‘Days of Our Lives’ spoilers reveal that Paul Telfer, who plays Xander Kiriakis on the peacock soap, recently dished on the Soapy podcast, hosted by DOOL’s own Greg Rikaart, who plays Leo Stark, and Rebecca Budig, who plays Taylor Hayes on The Bold and the Beautiful.
‘Days of Our Lives’ Spoilers: Telfer Was Asked to Fill In for James Scott as EJ DiMera
The actor spilled the tea and shared a surprising piece of information with his fellow soap mates. Back when Telfer first received the call to audition for DOOL, his manager told him the show wanted him to fill in for James Scott in the role of EJ DiMera due to a medical issue.
Telfer accepted right away and received the scripts he was expected to memorize. He was told that they would inform him by morning whether he was needed.
The actor was overwhelmed by the amount of dialogue he had to learn. Fortunately, it turned out that James Scott was well enough to come in and do the work.
Telfer has been playing Xander for over a decade now. It’s interesting to think that, if he had portrayed the role of EJ and it had gone smoothly, he might have occupied that part after James Scott left the show.
That said, we can’t imagine anyone other than Dan Feuerriegel playing EJ DiMera, just like we can’t imagine anyone else except Telfer playing Xander Kiriakis.
As it turned out, DOOL came calling again later on, wanting him to play a henchman named Damon, and he did a great job. Telfer said it was a very good experience for him.
A month later, he was asked to return for a contract role. He joined the soap as Xander, but was let go. Of course, he was later rehired, and the rest is history.
Telfer also divulged the emotional depth of the scenes he submitted for Emmy consideration. We were thrilled when Telfer won, as it was well-deserved, but the actor wasn’t expecting to take home the prestigious award.
‘Days of Our Lives’ Spoilers: Telfer Was Shocked and Floored to Take Home the Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actor
When Telfer’s name was called at the ceremony, he was shocked and floored. His mother, who sadly passed away, was a huge soap fan.
Telfer grew up in Scotland, where soaps like EastEnders and Coronation Street were popular, and his mom watched them religiously. However, Telfer was resistant to soaps, calling them “depressing,” but he admitted that soaps in the U.S. are completely different. He referred to them as “glamorous.”
He was proud to dedicate his Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor to his late mother, who unfortunately, passed before she had the chance to see his career take off.
For his Emmy reel, he submitted scenes in which he confronted his onscreen mother, Fiona Cook, played by Serena Scott Thomas, after Xander discovered that she caused Sarah Horton’s (Linsey Godfrey) paralysis after hitting her with her car while driving drunk.
Reflecting on his big, unexpected win and the powerful scenes he submitted, Telfer said,
“It was incredibly cathartic to do. It was incredibly relieving to feel that I’ve done a decent enough job with it, because I didn’t want to get those scenes and then mess it up, if you know what I mean, or not go far enough.
Telfer added,
“To be nominated for it was plenty, honestly, just to have it recognized, and feel like, well, that is the best that I can do.”
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