For nearly two years, Cherie Jimenez has played Gabi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives. In a recent interview, the actress discussed how she first joined the Peacock soap opera.

Jimenez appeared on the YouTube series Talk About it with Franjez, where she reflected on the casting process.

During the interview, Jimenez explained that she had originally auditioned for Days of Our Lives years earlier. “I got the audition for Days of Our Lives, and thought ‘Wow, I haven’t auditioned for Days since I was 22 for the role of Gabi.’”

Jimenez noted that the new audition sides listed a different character name, leading her to believe the part was for a relative of Gabi. “I thought it was to be her sister because we kind of look alike or to be a cousin or something,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oo, this is fun. I’ll take this audition.”

She added that the audition took place during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, sharing how the opportunity to work at the time felt like a blessing.

Jimenez recalled completing the callback over Zoom from her home in Texas. “The casting director said, ‘Do you know about soap operas? We do it in one take,” she said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve heard.’” Jimenez admitted she stumbled during the audition and worried it was over. “A week later, I find out I have a screen test.”

She explained it was at this point that she learned which role she was actually being considered for. “It said Gabi Hernandez,” she noted, recalling how she immediately recognized the characters name.

Jimenez traveled from Texas to Los Angeles for the screen test. She said the final round included five other actresses, one of whom she already knew.

She also shared a personal moment from the screen test that put her at ease. “What’s crazy is that in the show, the symbol of the DiMera family is the phoenix,” she said. Jimenez referenced Stefano DiMera, long known to fan’s as ‘The Phoenix,’ and called him “the greatest villain in TV history of the soap world.” She noted a personal connection to the symbol, “My son’s name is Phoenix.” Jimenez shared, “So in the screen test before I started, I looked over and I saw a phoenix statue,” the actress explained how that made her think of her son and be put at ease.

Two weeks later, Jimenez received a call from her team with the results. “They unanimously decided nobody else compared. You were it,” she recalled.

Jimenez said she “cried hysterically, of course with gratitude” when she heard the news. “For the first time, it was my turn,” she said, describing her reaction as “a wild feeling.”

She added that she believes the timing was meant to be, calling Gabi “a huge role,” and “a dream role.”

Days of Our Lives continues streaming weekdays on Peacock.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.