Days Of Our Lives actress Alison Sweeney has revealed that her mother Polly once removed her from a potentially “inappropriate” situation when she was working as a child actress and said she is “very grateful” for how her parents looked after her.
Alison, 47, landed her first TV role at the age of four and always “wanted to be an actress”. She has praised her mother and father for never leaving her “alone with anyone” when she worked when she was a child, and also for implementing strict parenting rules so she could pursue her dream.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Alison addressed recent allegations that have come to light from her fellow actresses, including Rebel Wilson, who accused her Grimsby co-star Sacha Baron Cohen of “sexually harassing her”, and Sharon Stone , who claimed she was encouraged to sleep with Billy Baldwin when they were filming the 1993 film Sliver.
“I have so much compassion… Oh my gosh, these heartbreaking stories are just devastating and I can see how it could have happened,” Alison said, before adding, “But I’m grateful that’s not my story.”
Alison Sweeney has revealed that her mother Polly once removed her from a potentially “inappropriate” situation when she was working as a child actress.
Alison began working professionally at the age of four and made her television debut in a Kodak commercial.
The Days Of Our Lives star said she always wanted to act since she was little, but her parents implemented strict parenting rules.
The actress, pictured here as a child with her mother, said her parents never left her “alone with anyone.”
“It’s really hard to compare the industry (now) to what it was 20 years ago because people talk about these things in a way that was never discussed when I was a teenager and young adult in the ’90s and 2000s and obviously before. of that.
“I’m very lucky, I’ve been working professionally since I was four years old and my mother and father were very involved in my career and every day on set, and I was very lucky to have that experience and the opportunity.
“I can only talk about my own journey, but I wanted to be an actor, I loved it so much, I wanted it since I was four years old, so I can’t believe that sometimes I wake up and this is my life.
“So, my parents were never in a situation of trying to pressure me to do the work or learn my lines or whatever. “I was the driving force behind that, I wanted to be there.”
The blonde actress, who reprized her beloved role as Hannah Swensen in the new Hallmark movie One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, explained that her parents had “a really big power structure” when she acted as a child.
“The punishment if I were bad would be to go home,” she said. ‘They said, “If you don’t keep your grades up, you won’t be able to act,” that was always the answer.
“I was driving and my parents were able to keep that kind of dynamic with me. I can’t even tell you how grateful I am now looking back on it, to have that kind of important parenting.”
He continued: ‘And besides, my parents felt the same way about producers and directors. There was a situation one time where my mom saw something and said, “We’re leaving right now, we’re not doing that.”
The blonde star is best known for playing the role of Sami Brady on the NBC soap opera Days Of Our Lives.
Alison told DailyMail.com that she is “very grateful” that her mother was “very involved” in her career.
Alison, pictured here with her father Stender, grew up in Los Angeles, so she didn’t have to move to follow her dream of acting.
In addition to being an actress, Alison also works as an executive producer and wrote her latest project.
“My parents just didn’t allow that, for me to be exposed to anything inappropriate as a child, and they never left me alone with anyone, ever, who would have created that kind of opportunity for someone to take advantage of. They just didn’t tolerate it.
And I trust it was instinct on his part. I mean, we were certainly in an era where people didn’t talk about things like that, people didn’t know about it, but my parents were like, “That doesn’t seem right and we’re not going to do it, no.” and I am very grateful.’
Speaking about the pressure that comes with children entering the industry early, Alison explained: “Unfortunately, parents often make a financial sacrifice to give their children the opportunity to go to Los Angeles.
“I’m originally from L.A., so I didn’t have to move anywhere, but a lot of kids move to L.A. to act and audition, and everything immediately becomes unbalanced when you depend on the child to work for a living.” the whole family.
‘It changes the whole situation in a way that is very difficult for families. “It’s very difficult for everyone.”
After making her television debut in a Kodak advertisement, Alison landed roles in television shows such as Webster and Tales from the Darkside before making her first appearance on Days Of Our Lives.
Alison is best known for her portrayal of Samantha ‘Sami’ Brady on the NBC soap opera, a role she played under contract with the show from January 1993 to October 2014.
After making sporadic appearances since then, she returned as a series regular in 2021, but has not appeared on the soap for quite some time, as she has been “concentrated on producing and starring in films” such as One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. .
Alison, pictured here in 2015, said it was “really difficult” to compare the acting industry now to how it was years ago.
The actress pictured with her husband, David Sanov, and their two children, Ben and Megan.
When asked what always brings her back to reprising the role of Hannah Swensen, Alison said: “Playing her is so much fun and doing it alongside Barbara Niven and Lisa Durupt and this whole cast is so near and dear to my heart. “. And they feel like family, so I have a great time working with them.
‘And the audience’s reaction to Hannah and her world and the resolution of these mysteries brings me so much joy and I love it so much.
‘They love solving the mysteries together with Hannah, they love Hannah’s interaction with her family and her sister and, you know, a possible love interest and a plan. “It’s so fun to get such a strong reaction from fans over the years.”
One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery premieres at 9 pm ET/PT on Friday, April 5 on Hallmark Mystery.