Days of our Lives and General Hospital star Mary Beth Evans celebrates her birthday

Days of our Lives heroine Dr. Kayla Brady Johnson is fretting over the kidnapping of her daughter, Stephanie. In real life, Kayla's portrayer, Mary Beth Evans, has something far more pleasant to deal with -- today is her birthday, and she is celebrating that!

Days of our Lives, Mary Beth Evans, Happy Birthday

Mary Beth Evans and Stephen Nichols found success on both General Hospital and Days of our Lives | Image: JPI

Born on March 7 in Pasadena, California, Evans first came to the attention of soap opera fans on the syndicated serial Rituals in Dakota Lane in 1984. A few years later, she joined the cast of DAYS as Kayla Brady.

The actress was paired with Stephen Nichols (Steve "Patch" Johnson), and the couple's electric chemistry took off, skyrocketing the duo to supercouple stardom. After surviving many travails, Patch and Kayla were wed. The wedding episodes airing on July 22 and July 25, 1988, and the romantic event propelled DAYS to the No. 1 spot in the ratings!

Evans left DAYS in 1992, following the exit of Nichols in 1990. The couple would return to Salem in 2006, but first, the actors enjoyed a reunion on General Hospital. Evans played Catherine Bell, who was both heroine and villainess, and Nichols brought to life the regal Stefan Cassadine.

Evans took on the role of Sierra Esteban on As the World Turns (originated by Finn Carter) in 2002, appearing in Oakdale sporadically until the show's finale in 2010.

Days of our Lives, he ain't heavy, he's my brother, Bo

Kayla was there for Bo when he was diagnosed with a near-fatal disease on Days of our Lives | Image: JPI

The actress is also known to soap fans as Sara Garrett on the indie web soap opera The Bay. In 2016, Evans not only won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Kayla, but she also won two additional Daytime Emmys, one for Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series, for playing The Bay's Sara, and another as one of The Bay's producers in the category of Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series.

Her role as Kayla, however, is the part that Evans has played the longest, and has endeared her to soap opera fans. In fact, there was a rise in the number of little girls who were given the name "Kayla" in the 1980s and 1990s, which has been attributed to Evans's role on DAYS.

Many doctors have come and gone from Salem University Hospital over the years. Today, it's Evans's Dr. Kayla Brady Johnson who is synonymous with the beloved institution.