Kristian Alfonso, whom Soap Opera Digest called one of the most beautiful women on television, made her debut on Days of Our Lives as Hope Williams in 1983. The following year, she was named Outstanding Female Newcomer at the first annual Soap Opera Digest Awards, she earned her second Soap Opera Digest trophy in 1999 as Hottest Female Star and another this year for Favorite Couple with Peter Reckell. Alfonso, a native of Brockton, Massachusetts, won a gold medal in figure skating at the Junior Olympics when she was 13. However, a bobsledding injury ended her skating career and she began modeling. By age 15, she had appeared internationally on the covers of 30 magazines, including “Vogue” and “Bazaar.”
At the age of 16, Alfonso played opposite Rock Hudson in the NBC movie Starmaker. She played Pilar Ortega on the primetime drama Falcon Crest and appeared in the recurring role of Lauren Etheridge on Melrose Place. Alfonso also starred with Shannen Doherty and Judd Nelson in the cable TV movie Blindfold. Her other television credits include hosting the syndicated talk show Love Stories and guest-starring on the second revival of the drama series Burke’s Law. Alfonso’s feature film credits include starring in Joshua Tree opposite Dolph Lundgren.
Alfonso left DAYS in 1987 but reprised her role for a brief time in 1990. In May 1994, she returned as the amnesiac Gina (now Hope Williams Brady). When she is not at work, Alfonso enjoys spending time with her son, Gino, in their California home.
