Emmy-nominated actress, Camila Banus, who has played the role of Gabi Hernandez on “Days of Our Lives” for 13 years, has announced that she is leaving to “start the next chapter” of her life.
She shared this news exclusively with TheWrap. Camila’s last shoot for the soap was April 28, but fans will still get to see her on TV for many months.
‘Days of Our Lives’ Spoilers: Star, Camila Banus Says Goodbye
“There’s definitely been a lot of changes at ‘Days,’ the last couple of years, one being moving to Peacock. Although it’s been wonderful and we’ve had a super great reception, for me, I felt like that was kind of like the initial start for changes happening in general.
And I kind of just saw that as a sign for me to start the next chapter in my life,” she said. “My husband and I are trying to start a family, hopefully,” she said. “And that’s another big factor in possibly just slowing down for a little bit and seeing kind of where this time takes me.
But I’m also open to other opportunities and ready for big things. I’m just ready for something different.” Camila Banus, 32 has played Gabi for 13 years, which is a very long time. “That’s an enormous amount of time, especially in this industry where it’s such an inconsistent employment process that I call it the 99% unemployment industry for everyone,” she laughed.
“You know, you book something and you never know what’s up ahead or what may be the future for that project. So I’ve been very blessed and very lucky to have been representing Latinas and Latinos as Gabi. And I’m just ready to see how I can represent further along in my career, you know, see what the next chapter of representing will be.”
Camila said that a month before her contract was up with ‘Days of Our Lives’, the bosses messaged her, and asked her to state her terms.
“I was, honestly, open to renegotiating a certain type of shooting schedule where I would have a little bit more time off. But they didn’t go for it. And certain other factors that were involved that they didn’t go for. At first, it was just easy to say, ‘Well, if you can’t meet these demands, then I can’t,’ and move on with a new contract. But then, you know, I talked to producers and they had a call with me and they were like, ‘Well, what can we do?’ And I honestly, ‘I need to slow down. And part of that is, you know, you guys accepting this shooting schedule for me, and you won’t. So, you know, I have to respectfully bow out and say thank you, and that’s all I can do.’”
Banus said that on her last day, after everyone had said their goodbyes, she drove home crying her “eyes out.” “It’s just a really renewing and refreshing time for me. And, I think a lot of great things are to come.” She also hopes to land a role on the big screen soon. “I’m ready for pretty much whatever comes my way,” she said.
“My biggest desire is to work on films. I’m a huge film buff, and I would love to work on big budget films wherever, whenever that is. I don’t know, but I’m just excited for cultivating new characters and possibly working on something comedic. I do think that I need to stretch that out because I think there’s a lot of potential there for me. I do feel like people are really receptive to my comedic timing and I think that would be wonderful. I’m just excited for this new horizon of whatever is to come because I just love characters. I love cultivating them. The most wonderful thing about acting is playing pretend every day. I love to do that, and I can’t wait to do that with a bunch of other people and make magic again.”
