NBC is the network to watch on Wed., Aug. 22. That afternoon, the long-running (since 1965) daytime drama Days of Our Lives deals with the hot-button issue of gay bullying. It's a storyline that actor Freddie Smith, who plays openly gay Sonny on the series, is proud to be a part of. He's also quite happy with his gay role.
"I've been on Days for 16 months," Smith said in an interview with the B.A.R. "The response has been 100% positive. I'm glad that people are interested in Sonny. People tell me through Twitter and fan mail how much they relate to the storyline. Years ago, LGBT people had no stories they could relate to, this is an important part of life.''
It's not the first time the rising star has played gay. In 2011, he appeared in a five-episode story arc on the CW network's primetime soap 90210. As gay soccer player Marco, Smith was the potential love interest for Teddy (Trevor Donavan). He joined Days soon after Marco and Teddy split.
"I'm not worried about typecasting," he said. "I'm playing a sexual orientation, which is just a part of the character. I'm not playing a larger-than-life character like a superhero."
Smith said that at the moment he has no other projects in the works. "I'm totally consumed with Sonny," he said. "I live and breathe Sonny. The bullying storyline is going to be intense."
It's a storyline he hopes will bring new viewers to the iconic show. The episode, according to NBC publicity, finds a beaten, injured Sonny on the floor. He refuses to ID his attacker. He was beaten by an old friend who feared that Sonny was trying to "make" him gay. "We're showing both sides of it," reported Smith. "We'll see where Sonny and where the bully is coming from. It'll be great to see people grow and mature."
The actually bullying episode will be followed by aftermath episodes, which will include support for Sonny from Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), the show's long-running leading lady. Marlena is the Grandmother to Will (Chandler Massey), the show's other gay character. She's been a rock that both boys can turn to, though Smith told us that Sonny's dad has also been great.
Many viewers have wondered if there's any chance of a romance between Sonny and Will. "Their friendship is growing, becoming closer," said Smith. "There will be romance in Sonny's life." But the actor doesn't specify if Sonny's love story will be with Will. Guess we'll have to tune in tomorrow.
Days of Our Lives airs weekday afternoons on NBC, and weeknights on Soapnet (available to Dish and Direct TV customers only). The show had been on hiatus due to Olympic coverage, but returned when the Games concluded.