There are a lot of moments Days of our Lives' Arianne Zucker (Nicole Walker) wishes she could have had before she wrapped up taping for the NBC drama earlier this year, most notably the chance to work with two super popular actors who've been a part of Salem's history.
"I've never worked with him, but I have always been a big fan of Charles Shaughnessy [Shane Donovan]," the actress reveals of the dream cast mate she never got to experience working with.
However, as much fun as a zany Shane/Nicole adventure would have been, Zucker says her heartstrings were pulled by Billy Warlock (ex-Frankie Brady), as well.
"Before I was even remotely close to being on the show, I used to watch DAYS, and I loved Frankie and Jennifer [Melissa Reeves]," she enthuses. "I just absolutely loved the two of them, and I don't know why, because they weren't together an unusually long time, but it was just one of those things. So I would have loved to [have worked with] Billy Warlock."
As for storylines, Zucker is pretty hesitant to muse on what could have been had she chosen to stick around to see what new head writer Ron Carlivati would have written for the character.
"As a career woman, you have to take risks. You have to do things that you feel are right in your heart. And as much temptation as there was to stay, I made a decision for me, and I like to stick to my plans," she says. "I know plans are meant to change, so I'm open to that, but I have a direction I want to go in, and I'm building that. So as much as I wanted to stay and see what Ron had to write, I also wanted to stick to my heart and my goal and my dreams."
For more from Zucker on her decision to leave DAYS and what to expect from Nicole's exit, check out this full-length Soap Central interview with the actress.
Would you have loved to see Zucker's Nicole mix it up with Charles Shaughnessy and/or Billy Warlock? 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.
