The Actors Who Have Played Susan Banks On Days Of Our Lives

"Days of Our Lives" fans have seen some truly bizarre and unique characters since the show began. For instance, colorful characters such as Hattie Adams (Deidre Hall), Celeste Perrault (Tanya Boyd), and Bonnie Lockhart (Judi Evans) have kept fans entertained for years. (Evans has played multiple "Days of Our Lives" roles, too, creating intrigue each time she takes a new one.) However, one of the wackiest and wildest characters to ever appear in Salem has to be Susan Banks, who first appeared on "DOOL" back in 1996 (via SoapCentral.com). Susan was a pregnant woman brought to town by Stefano DiMera, who happened to highly resemble his adopted daughter, Kristen DiMera.

When Susan agreed to impersonate Kristen, Stefano gave her some false teeth and a blond wig so that she looked exactly like his daughter. Stefano also manipulated Susan into giving up her baby and passing it off as Kristen's child with John Black (Drake Hogestyn). At the time, Kristen was lying to John about her own pregnancy out of fear of losing him to Marlena Evans.

Susan eventually decided that she wanted her baby back after falling in love with John. So, she locked Kristen in the secret room underneath the DiMera mansion, where Marlena was already being held. She then began to impersonate Kristen full-time and even planned a wedding to John before her secret was discovered and the truth was revealed (via Soaps in Depth).

Over the years, Susan and Kristen have become staples in Salem, and some very talented actresses have taken on the roles.

When Susan Banks was first introduced to "Days of Our Lives" viewers in 1996, it only made sense that actress Eileen Davidson play the role. Although Davidson is known for her roles on both "DOOL" and "The Young and The Restless," she has gone on to reality television, too, previously starring in the hit TV series "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" with Lisa Rinna, another former soap star (via Soaps).

While Davidson was portraying Susan's doppelganger, Kristen DiMera, in the 1990s, she also pulled double duty as both Kristen and Susan. After the drama with Susan, Kristen, Marlena, and John died down a bit, Susan got her baby back and named him Elvis after her favorite singer, per Soaps in Depth.

Later, it was discovered that the father of Susan's baby was none other than Stefano DiMera himself. Susan was beside herself upon learning the news, as Stefano had been dressed as Elvis when she met him. Following the revelation, John helped Susan pack up and move to England with baby Elvis. It was there that she met a man named Edmund P. Crumb, and the two eventually tied the knot.

Susan left Salem in 1998 with Davidson still in the role.

In 2011, Susan Banks returned to "Days of Our Lives" for a quick stint when she was revealed to be the mother of fan-favorite character EJ DiMera (Yes, baby Elvis!). Eileen Davidson didn't return to reprise the role for the short arc, so the NBC soap hired actress Brynn Thayer, who previously played Jenny on "One Life to Live," for the part (via Soaps). However, when Susan returned to "DOOL" in a slightly larger capacity in 2014 due to the death of her son, EJ, Davidson returned to play the character (via SoapCentral.com). Davidson also returned to the role in 2017.

However, in 2018, Susan was seen on the sudser yet again, this time with actress Stacy Haiduk in the role. Susan came to Salem to attend the wedding of John and Marlena (via Soaps in Depth). However, things took a dramatic turn when her old enemy, Kristen DiMera (also played by Haiduk), swapped places with her so that she could attend the nuptials undetected. Later, Susan discovered that her son was still alive and agreed to let his wife, Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney), take him out of the country to get medical attention.

Since then, Haiduk has been playing the roles of both Susan and Kristen, and Susan has been involved in some big storylines, with Haiduk driving the plot. Susan is truly unforgettable, and each actress that has played her brings a fun twist to the entertaining character each time. Susan isn't alone in this, either. Various actors have played Hattie Adams on "Days of Our Lives" over the years, too.