HEART TO HEART
The actress talks family and battling her fears
Alison Sweeney on being a child actor, becoming a mom and much more!
We’ve watched Alison Sweeney grow up since she began playing troublemaking teen Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives in 1993. “Having spent so much of my life there, Days will always be a second home to me,” the star, 41, shares with Closer. She found another home during her eight years hosting The Biggest Loser. But recently, she’s taken a journey that’s been just as important to her: becoming a director on both her long-running soap and General Hospital, and an executive producer for Hallmark TV movies — including her latest, Christmas at Holly Lodge. “I remember telling my dad when I was 6 years old that I was going to do this someday, and now I’m really doing it!” she reveals. “It’s a dream come true, quite literally.” Now Alison opens up to Closer about being a mom to her kids Benjamin, 12, and Megan, 8, and what makes her marriage to California Highway Patrol officer Dave Sanov work so well, and why “you can’t give up on your dream.”
— Gregg Goldstein
People remember you joining Days when you were 17, but you began acting on TV in Simon & Simon
at age 7!
I have tons of great memories from acting as a kid, but my favorites were from some plays. I got to do one with
[24 star] Dennis Haysbert that I remember vividly.
What are your favorite memories from Days?
Some of the outrageous things — the stunts, the crazy chick fights and cake throwing!
How did being a child actor shape you?
Discipline and work ethic was always instilled in me as a kid. I was really lucky to have rock-solid parents who helped me through the industry and didn’t pressure me to do it. It was my choice, and I always wanted to be a part of telling the story behind the scenes.
And now you are!
The first movie I developed from beginning to end, The Irresistible Blueberry Farm, aired on Hallmark Channel last year. I had this out-of-body experience on the set, realizing I read this book 18 months earlier and here we were making it a movie because of my dream. It was the most amazing thing.
Were there any challenges being both the exec producer and star of these films?
It’s been a struggle. There’s a lot that’s very labor-intensive — filming it is the easy, fun part! But I love every aspect, like talking to the composer about the music. My mom’s a musician and my kids play, so it’s a thrill.
You’ve talked about your weight struggles in the past. Was going through them in the public eye tough?
It’s hard to grow up with a bunch of people watching you, but it was really freeing, because I realized I wasn’t hiding anything from anyone. Everyone was going to see what I was going through, so I might as well talk about it. It was a great opportunity to say, “I’m having a hard time and I don’t know what to do.” I educated myself on how to eat healthy and take care of myself better, and today I feel good about maintaining.
Did hosting weight-loss show The Biggest Loser from 2007 to 2015 affect that?
It didn’t ever make me feel pressured. I wanted to be my best self, and that’s the lesson I learned along the way: You have to want it for you.
What was it like to leave Days and
The Biggest Loser after such long runs?
A lot of those decisions were for my family, so I felt there was no way not to win. Change is scary, but I leaned the most on my husband for his support and confidence in me — knowing that no matter what, it’s all going to be OK and we’ll figure it out together.
And now you’re back on Days through mid-December!
When [producer] Ken [Corday] asked if there was a storyline I’d be interested in doing, I jumped at the chance. I was really happy to have the opportunity to be with my Days family again.
Speaking of family, what have you learned from raising Benjamin and Megan?
You learn what really matters: how to organize my life better, take things one day at a time and try to give myself a break. I always say to my kids: “It’s OK that it didn’t happen today,” or, “Give yourself credit for what you did accomplish.” I try to apply some of those tips to myself.
“I have so many great memories, including romantic scenes with incredibly handsome men!” — Alison (with co-star Bryan Dattilo at their 2005 Days of Our Lives
wedding)
How about some tips on your secret to a successful 17-year marriage?
If I knew that, I would sell it for a lot of money! Communication is the big thing. Dave and I are friends who love each other, have a deep understanding, talk all the time and put up with each other’s not-sowonderful habits. If you add up all those things and decide every day that you want to commit again, you just make it work.
Anything in your life you’d do over?
I wouldn’t change anything, because it brought me here today. My parents gave me this great lesson that if you haven’t failed or made a mistake, you’re not trying hard enough! You just have to get back up and try again. — Reporting by Amanda Champagne-Meadows