A murder mystery-loving mom who does her own stunts?
You might think you know Alison Sweeney, but you have no idea!
Alison Sweeney was just 7 years old when she landed her first role.
While child stars often struggle later in life due to the pressures of growing up on-screen, Sweeney
is grateful for those early opportunities. In an interview with Closer Weekly, Sweeney revealed”
"Discipline and work ethic was always instilled in me as a kid. I was really lucky to have rock-solid
parents who helped me through the industry and didn't pressure me to do it. It was my choice,
and I always wanted to be a part of telling the story behind the scenes."
"Wanting so badly to break in, wanting so badly to be a part of it."
Sweeney has remained grounded over the years,
perhaps because she knew from the age of 6 that she wanted to be on camera.
Crediting her family for keeping her down to earth, Sweeney told Fox News:
"It's a dream come true, quite literally [...] I was really lucky.
I'm from LA, so it wasn't a big fish out of water story,
and my parents are super grounded and normal and real and tough and strict."
When Alison Sweeney was 16, she landed the role that would launch her to stardom as Sami Brady on
the popular soap opera "Days of Our Lives." In her 2004 memoir, "All The Days Of My Life (So Far),"
Sweeney wrote about what it was like to portray the iconic soap opera bad girl, revealing that
she had been a fan of the show before becoming one of its most memorable stars. Sweeney explained,
"The day-to-day turmoil in Salem provided the perfect escape from my own real-life
dramas at school. 'Days' was (and is) absolutely habit-forming. So when I was
chosen to play Sami in 1993, at the age of 16, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world."
"Sami's been through a lot the last 21 years."
Alison Sweeney made her Hallmark debut in 2013, and she's now recognized for her
role as Hannah Swensen in the "Murder, She Baked" films. The star told TV Shows Ace,
"Stepping into the role of Hannah is a bit like when I walk back onto set at 'Days' as Sami;
they both are a part of me now. I love the character of Hannah for her curiosity,
her determination and her 'no quit' attitude."
Sweeney is a Hallmark Channel mainstay, but she does more than star in movies for the network.
She's also been the executive producer of several films,
including "Christmas at Holly Lodge," "Open by Christmas,"
and "The Wedding Veil Legacy." Sweeney also produces the "Hannah Swensen Mysteries,"
a spinoff of the "Murder, She Baked" films. She's directed several episodes of the soap operas "Days
of Our Lives" and "General Hospital," as well as a short film titled "A Cow Walks Into a Bar."
Of her busy schedule both in front of and behind the camera, Sweeney told Monsters and Critics:
"It's a lot to deal with. There's always so much to think about. There's a lot of different steps."
Alongside her successful TV and movie career, Sweeney has several publications under her belt,
including the novels "Opportunity Knocks," "The Star Attraction," and "Scared Scriptless."
She's also released two nonfiction titles, a memoir called "All The Days Of My Life (So Far)"
and "The Mommy Diet." Speaking to The Real Deal, Sweeney explained,
"It was definitely a very scary thing to do because it was so new
for me [...] I feel confident about the work I do as an actress and host,
but to write a book and publish it was very intimidating."
Alison Sweeney has had a successful career, but growing up on camera wasn't without its drawbacks.
For years, she struggled with her self-image and fluctuating weight,
telling Working Mother magazine,
"From the time I was 12, I was overweight, and as a teen, I definitely struggled with
my weight. [...] It was about me feeling insecure and lacking confidence."
Sweeney has been open about her journey to a healthier lifestyle and loving her own body,
telling Dear Doctor,
"I figured a lot of people would identify with me
and maybe it would help other girls to know we're going through the same things."
These days, Alison Sweeney has a much healthier relationship with her body.
She also finds time to get plenty of exercise, telling Working Mother:
"I do a lot of cardio, especially spin classes. I also run, hike, and do circuit training and yoga.
I typically work out four or five days a week."
Sweeney has also revealed that she's careful not to consume too much sugar,
snacking on fruits and vegetables instead. In an interview with Delish, the star revealed:
"I'm an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink chef,
so I'll throw in almonds, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, dried blueberries, those kinds of things."
While her "Days of Our Lives" counterpart, Sami Brady, has had quite the tumultuous love life,
Alison Sweeney has been happily married to the same man for decades.
She met her husband, David Sanov, when they were young, telling Access Live,
"His dad and my mom played the violin for feature
film soundtracks [...] I totally had a crush on him when we were kids."
