Info on Kristi McDaniel

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Play Kristi For Me

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Marking Her Territory

New Info!

Kristi is appearing in a new project for PBS. It is a documentary type show called "On Tour" which first aired on June 7th at 12:00 Midnight on PBS. The show focuses on bands & behind the scenes. It comes on every Saturday now. Watch to see Kristi.


Kristi has done a small part in a movie called "Sand" starring Emilio Estevez, no release date yet. She recently appeared in an episode of "Pacific Blue" entitled "Line in the Sand" which originally aired 10/6/96. On NBC, Kristi was in 3 episodes of "Mr. Rhodes". She Kristi also appeared in an episode of "Sliders" which aired 1/31/97. Additional info on this episode is displayed below.

Paradise Lost (episode SL-315; first aired 1/31/97)

The Sliders land in a coastal community where no one seems to be over the age of 35 and they soon discover the small town's dirty little secret. -Fox

Written by: Steven Stoliar
Directed by: Jim Johnston
Music by: Stephen Graziano
Guest Stars:
  Lara Steinick as Laurie Miller
  Rob Youngblood as Sheriff Burke
  Will Schaub as Parker
  Pat Gebhard
  Kristi McDaniel as Alice
Co-Starring:
  Jeff Markey as Bud
  Gordon Jennison as Fred
  Todd Babcock as Michael Levy


Biography from NBC.COM

(Sarah) Kristi McDaniel made her network television debut on "Days of Our Lives" Sept 13, 1995 as the naive and sheltered Sarah. Born in El Segundo, CA on February 7, McDaniel's theatrical credits include Phantom of the Soap Opera" and "Rumplestiltskin." She studied acting at the Howard Fine Studios and Center Stage L.A. Additionally, she has had seven years dance training in ballet, tap and jazz from the Linda Compos Dance Studio. Away from the studios, McDaniel enjoys snowboarding and swimming as well playing basketball, volleyball and soccer.


Some Current Info on Kristi

(Sarah 1995-96) She is auditioning for pilots and has been getting good feed back. Hopefully she will be on primetime soon. She stays in touch with Mark Valley. She is also taking some acting classes. She gained much experience on Days and is using it to do current auditions. She is not sure if she would do another soap, it would depend on the character and the storyline. She just turned 18 and has so much ahead of her.

From Beth's Days Page


Play Kristi For Me

Life Is A Game For DAYS's New Star Kristi McDaniel

Interview By Jacqueline Metcalfe

To see scanned photos of this article click below
Part One (133K)
Part Two (177K)

The text of the article is below for your convenience.

    Imagine being 17 years old with only a high school equivalency degree and a local Pizza Hut commercial under your belt. Then, picture walking into a room full of beautiful teenage girls and auditioning for a part on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. And getting it.

    "I wasn’t all that nervous, insists Kristi McDaniel, who managed to snag the part of DAYS OF OUR LIVES’s latest ingenue, Sarah. I thought there would be one or two other girls. [There were] five. McDaniel’s audition was the first time she had every done blocking (rehearsing a scene to match camera shots). Blocking right there [on the set] was pretty weird, because I’d only be in front of the camera for three little commercials and that’s really nothing, she reveals. She did the best she could and then waited for The Call. I knew I did [well], but it’s nothing you can control. My agent phoned and said, You got the job.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, cool.’

    Until then, McDaniel’s only real knowledge of soaps came from watching ALL MY CHILDREN and LOVING. I watched LOVING because I was in love with Trucker and the girl he was with - Trisha! Then something happened to them, and I didn’t watch it anymore. And now? She’s getting hooked on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, of course.

    Her first DAYS included learning everything there was to know about working in television. Fortunately, co-stars Mark Valley (Jack) and Jason Brooks (Peter) took her under their wings. One day, I asked Jason, ‘Can you give me some advice?’ and he just gave me a load. Like, ‘Kristi, we might be joking around, but 5-4-3-2-1 and we’re totally into it.’ [He said] to take it seriously. McDaniel is doing that, but admits that without much experience, some days are difficult. When I have only a few lines here and there, I have the worst mindblocks, she confesses. It’s so hard to have something really small to say. You have to have energy.

    The young survivor is quickly learning to roll with the Salem punches, though. My character got a job as a stipper [at the Blue Moon] and I had to wear this skimpy, backless outfit, the actess recounts. They used three pads and put tape on the dress and on my boobs - and it still didn’t give me cleavage. It was so uncomfortable that when I went home I was like, ‘I’m getting a boob job.’ It made me so depressed.

    Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed, and McDaniel left nature alone. One reason for her young-but-level head is her close relationship with her mom. Although her folks are going through a divorce, McDaniel says she’s coming through it relatively unscathed. It’s fine, she asserts. They still have a great relationship, so I guess I’m lucky. The actess feels so close to her mom that they are moving in together in the Hollywood Hills. We’re like friends, she shares. I can pretty much take care of myself, but she’s my shelter right now.

    While her new job sounds overwhelming, it’s an opportunity McDaniel has been ready for since nursery school. I’d be caught in my mom’s lingerie having tea parties, McDaniel laughs. Or, she’d hear moaning and groaning in the bedroom, and she’d open the door. My friend would have a pillow, and I’d be delivering [a baby].

    McDaniel was so intent on launching her career that she talked her parents into letting her take a high school equivalency exam at 16. The test was so easy, she marvels. I was thinking, ‘Oh, my God, I’m going to fail.’ because I thought there were trick questions. McDaniel passed with flying colors, which meant no more formal schooling. She then enrolled in acting workshops and expanded on the performance skills she had honed through seven years of ballet, tap and Hawaiian/Polynesian dance lessons. Huh? I really wanted to get into the belly dance, but I kinda got it mixed up with the Hawaiian, she giggles. I just wanted to shake my hips and have fun.

    One thing she won’t do is shake her hips in the fast lane when she turns 18 next month. I’ll be able to legally go to stupid clubs, she sniffs. I went to this place [recently] to watch a band and everybody smelled like smoke. That whole scene is disgusting. And her love life? I’m single, she states, but you know, you always have your little ‘guy friends.’

    She’ll be making lots more ‘guy friends’ - now that she’s added a top-rated soap to a Pizza Hut spot on her resumé.

Just The Facts

Birthdate: Febuary 7, 1978

Hometown: Sun City, California

She Listens To... Portis Head, Garbage and PJ Harvey

Sis Stat: Kelly Ann is 20 and married

Hot Wheels: "I'm about to go pick up my first car ever - a pink Mustang convertible, 1967."

Biggest surprise about soaps: "I didn't know guys watched soap operas until I got the mail."

Marking Her Territory

    Hard at work becoming a soap actress, Kristi McDaniel is also learning to kiss for the cameras. How was her first kiss with Mark Valley (Jack)? "I was so nervous," she groans. "I was blushing and laughing the whole time. It's so technical! the usual question is, 'Do you get turned on?' And the answer is, 'No you really don't.' Hopefully it won't be as embarassing next time."

    Left up to McDaniel, there will definitely be another smooch with Valley. The newcomer says that her one beef with Sarah is the character's naiveté - so she's devised a way to eliminate that problem and satisfy the fans who want to see Sarah and Jack get together. "This is the vision that my cousin and I talked about." McDaniel confides. "One day, I pester and pester Jack, and he won't talk to me. Then later, he's at a party and I walk down a staircase with a ballroom dress on and he's like, 'Whoa!' He thinks I'm the most beautiful girl he's ever seen."


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