Alison Sweeney grew up on television and her name resonates with many people.
Known for her iconic role as Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives and her work with Hallmark, she has become a pseudo-member of our family.
In her latest Hallmark mystery project, A Drop of Deception: The Hannah Swenson Mystery, Sweeney delves into her portrayal of fan-favorite character Hannah Swenson as she bakes delicious Delicious food and a mystery solved at the same time.
However, amid the excitement surrounding her new film, Sweeney has recently faced a personal loss with the death of Days of Our Lives costar Derek Hogestyn, and she’s been open about the impact of the major loss .
On the death of Drake Hogestyn
Drake Hogestyn, best known for his long-running role as John Black on Days of Our Lives, was not only Sweeney’s costar but also his mentor and close friend.
His death shocked soap opera fans and left a deep void in the Days family. When asked how she was coping with the loss, Sweeney didn’t hold back her emotions.
“This is unimaginable,” she said, her voice filled with sadness. “I think about his beautiful family – his wife Victoria, his children and grandchildren. But it’s not just them; it’s them. Everyone feels the same way.
Everybody loves Drake. He touched our lives so profoundly. He is so genuine and wonderful and he means so much to me. He was like a father to me and it was really hard. He will be greatly missed.
Her heartfelt words for Hogestin were not just for herself, but echoed the sentiments of countless fans who have taken to social media to express their grief.
She was surprised but not surprised as fans have been mourning his passing online, as anyone who had ever interacted with him felt a huge loss.
“It’s such a wonderful, beautiful way to mourn, reading everyone’s comments about their experience meeting Drake and having the same feeling of knowing him.
“It just made you feel like everyone understood what you were going through because they were going through the same loss. He had that effect on everyone he met,” she recalled. “It’s such a beautiful and magical thing.”
As someone who has worked with Hogestyn for many years, Sweeney has had the privilege of witnessing the deep connection he has with Days fans. “We had a lot of experiences,” she reflects.
“I’d go to fan events with him and his route would go around the corner and you’d be like, ‘Drake, we’ve got to go a little faster.'” And he’d be like, “No, absolutely not.”
“He spent time with everyone – everyone who wanted a hug got a hug. He was tireless. It’s no wonder his death is felt so personally by so many people.
Find a second home at Hallmark
Sweeney’s connection with Days of Our Lives fans has carried over seamlessly into her signature projects, especially the Hannah Swenson Mysteries. It feels like family.
Sweeney feels the same way about Hallmark’s loyal fan base as she does about Days of Our Lives fans.
“When we were filming Days, I was thinking about the fans and their reaction and how they would love this scene or how they would hate me in this scene and so on.
“At Hallmark, I felt the same connection…seeing them online, they were so enthusiastic, they were so passionate, they loved these characters so much.”
A close connection with the audience seems to be what drives Sweeney. “When I’m on set, I’m thinking about how to meet the fans’ expectations for these movies and how to get them excited,” she continued.
“I met one of the [fans at the] The other day in the grocery store, she quoted Hannah Swenson’s last lines to me, and her love for Dolores. What a great experience.
Sweeney doesn’t take lightly having such an impact on audiences.
“It’s an honor and it’s a responsibility. You think to yourself, ‘Okay, well I better make it so good and make certain parts so deep and complex that when they watch it again, they You’ll see something new and different.
“They’ll be surprised by another element in the scene that they didn’t see the first or second time. So I spend a lot of time trying to create those nuances because I know they do.
What to expect from a little deception
In the latest installment of the Hannah Swenson Mysteries series, “A Drop of Deception,” fans can expect to see more of Hannah as she navigates her life in Lake Eden while getting embroiled in yet another murder. Mysterious story.
Sweeney discussed the importance of balancing humor and seriousness in the franchise. It’s no surprise that Barbara Niven as Dolores provides a lot of comic relief.
“It’s a tricky balance,” Sweeney admitted. “You want to respect the murder mystery and how high the stakes are, but Dolores shows us the comedy.
“Hannah was always the straight person, thinking, ‘Oh, my mom,’ and that created these comedic moments. Barbara did a great job every time and was funny while maintaining a mysterious tension.
Speaking about her character’s growth, Sweeney said Hannah’s relationship with Victor Webster’s Chad was a breath of fresh air for Hannah.
“He doesn’t just echo Hannah’s antics. He puts some obstacles in there and brings some seriousness to the situation, which I think is a perfect balance for these movies.
Hannah and Chad’s Slow Burn
Their relationship may also take a new turn. “I like the slow burn,” she said with a laugh.
“I thought it would be really fun to stretch that out and really play into every element of their understanding of each other.
“And then, of course, there’s Dolores, who’s busy planning, pushing for them to get together, desperately trying to find dates for them, basically having a wedding date set for them. So you have a push and pull dynamic there.
“In the next movie, you’re going to see Hannah interact more with Chad outside of work. Obviously it’s always crime or mystery or investigation-related, but then she develops a relationship with him on a personal level. connect.
One of Sweeney’s favorite scenes in “A Drop of Deception” comes unexpectedly when Hannah visits Chad’s office with a theory about the case.
It kind of led to this romantic moment between them. He teased her a bit and she blushed, embarrassed, but completely attracted to him. She must work to regain her dignity,” she said.
“I think they have a really cute relationship.”
Dolores makes interference look fun
In true form, Dolores will be working behind the scenes to push Hannah and Chad into each other’s arms.
Dolores puts “Hannah in a very awkward position where she is overdressed for an occasion. She is always inappropriately dressed, a trait in the Joanne Fluke books on which the character is based.”
“Hannah always liked girls in jeans and boots. That was her comfort, and her mother was always a dressed-up beauty queen. It was really fun to play with that.
Challenges of on-site baking
One of the most iconic elements of Hannah Svensson’s films is, of course, baking.
Fans know that Hannah is just as likely to solve a murder as she is to whip up a batch of cookies. But in A Drop of Deception, the dessert choices are more challenging than your average dessert.
“Croquembouche,” Sweeney laughs, recalling the movie’s intricate dessert.
“This is a very difficult dessert to pull together. I tell you, when we did the baking montage, it literally dropped ten times because it was such a hard thing to do. And then decorate it with melted sugar, which It’s really complicated!
Last words to fans
As for what fans should keep in mind as they learn about this latest mystery, Sweeney offered a tip. The title “A Drop of Deception” really says it all.
“There are a lot of lies, a lot of deception, and Hannah has to navigate a lot of complex characters.
“So keep your eyes open!”
A Little Bit of Deception: The Hannah Swenson Mystery premieres Friday, October 4 on Hallmark Mystery at 9/8c.
