User:Livelikemusic/sandbox/Ava Vitali

Ava Vitali is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Introduced by executive producers Ken Corday and Edward J. Scott, the role is portrayed by Daytime Emmy Award winning actress Tamara Braun, who first appeared on February 8, 2008, as a "mysterious woman" from Steve "Patch" Johnson's life. Braun was let go from the series and last appeared on August 4, 2008. Following a seven-year absence, Braun returned to the role on December 9, 2015, as part of the soap's fiftieth anniversary. Braun departed the soap again, last appearing on February 26, 2016.

For her portrayal of Ava, Braun won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2009.

Casting and creation
In July 2015, TV Insider broke news that Braun had been re-hired in the role of Ava, as part of the soap's fiftieth anniversary celebration; Braun began shooting on June 17, and made her first appearance on December 9, 2015.

Return (2015)
Upon her return, Braun spoke about her decision to re-join the soap for a third time, and her second time in the role of Ava in the December 21, 2015. issue of Soap Opera Digest. She told journalist Robert Waldron, "I was excited. I loved playing Ava the first time around because she was such a complex character with many layers to be explored. Playing Ava allowed me to delve into territories I had not delved into on-screen before, so it was a joy for me when I originated the character." She also commented on acting opposite James Lastovic's Joey Johnson, complimenting, "Okay, let’s talk about James. Seriously, I wish I knew what air date it was to tell you do look out for, but he just blew my mind one day. Absolutely blew me away. I was talking to everyone about it and asking if they saw his scenes. He has such a wealth of available emotions that I did not realize was in there. He possesses an honesty, simplicity and sensitivity that I don’t see that much in actors his age who are just starting out. I really enjoyed working with him and can’t wait to see his work in the future. On top of being a compelling young actor, he is an incredibly kind and gentle soul. Such a pleasure to work with him."

Return (2020)
Following the announcement of her return, Braun opened up to Soap Opera Digest about her third stint as Ava. She revealed, "I was surprised to get the call [from DAYS] — it's always nice to get the call — but I did know that a while ago, DAYS had had this [story] with initials on the door. And my dear, sweet, wonderful neighbor, who is like my mom here in California, June, watches both shows, DAYS and GH [where Braun most recently played Kim from 2017–19], since I've been on, and she told me, 'All these characters are coming back from the dead, and these initials are on the door, and they showed A.V. today! What if that's Ava Vitali?' And I said, 'Well, that's interesting, but the person playing Ava Vitali is a little busy right now,' because I was on General Hospital at the time. So, I had heard that from June, that all the people coming back from the dead matched the initials on the door." She also opened up about her feelings towards her 2015 return, stating she felt the writing left her feeling Ava "was just bad, all bad, and it made it difficult to redeem [her]."

In preparation for returning to the role, her first acting job since the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Braun disclosed the precautions of the serial to prevent any complications. She revealed: "It was so odd; I've been pretty isolated for months, except for grocery shopping, so it was wild to be around that many people again, but I will tell you something: Days of Our Lives is going above and beyond to keep people safe. I feel grateful to be over there, knowing how much they care and everything they've put into all the testing and all the cleaning."

Storylines
Ava first appeared in early February 2008, stalking Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols), a man she called "Patch" and the Brady family with whom he was traveling with in Ireland. Obsessed with Steve, she continues to stalk the hotel where he was residing at. In an attempt to delay Steve and the rest of the Brady family's departure from Ireland, she sabotages their plane. Her plan, however, was sabotaged when the plane began experiencing problems in mid-air, causing the death of Brady patriarch Shawn Brady ( Frank Parker). After following Steve back to Salem, she sees him hug Hope Williams Brady (Kristian Alfonso) outside of Steve's apartment door. She then interrogates Hope, asking if she was in love with Steve. Scared off by Hope, Ava immediately leaves the grounds. Ava then runs into Steve, promising to exact her revenge against him and his family for leaving her without a goodbye. Looking at photos of the crash victims, she stops at Hope's, wondering who she was and why she loved her dear, "Patch".

Convinced that Hope is Steve's wife, Ava is visited by a shrink who then questions her sense of reality. Escaping from her guards, Ava kidnaps Hope, whom she believes is Steve's wife Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans), and holds her hostage at the Vitali compound. Driven with rage, Ava demands Hope call Steve, who catches onto the scheme and calls Hope's husband, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and tells him to not involve the police.

Ava then pressures Steve to have sex with her, a suggestion Steve denies doing, blaming his injuries from the plane crash. Ava, however, plans to seduce Steve in hopes of making whom she believed as Kayla, jealous. Before she can execute her plan, Bo and the real Kayla infiltrate the Vitali compound. Ava, in turn, orders her guards to kill them all. When they fail, Ava shoots Hope; Bo then goes to shoot Ava, but is protected by Steve. When questioned by a hurt Hope about why she hates Steve so much, Ava goes into detail about her "almost wedding day" of how Steve left her. Steve explains that while he had doubts about the wedding, he was abducted by Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo)'s henchmen. Though shocked by the revelation, Ava becomes agitated and pops pills. Able to escape, Bo calls Abe Carver, who arrives to the Vitali compound with Roman Brady. Able and Roman are able to calm the situation, arresting Ava. While under arrested, Kayla reveals that the pills Ava were taking, we the cause of her paranoia over Steve and the Brady family. As a result of her actions, Ava's father, Martino Vitali, shows up in Salem.

Later, Dr. Lexie Carver releases Ava into police custody. Roman then informs Ava that her bail had been paid and that she was free to go. Ava's cousin, Angelo, then reveals that it was her father Martino who had her drugged. When Martino pulls a gun out, he is shot and killed by Bo. Putting her past behind her, Ava accepts a date from John Black (Drake Hogestyn). When it is revealed that a warehouse of shipment of John's has gone up in flames, Ava urges John, with the assistance of Philip Kiriakis to fight back. When John's estranged wife Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) shows up and sees him entertaining Ava, he makes it clear that they haven't been husband and wife since his accident earlier in the year, and that he was now moving on with his life with Ava. When news of a disk comes out that may contain the key to restoring John's memories, he admits to Marlena, Philip and Ava that he knew about said disk, and in a shocking decision, kisses Ava.

Moving on with their lives, Ava and John later toast to their new found relationship. Trusting Ava, John reveals his plans concerning the recent disappearance of Paul Mendez and his plans to pin the disappearance on Philip. Facing possible charges following the plane crash, Ava hires EJ DiMera (James Scott) as her attorney. When EJ alerts Ava that the new judge in her trial could not be bribed, she jumps bail, fleeing Salem. Ava returns to Salem in 2015 and reveals her plans to get Steve and Kayla back together, with the help of their son, Joey Johnson. In an attempt to con Kayla, she arrives at her doorstep and confesses that she is battling lukemia, and that her return to Salem was to make amends.

Reception
Omar White-Nobles of TVSource Magazine called Braun's 2015 return as "the first return I’m super excited for" in regards to the soap's fiftieth anniversary celebration. In her year-end review, Soap Central columnist Laurisa named Ava's return as her "Best Return" for 2015. She stated that "one ounce of Tamara Braun's fantastically evil delivery (I mean, when she looked in that mirror…), and I'm thanking every soap god and goddess that we got this one back on our screens."