Deidre Hall has been playing the role of Dr. Marlena Evans for the past 40 years of her life.
Becoming a soap opera actress was never in the plans of Deidre Hall. As a teen, she wanted to be a hairdresser because her mom’s friend was one, and then, after graduating high school, she enrolled in college with plans to graduate with a degree in psychology.
But eventually, Hall sidetracked into acting.
ROAD TO “DAYS OF OUR LIVES”
Hall started to take modeling jobs and small roles on TV while studying. She saw acting as a temporary job that gave her a stable income while she pursued a degree in psychology.
Becoming a soap opera actress was never in the plans of Deidre Hall. However, she had a change of heart after landing a recurring role on “Young and the Restless,” as she recalled to Closer Weekly:
“I ended up doing a recurring part on ‘Young and the Restless’ to see how that ensemble works. ‘Oh, it’s the same people week after week!’ Because I was a recurring character, I suddenly had my nose against the glass. ‘Ooh, I’d like some of that!’”
Right after, she received a call about casting for the role of Marlena Evans in “Days of Our Lives.”
The producers liked what they saw, and Hall got the role. But she rejected it at first. Two weeks later, she took the role and started her 40-year run with the series in 1976.
ROAD TO MOTHERHOOD
After years of wanting a child, Hall finally had her dream come true in August 1992, when her first son David was born through a surrogate named Robin B. Three years later, Robin gave birth to Hall’s second child.
OTHER BUSINESS ADVENTURES
Aside from acting, Deidre Hall has also ventured into different niches of the entertainment and beauty industry.
She launched her own skincare and makeup line in 2012, although the products are no longer available. Hall also released two books: “Kitchen Closeup” a cookbook, and “How Does She Do It?” a book that contains all of her beauty secrets.
RETIREMENT IS NOT IN THE CARDS
When asked if she has thought about retirement, Hall told Closer Weekly that will happen “only when the phone stops ringing.”
“I love what I do. We work 50 weeks a year, and I work with people that I just adore and respect. I get to see them on days when I get to go to work to catch up on their lives and their adventures and their heartbreaks. I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
“Days of Our of Lives” was recently picked up for its 55th season through September 2020. Hall is expected to continue with her role as Marlena.