THE SCOOP

After years of hearing about her, she’s finally about to materialize. Alma Delfina is joining the “Days of our Lives” cast as the Hernandez family matriarch — Rafe (Galen Gering) and Gabi’s (Camila Banus) mother.

While Delfina is a newcomer to the daytime world, she is a well known star in the telenovela community. The Mexican born actress began her career in 1974 in “Mundo de juguete.” She appeared in numerous telenovelas throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including “Guadalupe,” “Vanessa,” “Chispita,” “Vivir un poco,” “Marionetas,” “Cañaveral de Pasiones” and “Pueblo Chico, Infierno Grande.”

After moving to the United States, Delfina guest-starred on primetime series “ER,” “Presidio Med,” “CSI: Miami” and “Skins.” She also appeared in the 2004 film “Silver City,” starring Chris Cooper, Richard Dreyfuss, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Zane and Daryl Hannah.

Eventually, she returned to her acting roots, appearing in seven telenovelas from 2004 to 2015, including “Inocente de ti,” “El Talismán” and “Cosita Linda.”

Although the name of Delfina’s “DAYS” character has yet to be announced, there are a few things viewers already know about the matriarch of the Hernandez family. She was abandoned by her husband Eduardo (A Martinez), when their youngest daughter Gabi was just a toddler. However, she managed to survive and raise four children — the aforementioned Rafe and Gabi, as well as the late Adrianna (Lindsay Hartley) and Dario (originally played by Francisco San Martin and soon to be portrayed by “Guiding Light” alum Jordi Vilasuso) — on her own.

Delfina is not the only telenovela star, who’ll be joining “DAYS” over the next few months. Ximena Duque, who has appeared in numerous Telemundo series, including 2015’s “Dueños del Paraiso,” is set to make her Salem debut in May 2016 in the role of Blanca.