Returning Royalty

Susan Seaforth Hayes, who portrayed the popular character Julie Olson Williams on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” for 16 years before leaving in 1984, will resume playing the role in January.

Seaforth Hayes joined “Days” in 1968 and met her husband, actor Bill Hayes, on the show. One of soapdom’s reigning couples, they were the first soap actors to grace the cover of a non-entertainment national magazine, Time, in 1976.

For the past five years, Seaforth Hayes played JoAnna Manning on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” until leaving earlier this year.

Hayes was noncommittal about whether her husband would also rejoin “Days,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year. When she left the soap in 1984, her character was last seen going off to Europe.

Said the actress: “I feel wonderful about going back.”