"But then when I saw her again after those years had passed, it was quite a big difference."
Discussing her strong relationship, Sweeney told Cupid's Pulse,
"Dave is my partner. [...] Each day,
we take time to ensure we are there for one another and our children."
On their 20th wedding anniversary in 2020, Sweeney paid tribute to her hubby in a sweet Instagram
post. The two celebrated the milestone during a COVID-19 lockdown, with Sweeney revealing,
"Dave and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary in our own backyard. Not quite how we’d planned
it, but [...] that’s one of the best lessons we’ve learned over the last 20 years.
Some of the best adventures come when plans get chucked out the window."
"I hold the purse, and everything else behind the cameras."
Alison Sweeney and husband David Sanov have two kids together.
The couple welcomed their son, Benjamin Edward, in 2005. Daughter, Megan Hope,
followed in 2009. The couple decided to eschew unique monikers for their kids,
in favor of something more traditional. As the Hallmark star told People:
"There have been a lot of quirky, unusual celebrity baby names.
But we wanted people to be able to spell it. We wanted it to be more timeless."
Sweeney threw herself into motherhood and has always prioritized her kids,
telling Smashing Interviews:
"For me, it's important to create that stability for them in their lives.
I love being a mom, and I love everything that we do. It's been fun to spend time with them at home,
even if it's just making dinner or helping them with their homework."
Like many working parents, Sweeney has to balance a busy work life and her family.
With two kids at home and a hectic shooting schedule,
the actor revealed that she has to stay organized, telling Soaps.com:
"It's definitely busy, and I try to focus on just doing things one day at a time,
not overwhelming myself [with] how big my responsibilities are for the whole week.
I just think, 'Okay. Today I'm going to do this.'"
She also makes sure to carve out time with her husband, whether that means cooking meals or
having a late-night snack after their kids have gone to bed. As she explained to Cupid's Pulse,
"At the end of the day, your relationship and love is the anchor of your busy lifestyle,
and if you make that a priority, you'll be able to tackle all else together."
Having spent most of her life on television, Alison Sweeney has amassed quite a hefty fortune.
However, the former "Biggest Loser" host is very careful with her money. Far from
living a lavish lifestyle, Sweeney is actually quite budget-conscious, telling The Real Deal:
"When you have kids, they are your priority,
and all I think about is making sure we save for a rainy day, making sure we have
our kids' education fund set aside, making sure that we know their lives are set up."
As for how she manages to hang on to her cash,
Sweeney's hectic schedule makes saving money a little easier. As the star told The Real Deal:
"I'm busy working, and I don't have time to spend a lot of money."
Alison Sweeney is almost synonymous with Hallmark at this point,
and the collaboration is only getting stronger. In fact, the "Chronicle Mysteries" star is extremely
dedicated to the network, and has lots of plans for future Hallmark projects. It would seem that
Sweeney's family approve of her involvement with the network, as she explained to People:
"My kids [...] love the mysteries. It's so cute [...] My daughter's very skeptical of
every character that walks on. She's like, 'I think they did it.' I'm like,
'No one's been murdered yet. In the next act.' So she's ready to solve the crime."
Sweeney also revealed that her husband is a very useful person to have on hand when
she's filming murder mysteries too. The Hallmark stalwart told People,
"My husband [David Sanov, 49, a former highway patrol officer], he always lends a hand and gives
me advice on some of the cop dialogue in the scene. So I get inside information on that."
"Were you wearing your uniform?"
"You betcha." *scoff* "Uh, hello?"
"It's a showstopper, I'm a big fan."
"It didn't hurt."
Alison Sweeney has starred in many different projects for Hallmark over the years, from festive
favorites like "Good Morning Christmas!" to romances like "The Irresistible Blueberry Farm."
Then there are the mysteries, like the "Murder, She Baked" and "Chronicle Mysteries."
While she clearly loves everything she does, Sweeney admitted that she
has a soft spot for making mystery movies because she loves doing her own stunts.
Speaking to Monsters & Critics, Sweeney explained:
"I love the mysteries because of the action scenes. I love the stunt scenes. That’s my
favorite. And of course, the producers, my partners always tease me that I’m trying to
get myself into every stunt possible. They’re like, Ali, you’re not allowed to do that.
I’m like, ‘oh, but I asked the producer, asked myself, and I said it was okay.'"
Luckily for fans, Sweeney appears to have no plans to stop making Hallmark movies,
or to stop doing her own stunts, anytime soon.