It was a big night in Pasadena when Days of our Lives star Paul Telfer walked away with his very first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.

His win came off the back of one of Xander’s’ most powerful storylines yet — the arrival of his complicated mother, Fiona, in Salem. What fans didn’t know at the time was that behind Xander’s raw, gut-wrenching performance was something far more personal for the actor himself.

Key Takeaways

• Paul Telfer won his first Daytime Emmy for his emotional performance as Xander during the storyline involving his mother, Fiona.
• The actor revealed the story mirrored his real-life grief over losing his mother more than 20 years ago.
• Telfer described the experience as both heavy and cathartic, allowing him to finally tap into that pain.
• He credited Linsey Godfrey for creating a safe space on set that helped him fully access those emotions.
• His Emmy win wasn’t just about a powerful storyline — it honored a deeply personal chapter in his life.

Turning Grief Into Art

Telfer spoke to Daytime Confidential shortly after the win, still riding the emotional wave of the night.

The actor shared that he always knew if the show gave him a storyline involving Xander’s mother, it would push him to do some of his best work — because it mirrored a chapter of his real life.

“My mom passed away over 20 years ago, just as I was starting my career,” he explained. She never got to see any of the major roles he’s played since those early days, and when this storyline came up, he knew it was fertile ground to go deeper than ever before.

He admitted there was some “crossover” between the fiction on screen and the pain he still carries.

Telfer also explained that the storyline became a kind of release. In his long acting career, he admitted that he had never truly tapped into that real-world grief. This DAYS storyline was the first time he allowed himself to go there emotionally. It was heavy, yes, but also cathartic — a way to honor both the character’s pain and his own.

A Scene Partner Who Held the Space

A key part of pulling off that level of vulnerability came from his on-screen partner and close friend, Linsey Godfrey (Sarah).

Telfer praised her for creating the space he needed to access those emotions. “She made sure that was going to happen,” he said, adding that she asked him the right questions and quietly helped him channel his real memories into Xander’s pain.

The Scottish actor admitted that he often moves too fast on set, absorbing the pace of soap production, but this time was different.

Godfrey helped him slow down — and really feel it. That collaboration turned what could have been just another emotional beat into something unforgettable.

And when his name was called on Emmy night, Godfrey’s scream from the audience made it real. This was a win that didn’t just celebrate a storyline — it honored a personal journey decades in the making.