Days Of Our Lives Favorite Kristian Alfonso Marks 40 Years As Hope Williams Brady

Kristian Alfonso is soap opera royalty. After starring as Hope Williams Brady on "Days of Our Lives" for decades, fans have watched the actor take the character to an iconic level of popularity on the sudser. Hope was first introduced to viewers in the 1980s, and after being romantically paired with another fan-favorite character, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell), the two skyrocketed to Salem super-couple status. Bo and Hope quickly became one of daytime television's most beloved couples, setting out on epic adventures and dealing with constant drama.

However, Alfonso's goal was never to become an actor. In fact, she trained to be a competitive ice skater and even won a gold medal at the Junior Olympics before an injury forced her to give up that dream. She later went on to modeling, and then found herself introduced to the soap opera world. "I never planned on any of this," Alfonso told Soap Opera Digest in 1984 after getting her big showbiz break. "I was a competitive ice skater until I crushed my leg. Until four years ago I never even went to a movie!" she admitted.

Of course, Alfonso did settle into the world of acting, and is now celebrating the 40-year anniversary of Hope Williams Brady's debut in Salem.

April 14, 2023 marks 40 years since Kristian Alfonso's official debut as Hope Williams on "Days of Our Lives." The actor was first seen in Salem in 1983, and things have never been the same. Despite being a legacy character born to Addie Horton and Doug Williams, the aged version of Hope became a huge part of the Salem landscape. Although Alfonso opted to leave "Days of Our Lives" in 2020, she did return to appear in the show's spinoff series, "Beyond Salem," in 2022. Shortly after, it was revealed that she and Peter Reckell would both be returning to the flagship series for a dramatic new arc.

It seems fitting that Hope is back on "Days of Our Lives" during the time when the character is celebrating her 40th anniversary, as Alfonso obviously has a great love for the role. In 2020, she opened up about her time on the soap to Glamour, revealing she's so happy she got to work on the show. "If I could go back as a young girl walking into Days in 1983, I would tell myself, 'Thank you for taking the risk. You're about to go on an incredible journey. It's one you will always be eternally grateful for,'" she confessed.

Fans still adore Kristian Alfonso, and love seeing her return to her roots to reprise the role of Hope Brady that made her a household name.