Kristian Alfonso days hope
Credit: Image: John Paschal/JPI

Proof soap opera actors are some of the best in the business.

After Kristian Alfonso made the shocking announcement that she was leaving Days of Our Lives, just about every entertainment outlet wanted to talk with her. Access Hollywood was no different. The actress’ July interview with the entertainment show resurfaced this past week reminding us of the shocking casting reveal she made. It seems an A-list star once auditioned for the role of Bo Brady. You may have heard of him – He’s an actor named Tom Cruise.

Talking with Access Hollywood co-host Scott Evans, Alfonso recalled that a week after landing the role of Hope, she was asked to come in to read with the actors auditioning to play Bo. She was so nervous and insecure, she implored her agent to tell them she was unavailable. Alfonso laughed as she remembered thinking at the time, “If they see me again, I am terrified they’ll realize they made the wrong choice and they’re going to cancel that contract!”

More: Peek inside Kristian Alfonso’s dressing room

Alfonso got her wish and didn’t test with the Bos, but she heard a story years later from a stage manager who sat next to Tom Cruise on a flight. As they talked, Cruise mentioned he was one of those actors who tested for the role of Bo. “Insane, right?” Alfonso said with a smile when Evans reacted with shock to her story.

Tom Cruise is known as an action star and romantic lead, and his early roles in The Outsiders and All the Right Moves were bad boy-esque, so it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine him in the part. But do you think Bo and Hope would have become the iconic super couple they became with Cruise in the role? More importantly, how impressive is it that Peter Reckell beat out the man who went on to become one of the biggest Hollywood stars for the job?

As you ponder how differently things could have been if Peter Reckell hadn’t become the legendary Bo Brady, the time is nearing when we also have to ponder a Salem without his better half, Hope Brady. Though executive producer Ken Corday said the door will always be open for her to return, Alfonso stated she has no plans to do that or to pop in once in a while as so many other Days of Our Lives actors do.

When it comes to her current storyline, Alfonso chimed in on social media about her and Ben searching for the missing Ciara. The actress agreed with fans who think Hope should lash out at Ben for his role in her daughter’s disappearance and can’t believe Hope would blindly believe Vincent’s word that Ciara is dead. We couldn’t agree more.

As we prepare for Hope’s exit, expected next week, sound off below on a world where Tom Cruise is a soap opera star and Salem exists without Hope Brady and Kristian Alfonso. Then, look through our photo gallery of Bo and Hope’s love story and get your free daily soap-opera fix for Days of Our Lives — and all of the other daytime dramas — delivered straight to your email inbox by signing up for Soaps.com’s newsletter.

Video: Access Hollywood