Victoria Konefal on Joining Days and Ciara’s Messy Relationships

Drama, self-realization and strength ahead for Ciara.

Victoria Konefal began airing as Ciara Brady on Days in December 2017. Since the day she rode back into town on her father Bo’s motorcycle, she’s butted heads with her niece and once close friend Claire, become closer to Tripp and discovered her mother’s fiancé had sex with someone else, even though Hope and Rafe were broken up at the time. Soaps.com recently spoke with Konefal to get a little scoop on all of that and more.

Soaps.com: You’ve been on Days of our Lives for a while now, how are things going? Are you feeling settled in?

Konefal: Things are going great! The studio feels like a second home to me. I am always excited when I come into work and that’s not going to change.

Soaps.com: What was your knowledge of Days, or soaps in general, before landing the role?

Konefal: I used to watch Days with my mom when I was younger! I was really young so I don’t remember much but my mom was an avid fan. She watched it every day for years to learn English when she first moved to America!

Soaps.com: Were you aware of the legacy you were stepping into as Bo and Hope’s daughter?

Konefal: My mother’s favorite characters on the show happened to be Hope and Bo Brady, so naturally she made me very aware of who Ciara Brady was and how important her parents were in Salem.

Soaps.com: Did you feel pressure from that or from taking over from another actress?

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Konefal: I’ve never been one of the leads in a TV show before, let alone a show that airs every single day. It was definitely nerve-wracking in the new experience kind of way, but I never felt pressured. I just felt very motivated to do great work. The show itself is a legacy and my goal was to give the fans a Ciara they would love or grow to love despite me not being a familiar face.

Soaps.com: You were at the Day of Days event last fall. What was that experience like for you? Were you prepared for the strong fan devotion?

Konefal: Day of Days was so much fun. My attendance was a surprise so I didn’t arrive until the very end, which took away some of the nerves. I had more time to get ready and put myself in a relaxed state of mind. The experience was truly overwhelming. I had no idea how dedicated our fans were until I saw it with my own eyes. Fans flew in from all over America to see us! I’m amazed at how much they cared about us. It was a special thing to have been a part of.

Soaps.com: Ciara came back to town with a bit of a chip on her shoulder, especially in regards to Claire. How would you categorize their relationship now?

Konefal: They really do miss each other on the inside, it’s just so hard to go back to the way things were when there was all this hostility between them. They are working on things and agreeing to try and work towards a friendship, but they have a long way to go.

Soaps.com: She seems to be jealous of Claire when it comes to Tripp. Is there a triangle on the way?

Konefal: Ciara’s friendship with Tripp has definitely blossomed a lot in the past few weeks. They are just realizing they really like each other’s company. They have great chemistry, so him getting along with Claire does rub her the wrong way. Especially because of the history they have. Claire isn’t exactly Ciara’s favorite person at the moment and I think her jealousy is coming from a fear of losing Tripp as a person. As far as a love triangle, Claire is in a committed relationship with Theo and they are very much in love, I don’t think she qualifies to be in the triangle. However, Tripp and Ciara might have something between them. I think Ciara has a little more growing up to do before she can consider being with a guy.

Soaps.com: Many fans were surprised Ciara kept Rafe’s secret about having sex with Sami. What did you think of that decision? Does she feel guiltier the closer the wedding gets?

Konefal: I personally would have told my mother immediately, but considering the facts I understand why Ciara made that decision. I don’t think she feels guilty. The whole reason why she decided to keep the secret in the first place was to protect her mother from getting hurt. In her heart she believes she is doing a good thing, regardless of what the consequences might be.

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Soaps.com: What can you tease about what’s to come for Ciara?

Konefal: I can’t say much, but I will tell you there is a lot of drama as well as self-realization coming up for Ciara. She’s growing to be stronger than ever.

Soaps.com: Will you be sharing scenes will anyone you haven’t worked with yet?

Konefal: I have some scenes with Bill Hayes [Doug] and Susan Hayes [Julie] coming up. They are amazing forces to work with.

Soaps.com: When not on the Days set, what are you most likely doing?

Konefal: I’m usually doing active sporty things like hiking, jogging through the park, playing basketball, golfing and playing on a softball team. I like having versatility in my life so I try to mix it up. When I’m not doing that, I’m spending time with my loved ones and my puppy and just kicking it back with a cup of tea and a good book or movie. I’m such an old lady sometimes! I don’t really like going out much, but when I do I have a blast.

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Photo credit: Ray Gutierrez; Jill Johnson/JPI

– Lori Wilson