Some television roles are meant to last only a few episodes—but fate sometimes has other plans. For Emily O’Brien, what began as a tiny guest appearance on The Young and the Restless unexpectedly evolved into one of the most memorable runs of her career, creating a fan-favorite character that still resonates with soap viewers years later.

Now starring on Days of Our Lives, O’Brien recently looked back on that life-changing chapter while also sharing behind-the-scenes stories about her current castmates, offering fans a rare glimpse into both her past and present soap opera journeys.

Emily O’Brien Looks Back on the Role That Changed Everything

Appearing as the latest guest on Soapy, the podcast hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart, in the July 21 episode, O’Brien reflected on the unexpected path that launched her daytime television career.

Longtime soap fans know that O’Brien and Rikaart have shared the screen twice—first on The Young and the Restless, where she portrayed the eccentric Jana Hawkes opposite his Kevin Fisher, and now on Days of Our Lives, where Gwen Rizczech and Leo Stark have developed a completely different relationship.

Outside of daytime drama, O’Brien has also built an impressive résumé in voice acting and motion-capture performances, contributing to several of the world’s most popular video game franchises. Yet for many viewers, Jana Hawkes remains the role that introduced her to television audiences.

How a Five-Episode Role Turned Into Five Years

Looking back at her original audition for The Young and the Restless in 2006, O’Brien admitted she never imagined the opportunity would become a defining chapter in her career.

She explained that the character wasn’t even supposed to be British. Originally named Jade, the role was intended to appear for only a few days. However, during the audition process, then-casting director Karen Rea suggested O’Brien try the dialogue using her natural English accent.

The change immediately transformed everything.

After hearing the performance, the casting team called her back for another audition that same afternoon. Soon afterward, the character was renamed Jana, rewritten as British, and what had initially been planned as roughly five episodes unexpectedly grew into a remarkable five-year run.

Why Jana Hawkes Was Such a Perfect Fit

O’Brien also opened up about why Jana became one of her favorite characters to portray.

She described Jana as someone who always felt like an outsider—a quirky, unconventional woman whose unique personality made her endlessly entertaining to play. Whether experimenting with Ouija boards, riding a motorcycle, or embracing her wonderfully eccentric worldview, Jana offered endless creative possibilities.

That unpredictability allowed O’Brien to fully embrace every layer of the character, something she found deeply rewarding throughout her years on the CBS soap.

She also fondly recalled working alongside Greg Rikaart, Christian LeBlanc, and Tracey Bregman, saying the chemistry among the cast made the experience especially enjoyable and helped bring Jana’s colorful personality to life.

From Jana to Gwen: A New Chapter on Days of Our Lives

Today, O’Brien continues entertaining fans as Gwen Rizczech on Days of Our Lives, where her character has become part of one of the show’s most unusual relationship dynamics involving Leo Stark and Dimitri von Leuschner.

The complicated trio has navigated numerous schemes, betrayals, and romantic twists, with Gwen frequently crossing paths with her former lover Dimitri—whose storyline eventually revealed his attraction to Leo, Gwen’s close friend.

That ever-changing dynamic has created plenty of memorable moments, and O’Brien clearly enjoys every minute of it.

Emily O’Brien Praises Peter Porte’s Commitment

During the conversation, both O’Brien and Rikaart spoke highly of Peter Porte, who portrays Dimitri.

O’Brien praised Porte’s professionalism, explaining that he consistently arrives on set completely prepared and rarely needs to reference his script during rehearsals or blocking.

She described him as an extremely physical performer who constantly searches for fresh comedic or dramatic ideas to elevate every scene.

Recalling some of their funniest moments together, O’Brien laughed about how Porte enthusiastically embraced whatever the script required—from allowing her to slap or kiss him to willingly sitting through the now-famous cheeseburger gag. According to O’Brien, Porte is always ready to commit fully, no matter how unexpected the scene becomes.

More Stories Await in the Full Interview

Beyond discussing her experiences on both daytime dramas, O’Brien also talks in the complete Soapy interview about stepping into the role of Theresa Donovan after Jen Lilley’s departure, returning to work alongside Greg Rikaart in an entirely different on-screen relationship, and navigating the latest chapter of her soap career.

For longtime fans, the conversation offers a nostalgic look back at Jana Hawkes while celebrating O’Brien’s continued success on Days of Our Lives.

What do you think? Were Jana Hawkes and Kevin Fisher one of your favorite couples on The Young and the Restless? And are you enjoying the chemistry between Emily O’Brien, Peter Porte, and Greg Rikaart on Days of Our Lives? Share your thoughts and join the conversation.