Fans of NBC's long-running daytime drama Days of Our Lives were horrified in 2013 when Chandler Massey, longtime portrayer of gay character Will Horton, announced that he was leaving the show. Massey, who had just won an Emmy Award for his groundbreaking work, said he wanted to take time off to go back to school.
At the time, Will was in the middle of a passionate onscreen love affair with Sonny (Freddie Smith). Will and Sonny were fan favorites, and have been credited, in part, for the show's recent rise in the ratings. Could Sonny and Will, could Days itself, survive the loss of heartthrob Massey?
In early January, a little-known actor named Guy Wilson stepped into Will's shoes. He and Freddie Smith immediately sizzled onscreen. In one particularly moving episode, Sonny asks Will to marry him. Will isn't yet ready to take that plunge, but they profess their love for each other. A sizzling bedroom scene follows.
"I'm not uncomfortable with the scenes at all," Wilson told the B.A.R. "It never bothers me. Freddie is such a connected and present actor, so it's easy to be grounded in those moments."
He says that he was embraced by the Days cast. "I thought it would be difficult, but everyone was so welcoming and gracious," he said. "They helped me fill in the blanks and get caught up to speed."
The actor took the fan base's apprehension about his arrival in stride. "I don't take it personally," he said. "I look at it as the fans caring about the show and about this relationship. If someone you care about leaves the show, you feel uncomfortable."
Wilson is immensely proud of the impact that Sonny and Will's relationship is having. The show has a huge fan-base among older, female viewers, and has been credited with helping to turn the tide of public opinion on gay relationships and marriage equality.
"We won a GLAAD Media Award," he said proudly. "I'm honored and privileged to be part of a show that's a social institution. It's in its 48th season, and it's still trailblazing, still making headlines. These are exciting times."
And how has the religious right reacted to Sonny and Will? "I wouldn't feel the need to say much about that," said Wilson. "There are many reasons people have reservations towards this issue. Lead by example, any way we can broaden people's awareness. Act and speak by example."
Days of Our Lives airs weekdays at 1 p.m. on KNTV, channel 11. Episodes also stream at NBC.com.