CHARACTER STUDY: Actors offer Insight Into their Alter Egos

Galen Gering(Rafe, DAYS)

- Janet Di Lauro

How is the Rafe you're playing today different from the Rafe who debuted in Salem? When I was first cast, Rafe was certainly less experienced with regards to the comings and goings of Salem. He was faced with the hijinks of Sami and was in a new town.

With experience and exposure to Salem, he's a little more easygoing now. There's a lot that's happened over the decades that Rafe has been in town. Not that he's become jaded, but he's been exposed to myriad things. So he's become a little more relaxed in the face of adversity, certainly as a cop. Every single day you're faced with kidnappings, baby swaps, murders.... I think Rafe had the impression that he was coming to a small town where not a lot was happening, but clearly that's not been the case at all. There are a lot of high stakes, which make for compelling storytelling. Now it's like, 'Okay. Just another day in Salem. He's become well-versed with the insanity that is Salem and has learned to roll with the punches a little better over time.

You started out as a special agent, then became a cop. Did you like the transition? Rafe came in to look after Sami, because she was in the witness protection program. Then he quickly transitioned to the Salem PD after that. It's great. It's super-fun. I get to interact with so many different people, and I'm involved in a lot of the stories that are happening. As a character, you don't necessarily always have to be in a relationship. Your relationship can be as the commissioner or police officer to the town and not in terms of you with a girl. With that said, it's great to have both.