DAYS Star Mary Beth Evans Celebrates Her Anniversary!

Please join us in wishing Mary Beth Evans a very happy anniversary! It was 38 years ago today that the actress made her debut as Kayla Brady on Days of Our Lives, taking over for Catherine Mary Stewart, who originated the role from 1982-83. Evans stepped into the role in 1986, remained until 1992, returned from 2006-09, and then came back in 2010 for a run that continues to this day (and which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2016!).

“Happy 38 years, Mary Beth Evans, my friend, my sweetness, my acting soulmate!” Stephen Nichols (Steve) shared on Instagram with a clip from the soap. “I remember your first day on DAYS so clearly, and I’ve been grateful for you every day since. We were meant to be together, and I hope for many more years of love, friendship, and joyous work! Thank you, Mary Beth — I love you!”

In the scene the actor shared, Steve tells Kayla: “You know what the most exciting, dangerous moment of my life? The first time you let me kiss you. Really kiss you. First time I took you in my arms. First time I dared to believe that I could be loved by you. That was my baptism, Sweetness. And still the biggest thrill of my life.” And of course, there was a flashback to that very kiss that was burned into their memories as well as other memorable moments from the couple’s love story.

Evans has moonlighted in primetime series like Remington Steele, Murder She Wrote, and Monk, and in between her stints on DAYS, appeared in other soaps. From 1993-99, she played Katherine Bell on General Hospital (which reunited her with Nichols, who was playing Stefan on the ABC soap at the time). And from 2000-05, she took over as Sierra Esteban on As The World Turns, returning in 2010 for a few months as the show ended its run on CBS. She has also been starring as Sara Garrett on the streaming soap The Bay since 2010.

Salem wouldn’t be the same without Evans bringing Kayla to live every day, so here’s to many, many more years to come!