Days Of Our Lives: Martha Madison Reveals Why She’s Leaving After 20 Years As Belle

Days Of Our Lives spoilers reveal Martha Madison, who became beloved for how she portrayed Belle Black Brady, leaving this year. And in a new interview, Martha shared why she chose to exit at this time. But did the Days Of Our Lives star leave the door open to her possible return?

Find out what Martha shared about her reasons for leaving Days Of Our Lives. And learn about her future goals. Get all the details below.

Days Of Our Lives Spoilers – Martha Madison Leaves Salem

Martha Madison (Belle Black Brady) filmed her final episode of Days Of Our Lives in the spring. But because the show tapes months ahead, her last scenes will likely air in November. And now Madison has opened up to TV Insider about her reasons for leaving. But the Days Of Our Lives star also reflected on why she loved the show so much after nearly two decades.

Martha recalled how Belle chose to support her mother Marlena’s (Deidre Hall) desires when she was on life support. And Madison admitted, “That’s what I signed up for way back in the day. I’d been a Days fan most of my life for storylines like that — the intertwining family dynamics and relatable struggles. Sure, we have fun escapades with stolen jewels and things like that,” she noted. 

“But the thing that reeled me in as a soap viewer was the family drama. I think Marlena’s right to live storyline was one of [head writer] Ron Carlivati’s best stories on Days. Everyone came back for it,” she recalled. 

Fan favorite of #DaysofOurLives, #MarthaMadison, is leaving the series later this year. She spoke to us about her choice to leave and more.https://t.co/1kN2kdlbAl

— TV Insider (@TVInsider) August 16, 2023

DOOL Spoilers – Belle Shouldn’t Become ‘Peripheral Character’

However, prior to Albert Alarr leaving, the then-co-executive producer told Martha that they “decided to write me off the show again. I asked why they chose me,” shared the Days Of Our Lives star. “And he said it was budget-dictated. He told me specifics about how they were going to send my character off, and then I thanked him [and] wished him well, and that was that.”

However, Madison then received a new script. “I was so confused because it indicated that Belle was staying in town,” she recalled. “But nobody had spoken to me about that. Ultimately, they said they’d like me to stick around to ‘occasionally do legal stuff.’ And ‘then, you never know what might happen after that’.”

And that turned into what Martha describes as a “lightbulb moment for me. In my opinion, Belle was never meant to be a peripheral character. She is the only child of Marlena and John,” pointed out Martha.

Days Of Our Lives Spoilers – Martha Black Brady Shares Future Plans

And finally, that light-bulb moment helped Martha make a decision. “And, after 19 years of coming and going from the show, it just finally clicked for me that they were never going to showcase the character the way I felt she should be,” she shared. “So, I declined the opportunity to recur and shot that last episode in April.”

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However, the Days Of Our Lives star described herself as “so grateful to have played Belle for two decades. But I’m ready for more. It was just time to leave.” And she shared that she feels open to moving to a different soap opera.

“I’m absolutely open to projects that would offer the chance to play a compelling character in a fun and collaborative environment,” revealed the Days Of Our Lives star. “I love daytime TV and working in soap operas. I’m a huge fan of the genre. I’d be honored to work on any of the shows. I’d just want to make sure it’s going to be a dynamic character that would be featured regularly.”

Tell us what you think. Will you miss seeing Martha Madison? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more Days Of Our Lives news.