After more than a decade, Camila Banus' time on Days of our Lives has come to an end. The actress' final appearance as Gabi Hernandez came with today's installment of the Peacock soap.
Banus' exit has been a long time coming, so to speak. The actress filmed her final episode way back on April 28, but due to DAYS' production schedule, it ended up being another six-plus months before those scenes were actually broadcast.
Shortly after taping her final scenes, Banus told The Wrap that she'd exited the show.
"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," Banus said at the time.
Banus shared that she had been open to the idea of sticking around and would have considered a new contract that allowed her more time off from the show.
"But they didn't go for it," Banus revealed.
While Banus did not elaborate on what the next chapter of her life might look like, the Days of our Lives actress did share that she and husband Marlon Aquino are trying to start a family. "[T]hat's another big factor in possibly just slowing down for a little bit," Banus explained.
Banus said it was "bittersweet" to be exiting the show she'd called home since October 2010.
"I think I'm at a time in my life where personally, it's a good time for me to step away and just take a reset," Banus told Soap Opera Digest.
The Emmy-nominated actress did offer a glimmer of hope to fans about a possible return down the road.
"It's going to be hard for me to let go of Gabi," she shared. "But I think with soaps and the way that we work, it's never always a for-sure good-bye."
Banus made her Days of our Lives debut on October 4, 2010. In 2015, Banus received a Daytime Emmys nomination in the Outstanding Younger Actress category. She had previously appeared for about a year as Lola Montez on ABC's One Life to Live.
To find out how Gabi Hernandez was written off the canvas, check out Soap Central's Days of our Lives recap for November 9, 2023.
Are you sad to see Camila Banus' time on Days of our Lives end? Are you hopeful that she'll return? What are some of your favorite Gabi memories? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
