<P> The character was portrayed by seven child actresses . They were: Ronit Arnoff (October 19, 1984), Lauren Ann Bundy (October 22, 1984 to April 10, 1985), Jessica Davis (December 6, 1985 to May 20, 1986), Tiffany Nicole Palma (August 7 to September 9, 1986), Ashleigh Blair Sterling (December 24, 1986 to June 5, 1990) and Christina Wagoner (August 10, 1990 to June 22, 1992). In January 1993, Alison Sweeney took over the role of Sami as a teenager . This was not her first role on the show; she had previously portrayed Adrienne Johnson as a child in 1987 . Sweeney has cited Deidre Hall (Marlena), Drake Hogestyn (John) and Wayne Northrop (Roman) as influences on her career playing the role, stating: "I learned so many lessons from them". Sweeney has said "I remember my first day at work . I was so excited to be a part of a show that I'd been a fan of". The actress also recalled her audition, and said "My first two weeks on the show I was sneaking around Salem, so there weren't a lot of lines to memorize . My first scene was with Wayne Northrop (then - Roman Brady), who pulled a gun on me and said something like' Freeze or I'll shoot!"' </P> <P> Sweeney's 20 - year anniversary in the role arrived in early 2013 . Fans speculated that she might depart from the series, but Sweeney managed to ink a new deal with the show . She said, "I am super-excited to stay, and I am so honored that they asked me to stay . The job continues to surprise and challenge me . I have already shot my 20th anniversary episode, which airs on January 6, so I had this huge milestone and it's been such an amazing journey . I love my job, I love the people I work with and I love Sami ." In January 2014, Sweeney announced she will quit the series after 21 years . She revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, "I've been on Days of Our Lives for 21 years . I'm celebrating my 21st year and I decided that it's going to be my last year with the show," Sweeney announced . "I've been on Days of Our Lives since I was 16 - years - old, and I have never had more than a two - week vacation in that whole time . It's awesome . I love Sami, I love Salem, I love my job, I love daytime, I love the fans--I love everything about it ." Sweeney's final episode aired October 30, 2014 . On April 26, 2015, Sweeney announced that she will be returning to Days of Our Lives to be part of the soap's 50th anniversary celebration, starting on October 12, 2015 and ending on November 17, 2015 . </P> <P> In April 2017, it was revealed that Sweeney would return to the serial, for an "extended visit"; Sweeney confirmed she would film during May and June 2017 . Sweeney began making appearances on October 13, 2017 . Sweeney wrapped her stint on December 14, 2017 . </P> <P> Since Sweeney has stepped into the role, Sami has been showcased as the series' primary troublemaker and "the girl you loved to hate" through her lying and scheming . In recent years, Sweeney has established herself as a leading heroine, with the show centering on the popular and controversial relationships between Sami and her love interests Austin Reed (Patrick Muldoon & Austin Peck), Franco Kelly (Victor Alfieri), Brandon Walker (Matt Cedeno), Lucas Roberts (Bryan Dattilo), EJ DiMera (James Scott), and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering). Originally characterized as the iron - willed daughter of Dr. Marlena Evans, Sami was transformed by writer James E. Reilly in the summer of 1994, converting the character from a stubborn moody teenager to a "conniving bitch", having her kidnap her baby sister, Belle and break up supercouple Carrie Brady and Austin Reed, including blackmail Nicole Walker and Lexie Carver on numerous incidents . However, as ratings declined in the mid-2000s, Sami's storylines proved to be "worn out" and in 2006, new Days head writers Hogan Sheffer and Meg Kelly converted to the character to a heroine by pairing her with EJ DiMera and later Rafe Hernandez . Recently, in 2013 head writers Christopher Whitesell and Gary Tomlin turned Sami back into a scheming vixen . With her son Will being tormented by Nick Fallon and her fiancé, EJ DiMera sleeping with Abigail Deveraux, Sami returned to her evil ways and culminated in her committing crimes such as planning a vengeful revenge towards Abby and EJ for their affair and convincing Adrienne that her husband, Justin the father in law of her son, Will, was having an affair . The character has been described as "vindictive"; a writer from the American newspaper Asbury Park Press wrote that: "she's so bad, she's good". According to Austin American - Statesman in 1996, Sweeney had talked about "longing to play a conniving troublemaker" and she got her wish and more . Sweeney stated: "It's kind of funny that I said that (sic) I had no idea that (the writers) would take me literally". Sweeney has said to have given a new word to "manipulative" during her portrayal of Sami . In 2005, Sami manipulatively created a male alter ego, Stan . During this period of time, from February to August, Dan Wells took over the role . Sami is known for her rivalry with Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker) and Sweeney has said that Sami has never had "female friends". </P>

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