Shelley Hennig
ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE
SOAP STAR STATS
Shelley Hennig (Stephanie, DAYS)
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Shelley Hennig (Stephanie, DAYS)
— MITCHELL HAASETH/NBC
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Vital Statistics
- Birthday:
- January 2, 1987
- Hails From:
- Destrehan, LA
- Years On Show:
- 2007-present
- Siblings:
- A brother, Glenn
- Marital Status:
- Single
The 411
Shelley Hennig became interested in performing when she was only 2 and began taking dancing lessons. She continued dancing throughout her teen years, finding comfort in the discipline after her older brother, Brad, was killed in a car accident and her parents divorced.
When she was 16, Hennig planned to pursue a career on Broadway. However, her dancing teacher suggested that she enter the Miss Teen Louisiana pageant so that she could get some contacts in show biz. Hennig took her advice and entered, and was shocked when she won. She was even more surprised to learn she was going on to the Miss Teen USA pageant — which she also won in 2004.
After nabbing the crown, Hennig landed a day player role on PASSIONS. She also moved to New York City, where she took acting classes. While on spring break during her final semester, she headed to Los Angeles, where she met with a DAYS producer who asked her to screen-test immediately. She was chosen as the show's newest Stephanie, the part that was previously played by Shayna Rose. Hennig started work in late March 2007, a few months before her graduation in June.
Though she hasn't had much acting experience, Hennig has already captured the attention of fans and critics, who've enjoyed her character's romance with Max (Darin Brooks) and chemistry with on-screen parents Mary Beth Evans (Kayla) and Stephen Nichols (Steve). She's also tackled a tough storyline as Stephanie deals with the aftermath of being raped on her college campus. In a short time, Hennig has proven that she's a young talent to watch out for.
Et Cetera
Five Random Facts
— Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS) was one of the judges in the 2004 Miss Teen USA pageant.
— Has several poems published in the Young Authors' Book Of Poetry
— Has done work with the Louisiana non-profit organization C.A.D.A (Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse)
— Her father met President Bush during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
— Wrote a blog for Pageantry magazine's Web site
PASSIONS (Crane maid, 2004)
Miss Teen USA, 2004
Memorable Quotes
"I went through four years of high school without ever feeling it. I never showed my emotions, ever. My parents kept asking me if I wanted to go to therapy, but dancing was my life and I just did that."
— On dealing with her brother Brad's death, Soap Opera Digest, 8/7/07
"Every time we'd go eat somewhere, my friends would be like, 'She's Miss Teen USA. We should probably get 50 percent off or something.' I would turn beet red."
— Digest, 8/7/07
"I bombed the rehearsal. I couldn't remember one line for the life of me. Nerves just got to me and Mary Beth [Evans] was very comforting. I went into my dressing room and had a nervous breakdown because I was overwhelmed. I had just gotten there the day before, hadn't slept in two days. I went back out for the screen test and nailed it."
— On her DAYS audition, Digest, 8/7/07
