ALISON SWEENEY
Alison will be appearing in the Reading Corner on Sunday at 1:30PM
Biography
On January 6, 1993, Alison Sweeney joined the cast of NBC's Days of Our Lives as Sami Brady - daughter of Dr. Marlena Evans [Deidre Hall). Sweeney was still in high school and had already appeared on numerous prime-time TV programs prior to signing on for her first major daytime role.
Over the past decade, the young actress has taken Sami Brady from a rebellious teen to a devoted single-mother with many detours along the way. She has tackled a variety of controversial storylines, including bulimia, date rape, teen pregnancy, and capital punishment.
Says Sweeney of her multi-layered role, "Sami started out as a good girl, but after suffering some of life's disappointments, she vowed to turn the tables. She has black-mailed, lied, cheated, manipulated, kidnapped, seduced, and fought to get what she wants. But she truly believes her dirty deeds are all in the name of love."
In the process of becoming Salem's resident bad girl, Sweeney has won The Soap Opera Digest Award four times (1996, '98, '99 and 2001), and she has received much critical praise for her fearless portrayal. Says Digest, "Sweeney holds her own with the best of them on Days of Our Lives, including powerhouse Deidre Hall." In 1999, Soap Opera Weekly named Sweeney Breakout Performer of the Year - praising her portrayal of Sami as the stuff of which Emmy nominations are made. In an overwhelming show of fan support (via the Internet) at The 29th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Sweeney won The Internet Daytime Emmy as America's Favorite Villain.
Sweeney recently returned to prime-time television with a guest appearance on Friends. Opposite Matt LeBlanc and Jennifer Aniston, she portrayed a Diva actress and was able to reveal her comedic side. She has subsequently made memorable appearances on NBC's Weakest Link [winning the jackpot for one of her favorite charities: The CHP 11-99 Foundation] and Fear Factor [with Stephen Baldwin and Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson]. The 90-minute special episode of Celebrity Fear Factor received the highest rating in the program's history. She will soon guest-star as Miss USA, 1965, in an upcoming episode of the popular, prime-time series American Dreams.
Born in Los Angeles, California on September 19th, Sweeney has an older and younger brother; however, she is the only daughter of their concert and studio violinist mother and their business investor father. Growing-up in a musical household, Sweeney tried following in her mother's footsteps with the violin. It wasn't long; however, before she realized her true calling -- acting. At the age of four, young Sweeney began appearing on television commercials for products such as Kodak Film. At six, she appeared on Days of Our Lives, for the first time, in the role of Adrienne for two days of flashback sequences. Starring roles on Simon & Simon, Webster, St. Elsewhere, Family Man, Brand New Life, I Married Dora and Tales from the Darkside followed shortly thereafter. In Dyan Cannon's feature film The End of Innocence, Sweeney played the role of Stephanie (Cannon as a pre-teen), and she also starred as Alice in the film The Price of Life.
Away from the studios, Sweeney stays active. Her passions are swing dancing, horseback riding, and basketball. An extensive traveler, she has developed an appreciation for various cultures and speaks semi-fluent Spanish. Her ideal destinations are Italy, France, and anywhere she can find a ski slope. She is married to her childhood sweetheart, Dave, who is a California Highway Patrol Officer.
www.alisonsweeney.com
