Eileen Davidson — who’s now on contract as Ashley Abbott on “The Young and the Restless,” but was nominated as Outstanding Lead Actress for her work as “Days of our Lives'” Kristen DiMera — took a cue from the statue she ended up winning at the end of the night. Just like the golden award, she sparkled on the red carpet during the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

The best of the best took home statues during the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards last night, and while viewers were able to see the winners accept their honors on stage, Soap Opera Network caught up with many of them for exclusive backstage reactions! Where will they put their gorgeous gold statues? And how will they celebrate being the top of the top in their field? Read on to find out!

On Thursday, May 1, nominations for the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced, and “Days of our Lives” star Eric Martsolf (Brady Black) received the happy news that he’d received his first ever nomination, although in the most unusual of ways. “I had forgotten that they were announcing it. I had an early call time and I’m in the shower at 6:00 AM,” the actor recalls of the time news began rolling in. “I get out and my phone’s just going nuts. There I am soaking wet standing there in the bathroom. I look at my Twitter, and sure enough, I found out through some fan,” Martsolf states with a chuckle while nonchalantly apologizing for the visual. For reference, “The tweet read, ‘Congratulations on your Emmy nomination, Eric Martsolf’ and that’s how I found out.”

In an exclusive interview, new “Days of our Lives” co-head writers Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas discuss what’s ahead for Salem as it resets course.

On the red carpet, “Days of our Lives” stars Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso talk with Soap Opera Network during “The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.”