Days of Our Lives Star Ashley Puzemis On Bond With Suzanne Rogers: ‘I’m So Lucky’ (Exclusive)
Ashley Puzemis’s (Holly) screen time opposite Days of our Lives vet Suzanne Rogers, who plays her grandmother, Maggie, rapidly increased after Arianne Zucker left the show as Holly’s mom, Nicole Walker. Luckily for the young actress, the bond between her and Rogers was forged quickly and effortlessly.
“Immediately, like right from the beginning,” reflects Puzemis, looking back at the roots of their connection. “She became my mother figure when I moved into the Kiriakis house, and we just began getting more and more scenes together. I think it’s because Maggie really is Holly’s only other friend besides Doug [III]. Yes, Maggie is her grandma, but they also have this open and honest relationship where they can just tell each other anything. Holly really looks up to her for advice, and, in real life, I also look up to Suzanne, too. She’s so wonderful and so sweet.”
A Warm Welcome
According to Puzemis, on days that they work together, Rogers goes out of her way to welcome the young actress before they embark on their day of filming. “Before any scenes we have together, she’ll give me the biggest hug before we start,” shares Puzemis. “And she’s always like, ‘It’s so great to see you, Darling.’ I’m so lucky that I have her as my grandma on the show, and that we get to have that relationship. It’s the best. I always have such a fun time working with her. We always say that our favorite scenes are when it’s her, me, and Linsey [Godfrey], who plays Sarah, because then Suzanne gets to play with her [character’s] daughter and granddaughter. We have the best time.”
Despite the warm and fuzzy relationship they share now, Puzemis admits that she went into it a bit hesitantly. “Honestly, I was a little intimidated at first before I started working with Suzanne,” the actress says. “She is such an icon and has been on the show for so many years and knows all the ins and outs. So I was a little bit nervous to be like, ‘Hey, can we run lines?’ She’s such a pro, and I didn’t want to impose or anything. But once we had our first few scenes, I knew right away that if I needed anything I could feel comfortable asking her. She just creates such a warm and welcoming space.”
These days, Puzemis is totally at ease reaching out to Rogers, including one time they filmed episodes that were “more emotional and deep,” she recalls. “I remember asking Suzanne if we could run lines together. So I went to her room, and we did that. Then we kind of chatted, and she was telling me her life stories.”
The pair’s bond has only grown stronger as time has passed. “Suzanne is always like, ‘Oh, I love you. I love you, sweetheart.’ She always tells me that,” says Puzemis. “Just her saying that to me makes me feel so comfortable and at ease. I don’t have my real grandparents in my life anymore, so she honestly is the closest thing to a grandma to me right now.”
However, perhaps unlike a real grandmother and granddaughter, the pair has discussed some uncomfortable subjects on occasion, like the time Maggie broached the subject of Holly potentially having sex with her boyfriend, Tate. “I remember we were both kind of like, ‘Well, this is interesting,’ ” delivers Puzemis with a laugh. “She asked if I needed to be on birth control, and I was like, ‘Grandma!’ In real life we were just joking about it. We were like, ‘Oh, this is so silly.’ But we love what the writers give us.”
It portrays Maggie as a hip, open-minded grandmother who can talk about anything matter-of-factly. “I think that’s what also helps for Holly to be able to confide in her about anything,” notes Puzemis. “She just feels like it’s a safe space, and Maggie really creates that for the two of them. It’s always funny too when one of the writers will make Maggie say something that’s very modern and slang. And then my response is always like, ‘Oh, Grandma, that means…’ And she’ll say, ‘Honey, I know.’ Those are also our favorite scenes. It’s like, ‘Okay. We get it. You’re a cool grandma.’ And she really is.”
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