User:Livelikemusic/Jordan Ridgeway

Jordan Ridgeway (born Tammy Sue Weston) is a fictional character on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. The character is portrayed by former All My Children actress Chrishell Stause. She made her on-screen debut on August 15, 2013.

The character was introduced as a physical therapist brought to Salem by Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) to help an ailing Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) during his rehabilitation; she soon begins to develop a relationship with Rafe, much to the displeasure of Kate, who immediately sets out to discover the secrets that Jordan has been harboring.

Casting and creation
In March 2013, former All My Children actress Chrishell Stause confirmed in a radio interview with Soap Central Live that while she had been asked to join the online re-boot of the series, she was unable to, due to being under contract with another daytime serial drama. Stause also explained she was "excited" for fans to find out which serial she had joined, due to her own excitement over joining the cast. The following month, it was announced Stause had been cast on Days of Our Lives in a then-unknown, contract role. While at the time, not much was known about her character, TVLine then confirmed that Stause would be playing a new character and would first air sometime in August 2013, due to the series' four month in advance shooting schedule. It was later announced that Stause would be portraying the character of Jordan Ridgeway and would make her on-screen debut on August 15, 2013. in an interview with the online fan community Daytime Royalty, actress and co-star Jen Lilley revealed she also auditioned for the role of Jordan; she later got the role of Theresa Donovan. Stause later revealed that while she had auditioned for one part, the show was looking to cast two new parts.

Stause also revealed she was believed to be a recast of Cassie Brady (Alexis Thorpe) or to be portraying a potential vixen.

Characterization and development
On the red carpet of the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Awards, Stause opened up about her role, calling her character "mysterious" and that she has a "big secret" being kept hidden. In an interview with On Air, On Soaps, series executive producer Ken Corday spoke on Stause's debut, saying: "Again, that is a very slow build with her character. You won’t see her working three or four times a week, at first.  She is another character who could be who knows what?  And, you will see the spark with one of our established characters, and then away we go!  It doesn’t hurt to find bonafide stars from other soaps, by the way!" Describing her character, Stause revealed, "You have to check your vanity at the door — and your eyeliner. They frisk you and make sure you’re not hiding any mascara. My character wears literally almost no makeup. But she takes her job very seriously, she’s very no-nonsense. She’s not there to humor anyone. In fact, she comes across robotic at first." She also described the character as "strong", "very smart", "very take-charge" and "all business". Following her reveal that most of her preliminary scenes were opposite Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering), Stause said of her character's first interactions with the character of Rafe, "At first he is a little thrown off that she's so impersonal. [...] And then he kind of sees it as a game, trying to get into her head and figure out who she is. He's got a fun-loving side, so he keeps trying to get past the closed-off wall she has up, and he gets shut down quite a few times. But eventually... you see him slowly break her down."

In a December 2013 interview with Soaps She Knows, Stause revealed, "Jordan does have a lot to hide. And once her feelings for Rafe get stronger she is going to have a lot to lose." With the casting of Jade Harlow in the recurring role of Sheryl, the show began developing and exploring the character's background. During an interview with Soapdom.com, Stause commented on how she enjoyed "layers to the character". In February 2014, it was announced that country singer Justin Gaston had been cast of Jordan's half-brother, Ben, with whom she shares a secret past with. Ben is described as "utterly charming" with a "slight southern accent", which may allude to Jordan's secret past and origins. Actor James Read joined the cast of Days of Our Lives as Jordan's stepfather Clyde Weston.

Storylines
Jordan arrived in Salem in mid-August 2013, per the request of Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) to help rehabilitate Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering), following his being attacked. Originally very guarded and off-putting, Jordan begins to let down her walls around Rafe, much to the chagrin of Kate. As a result, Kate begins to investigate Jordan's past, which does not settle well with her. After sharing her first kiss with Rafe, Jordan begins to pull herself from Rafe once more. At her apartment, she opens a lockbox only to reveal several I.D.'s with different names, all featuring various looks. As Jordan begins to develop a relationship with Rafe, Jordan's old friend Sheryl (Jade Harlow) from Burmingham arrives in town in early 2014, and immediately begins to stir up Jordan's past by connecting with Kate, Rafe, Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) and Lucas Horton (Bryan Dattilo). Jordan and Sheryl then enter into a conflict, over Sheryl's arrival into town; however both ladies agree to make the best of their rekindled friendship Kate then involves Lucas in her scheme against Jordan, and during a night out, Kate breaks into Jordan's apartment and discovers her box of hidden I.D.'s; Kate is then caught when Jordan arrives back early. When Jordan's brother Ben Rogers (Justin Gaston) arrives in Salem to her surprise, Rafe begins to suspect ill-intentions against Ben, but is assured by Jordan otherwise. Feeling threatened by both Kate's persistence on knowing her past, and the arrivals of Cheryl and Ben, Jordan tells Rafe she is leaving Salem; she is, however, persuaded to remain at Rafe's request. In early July 2014, Jordan's stepfather, Clyde Weston (James Read), arrives in Salem thanks to the persuasion of Kate, who makes it known he intends on getting both Jordan and Ben (Robert Scott Wilson) to pay back their debts to him.

Reception
Following the news of Stause joining another daytime drama, online social media website Twitter was set on fire. Matt Webb Mitovich of TVLine said of the casting announcement: "Things will undoubtedly heat up in Salem this summer." He also compared the character of Jordan as the equivalent former Days of Our Lives character Chloe Lane (Nadia Bjorlin) and to General Hospital characters Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) and Sabrina Santiago (Teresa Castillo) as an "ugly duckling", further describing her as having an "icy demeanor". On Air, On Soaps editor Michael Fairman also stated Stause's debut on DAYS was greatly anticipated by both viewers and critics, alike. Deanna Barnert of MSN Entertainment described the character as "a hard-working duckling just begging for a makeover". Omar Nobles-White of TVSource Magazine called Jordan "strong, assertive and focused on her career" and also described her as a "Plain Jane".