Ava Vitali

Ava Vitali
Days of Our Lives character
Portrayed by Tamara Braun
Duration
  • 2008
  • 2015–16
First appearance February 8, 2008 (2008-02-08)
Last appearance March 1, 2016
Introduced by
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Occupation

Ava Vitali is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Created by and introduced by then-executive producers Ken Corday and Edward J. Scott, she is portrayed by Tamara Braun, who won a Daytime Emmy Award for the role in 2009. Introduced as a "mysterious woman from Steve's past," Ava was later revealed as a woman from a Mafia family.

Casting

"I identified with all of them on a human level. I must find a common human thread with all the characters I play; otherwise, I fear I would be playing a caricature. Carly and Ava were the most dynamic and colorful. Reese was the most normal, yet she had the most historic impact. The storyline I was in with Eden Riegel (who played Bianca Montgomery) was nominated for a GLAAD Award, and I feel very proud of the work that Eden and I did portraying the first same-sex married and parenting couple. We tried to bring honesty and integrity to the story we were given. I was so proud of the show for bringing the issue to the forefront and for being a part of it."

— Braun on which of her daytime roles she most identified with.[1]

In January 2008, it was announced that Tamara Braun, best known as the second actress to portray the character of Carly Corinthos on the ABC Daytime drama, General Hospital, had been cast.[2][3] The casting of Braun originally brought up fan speculation that she would be coming in as previous established character, Sarah Horton, daughter of veteran character, Maggie Horton. This speculation was quickly put to rest when it was announced that Braun would join as Ava.

Following the completion of her run as Ava, it was announced in September 2008 that Braun would join All My Children as Reese Williams, current girlfriend of the show's iconic Bianca Montgomery.[4] Braun went on to win a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ava.[5]

Braun later returned to Days of our Lives in the role of Taylor Walker, replacing her former General Hospital co-star Natalia Livingston.[6][7][8][9][10]

In July 2015, it was announced that Braun is reprising the role of Ava, as part of the show's fiftieth anniversary celebration, first airing on December 9.[11][12][13] Braun departed on March 1, 2016.[14]

Storyline

Ava first appears in early February 2008, stalking Steve Johnson, a man she called "Patch" and the Brady family with whom he was traveling with in Ireland.[15][16] Obsessed with Steve, she continues to stalk the hotel where he was residing.[15][16] In an attempt to delay Steve and the rest of the Brady family's departure from Ireland, she sabotages their plane.[15][16] Her plan, however, was sabotaged when the plane began experiencing problems in mid-air, causing the death of Brady patriarch Shawn Brady.[15][16] After following Steve back to Salem, she sees him hug Hope Williams Brady outside of Steve's apartment door. She then interrogates Hope, asking if she was in love with Steve.[15][16] Scared off by Hope, Ava immediately leaves the grounds. Ava then runs into Steve, promising to exact her revenge against him and his family for leaving her without a goodbye.[15][16] Looking at photos of the crash victims, she stops at Hope's, wondering who she was and why she loved her dear, "Patch".[15][16]

Convinced that Hope is Steve's wife, Ava is visited by a shrink who then questions her sense of reality.[15][17] Escaping from her guards, Ava kidnaps Hope, whom she believes is Steve's wife Kayla Brady, and holds her hostage at the Vitali compound.[15][17] Driven with rage, Ava demands Hope call Steve, who catches onto the scheme and calls Hope's husband, Bo Brady and tells him to not involve the police.[15][17]

Ava then pressures Steve to have sex with her, a suggestion Steve denies doing, blaming his injuries from the plane crash.[15][18] Ava, however, plans to seduce Steve in hopes of making whom she believed as Kayla, jealous.[15][18] Before she can execute her plan, Bo and the real Kayla infiltrate the Vitali compound. Ava, in turn, orders her guards to kill them all.[15][18] When they fail, Ava shoots Hope; Bo then goes to shoot Ava, but is protected by Steve. When questioned by a hurt Hope about why she hates Steve so much, Ava goes into detail about her "almost wedding day" of how Steve left her. Steve explains that while he had doubts about the wedding, he was abducted by Stefano DiMera's henchmen. Though shocked by the revelation, Ava becomes agitated and pops pills.[15][18] Able to escape, Bo calls Abe Carver, who arrives to the Vitali compound with Roman Brady.[15][18] Abe and Roman are able to calm the situation, arresting Ava.[15][18] While under arrest, Kayla reveals that the pills Ava was taking, were the cause of her paranoia over Steve and the Brady family.[15][18] As a result of her actions, Ava's father, Martino Vitali, shows up in Salem.[15][18]

