Days of Our Lives Comings and Goings: Nikki Crawford Is the New Lexie Carver
The identity of the woman inside the glowing pod will finally be revealed when Nikki Crawford debuts as the new Lexie Carver on Days of Our Lives on Friday, March 6. Crawford has done a lot of work in theater, earning a Tony Award nomination in 2023 for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Fat Ham, and has appeared in prime-time series like A Different World, Malcolm in the Middle, Pretty Little Liars, and Elsbeth. DAYS will mark her daytime debut.
Back to Life
When the character of Lexie Carver was introduced, she was originally played by Cyndi James Gossett from 1987-89 before the role was recast with Angelique Francis from 1989-92. Shellye Broughton played Lexie briefly in 1993, and Jennifer Lee stepped in for an episode in 2021, but the character is most closely associated with Renée Jones, who played her from 1993-2012.
“That’s always a challenge, I think, coming in as somebody who was as beloved as Renée Jones was,” Crawford told TV Insider. “What she did was iconic, and she really created something wonderful. It’s understandable why the audiences loved and were invested in her and then were torn apart when she left. I saw it more as an opportunity to honor what audiences have loved, while bringing truth to who Lexie is today and creating upon what Renée had previously built. So it was exciting, but also, there was a bit of trepidation just because I know the love that people have for Renée.”
Lexie passed away back in 2012 from a brain tumor, dying in the arms of her then-husband, Abe (James Reynolds) — and her ghost has even appeared to Abe in times of need in recent years. But now the show is revealing that Dr. Rolf (Richard Wharton) has been keeping Stefano’s (Joseph Mascolo) daughter alive and is preparing to bring her back to consciousness. Despite the sci-fi premise, Crawford still wanted to keep her portrayal of Lexi’s resurrection as real as possible, she shared. “I played it more like she was in a coma for these last 15 years,” the actress previewed. “I really honored who she was, but I also grounded her in who she is. I would say at her core, Lexie is driven by love. Her family is everything to her. And now that she’s been given a second chance at life, that raises the stakes.”
Lexie’s comeback will obviously come as a shock to her son, Theo (Tyler Joseph Andrews), but especially to Abe — and his current wife, Paulina (Jackée Harry). “Her return is going to shake things up, especially with Abe now being married to Paulina,” Crawford teased. “But I think what makes her relatable is that she’s willing to fight for what she loves. Most people, if given a second chance, would do the same thing. So she may come in with love, but she’s not coming in quietly.”
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