in a way that left me absolutely stunned—curled up in a fetal position, crying. This week brought confirmation that John Black had died, and for those of us who know the real-life circumstances, we were also mourning the passing of his portrayer, the beloved Drake Hogestyn, in 2024.

Everyone on-screen delivered incredible performances in their grief over John Black, but Deidre’s performance was on a whole other level. This woman has been acting alongside Drake since the 1980s. Now it’s 2025—these scenes were likely filmed in 2024—and you could feel the weight of it all. They weren’t just saying goodbye to a character. They were mourning a man who had been part of a legendary supercouple, someone who still means so much to fans and colleagues alike.

The incomparable Deidre Hall had to act through all of that. But make no mistake—the emotions she showed weren’t just “acting.” No one can convince me they weren’t real. The grief on her face, in her voice, in every breath she took—it was raw and honest. It felt like Marlena Evans wasn’t just mourning John Black… Deidre Hall was mourning Drake.

We saw Marlena trying to be strong, but she couldn’t hold it together. She was in shock. She was afraid. She was devastated. Her grief was layered and nuanced in ways you can’t fully describe. That’s how powerful these performances were.

All week long, every time Miss Hall was on our screen, she was nothing short of stunning. Honestly, I’m nervous to watch John Black’s funeral—I know I’ll be a complete mess.

Miss Hall, you are amazing. There are no words for the work you’ve done. Watching you and Susan Seaforth Hayes—both of you in scenes together, supporting one another as your characters grieve their husbands, while also grieving in real life—was incredibly moving. These men meant so much to you, and it showed in ways we, the audience, could never truly comprehend.

This week’s Performer of the Week is, without question, Deidre Hall.

Thank you for being you.

Thank you for being a part of Days of Our Lives for so many years.

And thank you for sharing your grief, your heart, and your truth with us—because we know it wasn’t easy.