Later, Dr. Lexie Carver releases Ava into police custody.[15][19] Roman then informs Ava that her bail had been paid and that she was free to go.[15][19] Ava's cousin, Angelo, then reveals that it was her father Martino who had her drugged.[15][19] When Martino pulls a gun out, he is shot and killed by Bo.[15][19] Putting her past behind her, Ava accepts a date with John Black.[15][20] When it is revealed that a warehouse shipment of John's has gone up in flames, Ava urges John, with the assistance of Philip Kiriakis to fight back.[15][20] When John's estranged wife, Marlena Evans, shows up and sees him entertaining Ava, he makes it clear that they haven't been husband and wife since his accident earlier in the year, and that he was now moving on with his life with Ava.[15][20] When news of a disk comes out that may contain the key to restoring John's memories, he admits to Marlena, Philip and Ava that he knew about said disk, and in a shocking decision, kisses Ava.[15][20]

Moving on with their lives, Ava and John later toast to their new found relationship.[15][21] Trusting Ava, John reveals his plans concerning the recent disappearance of Paul Hollingsworth and his plans to pin the disappearance on Philip.[15][21] When Ava's faced with possible charges of the plane crash earlier in the year, she hires EJ DiMera as her attorney. When EJ alerts Ava that the new judge in her trial could not be bribed, she jumps bail and made the decision to leave the country.[15][22]

In December 2015, Ava is revealed to be working in cahoots with Steve and Kayla's teenage son Joey (James Lastovic) to get them back together. After manipulating Joey's feelings, kidnapping Kayla, and forcing Steve to make a sex-tape with her, Ava finally received her shocking comeuppance. Sick of the manipulations against his family, a drunken Joey smothers a drugged Ava in a hospital bed, with Steve willingly implicating himself in the murder.

References

  1. ↑ Fairman, Michael (2011-04-23). "Tamara Braun on Her New Play, and Her Soap Life as Carly, Ava,Taylor & Reese!". Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps. Michaelfairmansoaps.com. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  2. ↑ "DAYS: Trading Places". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. 2008-02-04. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  3. ↑ Kroll, Dan. J. (2008-01-18). "Tamara Braun joins DAYS". SoapCentral. Soapcentral.com. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  4. ↑ Kroll, Dan. J. (2008-09-18). "Tamara Braun joining AMC as Bianca's girlfriend". Soap Central. Soapcentral.com. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  5. ↑ "And The Winners Are...". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. 2009-03-02. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Comings and Goings". Soap Opera Digest. 37. March 8, 2011. pp. 12, 13.
  7. ↑ "Huge DAYS Casting Change!". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. 2011-04-04. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  8. ↑ Kroll, Dan J. (2011-02-15). "Natalia Livingston out, Tamara Braun to rejoin DAYS". Soap Central. Soapcentral.com. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  9. ↑ Nobles, Omar (2011-02-15). "Natalia Livingston Out, Tamara Braun In At DAYS!". TV Source Magazine. TVsourcemagazine.com. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  10. ↑ Fairman, Michael (2011-02-15). "BREAKING NEWS: Tamara Braun IN, Natalia Livingston OUT as DAYS Taylor!". Michael Fairman On Air On Soaps. Michaelfairmansoaps.com. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  11. ↑ SOD (July 6, 2015). "TAMARA BRAUN BACK TO DAYS!". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  12. ↑ Logan, Michael (July 6, 2015). "Exclusive: Emmy Winner Tamara Braun Returns to Days of Our Lives". TV Insider. United States: CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Comings and Goings: Tamara Braun (Ava Vitali)". Soap Opera Digest. (Vol. 40, No. 50). December 14, 2015. p. 10.
  14. ↑ "Comings and Goings: Tamara Braun (Ava Vitali)". Soap Opera Digest. (Vol. 41, No. 10). March 7, 2016. p. 15.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 "Yearly Update for 2008". Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Yearly Update for 2008 – February". Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. February 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  17. 1 2 3 "Yearly Update for 2008 – March". Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. March 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Yearly Update for 2008 – April". Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. April 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Yearly Update for 2008 – May". Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. May 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Yearly Update for 2008 – June". Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. June 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  21. 1 2 "Yearly Update for 2008 – July". Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. July 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Yearly Update for 2008 – August". Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. August 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2012.

External links

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