jen lilley charles shaughnessy mckenna grace erika slezak soap opera alum news
Credit: Image: Jill Johnson/JPI

Soap opera alums bring drama, royalty and more to life in primetime and film.

Soaps.com is back with new projects to include a Paris movie shoot, two exciting primetime gigs, plus a big movie role featuring former soap opera stars from Days of our Lives, General Hospital, One Life to Live, and The Young and the Restless.

Becoming Royal

Charles Shaughnessy has made a career of playing debonair men of mystery, whether as Shane Donovan on Days of our Lives or Maxwell Sheffield on The Nanny. Now he will also portray royalty, as Britain’s Prince Charles in the upcoming Lifetime movie, Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal. The film is a sequel to the feel-good channel’s previous Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance and follows the real-life couple, portrayed by a new set of actors (Charlie Field and Tiffany Marie Smith), as they prepare for their wedding day and navigate their first year of marriage. The cast is currently filming in Vancouver and will make a Memorial Day premiere on Monday May 27 at 8:00 PM EST on Lifetime.

Paris, Wine and Romance

Jen Lilley (Theresa Donovan, Days of our Lives; ex-Maxie Jones, General Hospital) is set to star in Paris, Wine and Romance, part of the Hallmark Channel’s annual Countdown to Summer series. The actress gushed about the new role while on location in the City of Lights, writing on Instagram that she is “Soaking up the last moments in Paris but eager to get home to my 3 favorite boys. 💕💕 Thank-you @hallmarkchannel for another magical movie. Can’t wait for you all to see this one! #AParisRomance Part of #CountdowntoSummer ☀️” Hallmark tells Soaps.com that Lilley will portray Isabella, owner of an Oregon winery that she hopes to make world-renowned after entering a prestigious wine competition in France, where she faces off against the charming Jacques. Tune in May 4 at 9:00 PM.

More: Exclusive, Marci Miller on life after Days

Ghostbusters

Fresh off a turn as a young Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, Young and the Restless alum (ex-Faith Newman) Mckenna Grace will star in Ghostbusters Afterlife, as the daughter in a family led by a single mother, portrayed by Carrie Coons (The Leftovers), and includes a brother, played by Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things). The film will not be connected to the 2016 all-female film.

More: Fun facts, this month in soap opera history

Blue Bloods

One Life to Live alum Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord Buchanan) will guest star on the CBS drama Blue Bloods in its May 3 episode. Slezak wrote on her website that her character is featured opposite retired NYC Commissioner Henry Reagan (Len Cariou) and young actress Tana Sirois, who will play her granddaughter. “It was a long but wonderful day and the entire crew, director John Behring, and the writer, Daniel Truly, were all so terrific and easy and helpful. Just the nicest crew, made me feel so welcome and happy. It was as if I had been back with our lovely people at OLTL, the best ever.”