Exclusive Interview: Days of our Lives Jen Lilley talks Jimmy Stewart, the Movieguide Awards, and A Royal Setting

Days of our Lives Jen Lilley knows a thing or two about supercouples, as her character Theresa’s parents are the legendary duo, Shane and Kimberly. Now, Lilley is bringing to life half of a real-life supercouple in Jimmy, which tells the love story of Jimmy Stewart and his wife, Gloria. Soap Central caught up with Lilley on the red carpet for the 33rd Annual Movieguide Awards, airing tonight on Great American Family, to chat with her about Jimmy and more!

Days of our Lives, movie magic

Jen Lilley of Days of our Lives and Jillian Murray at the 33rd Annual Movieguide Awards | Image: JPI

“I’m so excited to be at the Movieguide Awards,” Lilley shared with Soap Central. “I’m presenting a screenwriting award.”

The 33rd Annual Movieguide Awards, airing tonight, March 5, at 8 p.m. on Great American Family, honor the year’s most inspirational and family-friendly films and television programs. Cameron Mathison (Drew, General Hospital) is this year’s host!

Lilley is also celebrating her upcoming role as Gloria Stewart, wife of the late, great movie star Jimmy Stewart (It's a Wonderful Life), in the biopic titled Jimmy. KJ Apa, who played Archie on the CW series Riverdale, is playing Jimmy.

“She was the love of his life,” Lilley shares of Jimmy and Gloria. The actress did her research on the Stewarts so that she could bring as much authenticity to the project, set to hit theaters in November, as possible.

A loving, blended family, all the Days of our Lives

Theresa and Brady on Days of our Lives | Image: JPI

“Gloria had two boys [from a previous marriage], and Jimmy adopted them as her own,” Lilley shares. “Then, they had two girls together, so I very much relate to her in every way. [People who knew them] have said that they were the most down-to-earth, wonderful couple that they’d ever met.”

While Stewart had done some acting, she’s mostly known, in terms of her TV appearances, as herself, appearing alongside her husband on game shows like Password. “I watched a lot of old Passwords,” Lilley says. “We also worked with a wonderful dialogue coach to get the 1940s [voice].”

Gloria preceded Jimmy in death by a few years. “He had a pacemaker,” Lilley shares, “and when it was time to change out his battery [he declined] because he loved her so much.”

Working with Apa, Lilley says, was “great. He’s so talented, and he did such a phenomenal job. The first thing you need to nail if you’re going to play Jimmy Stewart is his voice, and [KJ] sounds exactly like him.”

A Royal Setting romance

In addition to Jimmy, Lilley has another movie coming out, A Royal Setting, set to air on Saturday, March 28 at 8 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel. Lilley’s character, Ruby, is hired by Prince Luca (Dan Jeannotte, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) to restore some royal jewels. Might Ruby end up with a ring on her finger or a tiara on her head?

Lilley’s journey on DAYS as Theresa was powerful. Theresa arrived as a troublemaker and left as a heroine. While the actress isn’t stepping foot in Salem anytime soon, she does say, “I absolutely loved my time on DAYS.”