I’m still a little sad to be typing that but I am so freaking proud of this woman you just don’t know.  Soap Opera Digest has confirmed the final taping date for Shelley & Jay (Philip).

Timing was also a factor for Hennig, who joined the show in 2007 when she was still in college and acting school. “I feel like it’s the right thing to do,” she says. “I’ve never even been out of the casting world! I’ve been very dedicated to this show for the past four years and have enjoyed every second of it and have worked with the most amazing people. But I signed a four year contract and I knew at the end of it, I’d be ready to move on and try other opportunities. It’s a bittersweet good-bye, but I made a decision with myself a long time ago and I have been preparing for this, so I have to say my mental good-byes for a while now. I just feel ready to spread my wings into other genres and see what could happen.”

Both actors are coming off of heavy story in the past year that left their alter egos in limbo. “There couldn’t be a better time to make an exit,” Hennig reflects. “I feel like I’m going out with a bang. I feel great about it creatively and I’m thankful to the writers for giving me that. It’s perfect timing for Stephanie and everyone’s been extremely encouraging in embracing my decision and supporting me,” adds Johnson. “It feels perfect. I think there were some good moments. I’ve got some really good memories. I had a great time working with everybody that I worked with.”

Hennig admits she’s a little emotional about going. “One of the last things I told Gary before I walked out was, ‘This has changed my life and I am forever grateful.’ I am 100 percent thankful for this job. Days of our Lives’s cast and crew will forever be my first TV family. Words cannot describe the relationships I have made on this show. I am not sure I’ll ever experience a family like this. Hopefully I will, but they will never replace the family that I practically grew up with. The fans have been absolutely wonderful. Thanks to them for sticking with Stephanie through the rough times. It’s been a lot of fun to play and I wouldn’t change anything.”

Sums up Johnson, “I will miss getting to come to work and seeing everybody; it’s a good group of people over there. But at this time in my life, I’m ready for something different. I feel like everything is right for that outcome.”

Hennig lasts tapes on February 2nd; Johnson wraps up on the 3rd.

She’s simply amazing… I can not WAIT to see what awaits her out in the crazy business that is Hollywood.

A week after Soap Opera Digest reported the news of Mark Hapka’s (Nathan) ouster from Salem comes word that Shelley Hennig (Stephanie) and Jay Kenneth Johnson (Philip) have both decided to leave the show. “It just feels right,” says Hennig of why she’s taking off after four years. “I have been preparing for this for awhile, so I have said my mental good-byes. I will miss the faces I see here every day, but everybody has been really encouraging and has embraced my decision…. I feel like I’m going out with a bang after last week’s air shows and I feel great about it creatively and I am thankful to the writers for giving me that. It’s been a lot of fun to play and I wouldn’t change anything.” Hennig’s last tape date is February 2. Read more about it in the issue of Digest on sale February 1.

I miss you guys so, and I’m going to be getting back in the swing of things with updating the site. I have a LOT to catch up on but I’ve done it before so I can do it again.

I’ve basically played catch up this week with Days and HOW AMAZING WAS SHELLEY?! That really needed to be placed in caps. Every day that she was on this week (01/10, 01/11, 01/14) was just captivating and awesome. I swear this is Emmy reel material!

I’m working on caps so we can have the gallery updated! If you’re late to watching this like me, I’m going to include the episode here for you to watch. Mark & Shelley were phenomenal and I’m SO upset that Days has let him go. OK, now what’s embedded is Part 2 but I’ll link them all for everyone.