Alison Sweeney Leaves 'Days': Life 'Feels Crazy' Right Now, Actress Says
Alison Sweeney literally grew up before the public's eyes as Samantha Gene Brady on "Days of Our Lives." The audience was rocked when she announced that after 21 years, she was leaving the soap opera to spend more time with her family. Now, she says, life "feels crazy."
Sweeney filmed her last scene for the daytime series on May 23, and since then, it's been a huge adjustment for the veteran actress. She is enjoying spending a great deal more time with son Ben, 9, and daughter Megan, 5, not mention her husband, Dave Sanov.
"It feels crazy. I'm like, 'I think I'll go work out.' It's whatever I want to do right now," Sweeney told People magazine. Before, "Ben would wake up really early just so he could have breakfast with me before I went to work, and that sat with me. I'd like to be there for them and not feel like I have nine other things going on."
Of course, Sweeney is keeping busy. She will continue hosting NBC's "The Biggest Loser" and recently announced that she would be behind the scenes at "General Hospital," helping to write and direct the hit soap opera. Sweeney enjoys writing and recently released her second novel, "Scared Scriptless." But family comes first.
"They were jumping up and down," Sanov said when the children heard Sweeney was "coming home." "They don't watch 'Days,' but knowing the character of 'Mom' will actually be taking them to school in the mornings is super cool."
"I've worked so much and my daughter just turned five and my son is nine and I just want to be with them and enjoy my last year," Sweeney told Ellen DeGeneres. "I've been on 'Days of Our Lives' since I was 16 years old and I have never had more than a two-week vacation in that whole time."
Sweeney's character will depart from Salem sometime this fall or winter, given the "Days" shooting schedule.
