| Jada Hunter | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days of Our Lives character | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Elia Cantu | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2022–present | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | July 19, 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||||
| Created by | Ron Carlivati | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ken Corday and Albert Alarr | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Jada Hunter is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network, played by Elia Cantu. Jada, a police detective, and the daughter of established character Doctor Marcus Hunter, played by the late Richard Biggs, made her debut on July 19, 2022. New in town, Jada begins dating Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) but the romance fizzles out due to his feelings for his ex-wife, Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker). Jada rethinks her decision to give birth to Eric's baby and terminates her pregnancy. In 2023, Jada's sister Talia (Aketra Sellivian) arrives in Salem.
Storylines
editJada arrives in Salem in 2022 to interview for a job with the Salem police department. Jada makes an impression on police commissioner Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) due to her knowledge of the investigation into the recent murder of Abigail Deveraux (Marci Miller). Rafe hires her on the spot and her first assignment is to question Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) about the murder. Jada reconnects with her father's friend Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) and his wife Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) and thanks him for the job recommendation. When Jada kills a suspect her first day on the job, Kayla's nephew Eric (Greg Vaughan) comforts her. They later plan to go on a date and Eric offers her a room at his family's pub. However, the romance is plagued by Eric's lingering feelings for his ex-wife Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker). Jada witnesses the two kiss plans to break it off with Eric when she passes out. Rafe rushes Jada to the hospital where she discovers she is pregnant. Despite the pregnancy, Jada and Eric agree to go their separate ways and raise the baby as co-parents. However, after Nicole warns her how hard it is being a single parent, Jada rethinks her decision and terminates her pregnancy.
Development
editCreation and casting
editCantu's casting was announced in the July 19, 2022 edition of Soap Opera Digest.[2] While Jada is her first daytime role, Cantu has appeared in several primetime series such as Criminal Minds, This Is Us, Black-ish, Lethal Weapon, 9-1-1 and Mom.[3] Cantu made her debut as a series regular.[4]
Cantu, who grew up watching Days, received a callback after she submitted a self-tape audition. The actress then did a chemistry test and tested for network executives. "There was quite a bit of back and forth" she stated. The next day, Cantu's agent told her she booked the role. "I was super excited. I celebrated with my dog who was with my at the time. I was really happy in that moment. I screamed. He barked." Before she reported to work on February 1, 2022, Cantu researched for the role. "I reached out and contacted people, made sure I was as true to the profession and character as I could possibly be. I reached out to actual police officers that I know. I wanted to make sure that I was handling a gun correctly, that I was doing everything I should be doing as a detective. It's been pretty awesome to be able to do the special stunts and get to handle a gun on set."[5]
Characterization
editBackstory
editPersonality
editCantu relished [5]
Style
editDevelopment
editIntroduction
editUpon her introduction, Jada is a new detective at the Salem Police Department.[2]
Relationships
editReception
editReferences
edit- ^ "Police Blotter". Features. Soap Opera Digest. Vol. 48, no. 12. American Media, Inc. March 20, 2023. pp. 50–51.
- ^ a b "Who's Coming". Comings and Goings. Soap Opera Digest. Vol. 47, no. 29. American Media, Inc. July 18, 2022. p. 12.
- ^ "Days of Our Lives Casts Elia Cantu, Who Is Playing Jada Hunter". Soaps.com. SHE Media. July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "Elia Cantu Is On Contract at Days of Our Lives!". TV Entertainment News T.E.N. July 24, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "Meet Days'S Elia Cantu". Late-breaking News. Soap Opera Digest. Vol. 47, no. 30. American Media, Inc. July 25, 2022. pp. 4–5.
- ^ Eades, Chris (July 20, 2022). "Marcus Hunter on DAYS OF OUR LIVES — Everything You Need To Know". Soaps In Depth. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ Harding, Curtis (February 3, 2023). "Days of Our Lives Is Growing Jada's Family in an Altogether Mystifying Way". Soaps.com. SHE Media. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "Cast Changes: Who's Coming". News. Soap Opera Digest. Vol. 48, no. 7. American Media, Inc. February 13, 2023. p. 12.
- ^ "February Fire: Days of Our Lives". On the Cover. Soap Opera Digest. Vol. 48, no. 7. American Media, Inc. February 13, 2023. p. 31–32.