Jessica Dunphy’s Farewell
After playing AS THE WORLD TURNS’ Alison for the last three years, Jessica Dunphy
is saying farewell to Oakdale this summer.
“From the get-go I was just going to go in for three years,” she states. “I don’t want to get stuck. I want to do different things. What’s so hard is I truly love AS THE WORLD TURNS and I’ve spent more time in the past three years with them than with my family and friends. They’ve become like a second family. Good times, bad times, everything — you share so much with these people. It was hard for me when Peyton (List, ex-Lucy) left and then it was really hard when Agim Kaba, ex-Aaron) left because we were really, really close. Of course we’re all still close. I went to L.A. to visit Peyton a couple of weeks ago.”
Alison’s storyline has dwindled lately. “I haven’t really been working much since Aaron left,” states Dunphy, who admits those were real tears during Alison and Aaron’s goodbye. “They were such hard scenes to do. A week before we taped those, Agim and I went out for lunch and I made tea and we ran lines in my apartment. It was sad and I felt like when he left it was like me leaving. We all started together and I just kept thinking about when I first started. It was emotional and bittersweet.”
Dunphy is going to have a hard time saying goodbye to her character as well. “Alison is such a fun character,” she raves. “The writers will watch you and they’ll write for you. I was able to play this totally spunky, goofy, fun character. I love to do comedy. I don’t want to be the sexy girl or the girl next door. They allowed me to be the fun girl.”
While Dunphy doesn’t know how they will write her off, she hopes they send Alison off to be with Aaron in Seattle. “That’s what I’m assuming they’ll do and that’s what I’m hoping they’ll do.” She says she’ll understand if they show eventually recasts the character. “I wouldn’t be upset. I understand it’s a business and I’m the one who choose to leave but I wouldn’t see her as the same character.”
Dunphy doesn’t rule out a return to daytime, either. “I never close any doors. I don’t know what’s going to happen but if I ever wanted to do a soap opera, my first choice would always be AS THE WORLD TURNS.”
Alison has had some wacky adventures in the past three years, but Dunphy doesn’t hesitate when asked what her favorite storyline was. “Hands down the Rick Decker murder mystery,” she smiles. “So much fun. I wish they could have gotten me and Agim together sooner. It stunk being the third wheel for so long (laughs). I loved being able to work with Agim and I love working with Jesse (Soffer, Will). I wish I could have had more stuff with him.”
What is hard for Dunphy is to say who she’ll miss the most. “It’s everybody — the crew, directors, makeup, hair, everybody. It’s like your family. Of course I’ll miss Kelley (Menighan Hensley, Emily) and Marie Masters, Susan) so much.”
Dunphy has some parting words for her fans. “Thanks for being so loyal. Even when Alison was overly dramatic and crazy they always still loved her. The fans have been so supportive of me and I appreciate that so much.”
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