Alison Sweeney grew up on television, and her name resonates with many.
Known for her iconic role as Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives and her beloved work with Hallmark, she has become a pseudo-member of our families.
In her latest Hallmark Mystery project, A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Sweeney dives deeper into her portrayal of the fan-favorite character, Hannah Swensen, solving mysteries while baking delectable treats.
However, amid the excitement of her new film, Sweeney recently faced a personal loss with the passing of her Days of Our Lives costar, Drake Hogestyn, and she was open about the effects of the momentous loss.
On Drake Hogestyn’s Passing
Drake Hogestyn, best known for his long-running role as John Black on Days of Our Lives, was not just Sweeney’s costar but also a mentor and close friend.
His death shocked soap opera fans and left a deep void in the Days family. When asked about how she’s processing this loss, Sweeney didn’t hold back her emotions.
“It’s unimaginable,” she said, her voice filled with sadness. “I think about his beautiful family — his wife, Victoria, his kids, and grandkids. But it wasn’t just them; everyone felt the same way.
Everybody loved Drake. He touched our lives so deeply. He was so sincere and wonderful, and he just meant a lot to me. He was like a father to me, and this has been really hard. He’ll be greatly missed.”
Her heartfelt words about Hogestyn weren’t just for herself but echoed the sentiments of the countless fans who’ve taken to social media to express their grief.
She’s been amazed but unsurprised as fans have been mourning his loss online, as anyone who had ever interacted with him shares the profound loss.
“It was such a wonderful, beautiful way to mourn, to read everyone’s comments about their experience meeting Drake and that they all had the same feeling knowing him.
“It just makes you feel like everyone understands what you’re going through because they’re experiencing the same loss. He had that impact on everyone he ever met,” she recalled. “It’s just a beautiful, amazing thing.”
As someone who worked alongside Hogestyn for years, Sweeney had the privilege of witnessing the profound bond he had with Days fans. “We had so many experiences,” she reflected.
“I was at fan events with him where his line would wrap around the corner, and you’re like, ‘Drake, we’ve got to move a little faster.’ And he’d say, ‘Nope, absolutely not.’
“He spent time with every single person — everyone who wanted a hug got a hug. He was tireless. It’s no wonder so many people feel his loss so personally.”
Finding a Second Home at Hallmark
Sweeney’s connection with fans of Days of Our Lives has carried over seamlessly into her Hallmark projects, particularly the Hannah Swensen mysteries. It feels like family.
Sweeney feels the same way about Hallmark’s dedicated fanbase as she does her Days of Our Lives fans.
“When we were filming at Days, I would be thinking about the fans and their reaction and how they’re going to like the scene or how they’re going to hate me in the scene or whatever.
“And at Hallmark, I feel the same connection … see them online, and they’re so passionate, and they’re so enthusiastic, and they love these characters so much.”
That close relationship with viewers seems to be a driving force for Sweeney. “When I’m on set filming, I think about how to honor what the fans want from these movies and how to get them excited,” she continued.
“I met one of the [fans at the] grocery stores just the other day who was quoting lines from the last Hannah Swensen to me and about what she loves about Dolores. It was so great.”
Having that kind of impact on viewers isn’t something Sweeney takes lightly.
“It is such an honor and also a responsibility. You think to yourself, ‘Okay, well, then I better make it so good and so deeply intricate in places so that when they watch it again, they’re going to see something new and different.’
“They’re going to be surprised by another element of the scene that they didn’t see the first time or the second time. So I spend a lot of time trying to create those kinds of nuances because I know that they do.”
What to Expect from A Sprinkle of Deceit
In A Sprinkle of Deceit, the latest installment in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series, fans can expect to see more of Hannah navigating her life in Lake Eden while getting entangled in another murder mystery.
Sweeney discussed the importance of balancing humor and seriousness in the franchise. It’s no surprise that Barbara Niven’s Dolores provides much of the comedic relief.
“It’s a tricky balance,” Sweeney acknowledged. “You want to honor the murder mystery and how high the stakes are, but Dolores opens us up to comedy.
“Hannah is always the straight man, thinking, ‘Oh, my mother,’ and it creates these comedic moments. Barbara delivers every time, and it’s fun to play off that while still maintaining the tension of the mystery.”
Speaking about her character’s growth, Sweeney shared that Hannah’s relationship with Chad, played by Victor Webster, is a breath of fresh air for Hannah.
“He doesn’t just go along with Hannah’s antics. He puts up some roadblocks there and brings some seriousness to the situation, which I think is a perfect balance for these movies.”
Hannah and Chad’s Slow Burn
Their relationship may also be taking a new turn. “I love a slow burn,” she said with a smile.
“I think it’s really fun to stretch it out and really play out every element of their getting-to-know-each-other dynamic.
“And then, of course, you have Dolores, who’s busily planning, pushing them together, desperate for a date for them, and basically has a wedding date set for them. So you kind of have push-pull dynamics there.
“And in this next movie, you’re going to see a little bit more of Hannah interacting with Chad outside of work. Obviously, it’s always to do with the crime or the mystery or the investigation, but then she connects with him on a personal level.”
One of Sweeney’s favorite scenes from A Sprinkle of Deceipt comes unexpectedly when Hannah visits Chad’s office with a theory on the case.
It kind of allows for this romantic moment to happen between them. He is teasing her a little bit, and she blushes and is embarrassed but totally attracted to him. She has to scramble to get her dignity back,” she said.
“I think they have a really cute relationship that develops.”
Dolores Makes Meddling Seem Like Fun
In true form, Dolores will be working behind the scenes to push Hannah and Chad into each other’s arms.
Dolores puts “Hannah in a very awkward situation where she’s overdressed for an occasion. She’s always dressed incorrectly for everything, which is a trait that is featured in the Joanne Fluke books that the character is based on.
“Hannah is always sort of a jeans and a boots girl. That’s her comfort, and her mother’s always a beauty queen dressed to the nines. It’s really fun to play on that.”
The Challenges of Baking on Set
One of the more iconic elements of the Hannah Swensen movies is, of course, the baking.
Fans know Hannah is just as likely to solve a murder as she is to whip up a batch of cookies. But in A Sprinkle of Deceit, the dessert of choice is far more challenging than the average sweet treat.
“Croquembouche,” Sweeney laughed when recalling the complex dessert featured in the movie.
“It’s a very difficult dessert to put together. I’m telling you that it really did fall ten times when we were doing that baking montage because that’s a hard thing to do. And then to dress it with the sugar that’s melted on it, it was really complicated!”
A Final Word for Fans
As for what fans should keep in mind as they head into this latest mystery, Sweeney offered a hint. The title, A Sprinkle of Deceit, really says it all.
“There are a lot of lies, there’s a lot of deceit going on, and Hannah’s got to wade her way through a lot of complicated characters.
“So, keep your eyes open!”
A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery premieres Friday, October 4 at 9/8c on Hallmark Mystery.
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