UPHILL BATTLE
The idea of Kristen and Brady developing into a viable couple has been a tough sell to DAYS fans. “The reaction has been mixed,” concedes Eric Martsolf (Brady). Adds Stacy Haiduk (Kristen), “At first they were like, ‘No, no, no,’ but now they’re slowly starting to love these two characters together. I think some fans are happy, but I’m sure there’s a few that still don’t like it.” Martsolf totally gets it. “Stacy is an adorable human being, but her role as Kristen has its challenges,” he notes. “And she is a Dimera, who has done some outrageously harsh things to the people that Brady loves in his life. I mean, her history with John and Marlena is just horrific, so she has an uphill battle. But she’s no serial killer, and Ron Carlivati [head writer] is a fan of redemption.” As for Martsolf, he’d welcome the story turn. “I think we all are a fan of an underdog story and rooting for the little guy,” he offers, pointing out that he’s already played an unlikely pairing before. “That’s essentially what Brady and Theresa were. They met in rehab. They were both these broken people ... addicts who drink too much, swear too much, and don’t believe in romantic love. Yet, they ended up having a baby and having a pretty beautiful love story. So anything is possible. The question is whether Kristen will ever be fully redeemed. So it’s questionable.” Haiduk, however, remains optimistic. “Kristen truly loves Brady,” she says. “All of this journey that she’s taking will hopefully in the end give them a chance to be together and be real.”