AnnaLynne McCord chatted about “Days of Our Lives” on Peacock, and her 2025 Daytime Emmy nomination.
Peacock family
On being a part of the Peacock family, McCord said, “It is so much fun, and it’s a huge honor to be part of the whole legacy of Peacock and ‘Days of Our Lives.’ I loved being able to celebrate their 60th year with them.”
“So, to come onboard to this ensemble, which is such a family, is such an exciting and eye-opening experience because I didn’t think this is possible in Hollywood,” she noted.
“It is just a sincere and truly energetically generous group, and I feel grateful to be a part of the ‘Days’ family,” she added.
Playing Cat Greene on ‘Days of Our Lives’
On playing Cat Greene, McCord said, “I am having so much fun with the freedom that our show provides us as actors to create what we are feeling.”
“It is really a nice collaboration energetically that has enabled me to infuse some fun quirkiness to Ms. Cat Greene and to showcase some layers to her,” she noted.
“Cat starts off serious and intense as a mystery woman, and then you get to know her and what she went through with Clyde Weston, and we learn about her mother being held captive,” she elaborated.
“It has been fun to unveil and unfold who she is… and more and more layers keep revealing themselves even without me knowing,” she added.
2025 Emmy nomination
McCord is up for a 2025 Daytime Emmy Award for “Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series,” where she is nominated alongside her “Days of Our Lives” co-star Ashley Puzemis. This is a brand new Emmy category that was unveiled this year for the first time.
On her Daytime Emmy nomination, McCord said with a sweet laugh, “Well, screaming was the response, so it felt pretty good.”
“That was a fun surprise! Ashley Puzemis (who plays Holly) and I were in the hallway together when they announced it through the speakers,” McCord added.
Working with Billy Flynn
On working with Billy Flynn, McCord said, “I loved working with Billy, even though he has gone to ‘The Young and The Restless’ now so we are all a little bit sad. I had a wonderful year and a half that I got to work with this wonderful man.”
“We made some magic together and we had a really good time. Off-screen, he is a little jokester, and we had that banter with each other,” she added.
Working with Conner Floyd
McCord is looking forward to working with Conner Floyd (“The Young and The Restless”) as the new Chad DiMera. “Conner is awesome. I can’t wait to work with him more,” she said.
Ironically enough, Billy Flynn went over to “The Young and The Restless,” where he plays the role of Cane Ashby.
Floyd, who played the legacy character Chance Chancellor, was killed off today on “The Young and The Restless,” but now, he has the role of Chad DiMera to look forward to.
Dialogue-heavy
When asked how she handles being dialogue-heavy, she responded, “Thankfully, I have a photographic memory, so it definitely works to my advantage.”
“I have a little bit of ADHD as well, so shooting super-fast actually works with me,” she noted.
“I definitely see how hard everyone works; they are the unsung heroes of our industry; that’s for sure,” she added.
The digital age
On being a part of the digital age, McCord said, “It is so funny because when I was on ‘90210’ back in the day, it was in the last wave of waiting a week to watch the show in the primetime era, and they were negotiating their contracts with streaming.”
“Fast forward to now, and streaming is our whole universe now,” she noted. “So, I am happy to be on the curve of progression vs. behind it.”
Advice for young and emerging actors
For young and aspiring actors, McCord said, “I grew up in American poverty, and it was a little Cinderella story. The rags to riches happened to me.”
“So, if you truly believe in something, there is nobody that can take that dream away from you,” she underscored.
“We were doing an Emmy celebration event at the W Hotel last week, and there was a young actress, who was 11 years old, and I told her to envision that future, and just move towards it. Don’t let anybody tell you differently. I feel that’s why I am in this moment that I am in,” she elaborated.
“I am living proof that you can make your dreams happen,” she added.
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, McCord said, “The Great Reset.”
Superpower
If she were to have any superpower, it would be “to harness all of the elements, and be able to use them… earth, water, fire and air.”
Message for her fans
For her fans and supporters, she said, “I have had some really beautiful, amazing, and loyal supporters through the years.”
“The closest person I can think of who has supported me the most from age 15 on is my agent, Melissa Hirschenson from Innovative Artists… Melissa found me and she plucked me out of oblivion,” McCord elaborated.
“So, the moment I got the Emmy nomination, I told her that wouldn’t have happened without her, and after all these years, Melissa has been my constant,” she added.
Success
Regarding her definition of the word success, McCord said, “The word success has evolved. It started by getting out of a trailer park, having enough money to eat, and then, it was making my mark in Hollywood, and that shifted early for me.”
“I was a little bit disillusioned when I first came to Hollywood, but I still love what I do between action and cut,” she noted.
“Now, being able to go to work, enjoying every moment, and be grateful for my life and waking up every morning grateful that I am alive is a success,” she concluded.
To learn more about Emmy-nominated actress AnnaLynne McCord, follow her on Instagram.
