Soap operas are weird. Honestly, where else can you find a character who starts out as a literal mob princess stalker and ends up being the person you’re rooting for during your lunch break? That’s the magic of Ava Vitali from Days of our Lives. She isn't just a plot device. She's a hurricane.
Since she first blew into Salem back in 2008, Ava has been played by the incomparable Tamara Braun. Well, mostly. We had a brief stint with Mary Beth Evans playing a version of her in a dream/hallucination, but when people think of Ava, they think of Braun’s sharp cheekbones and that "I might kiss you or kill you" look in her eyes. It’s a vibe.
The Messy History of Ava Vitali from Days of our Lives
If you’re new to the show, or maybe you just tuned out for a few years (it happens, those 15,000+ episodes are a lot), you have to understand that Ava didn't start as a "gray" character. She was dark. Pitch black. Her introduction was centered around a truly unhinged obsession with Steve "Patch" Johnson.
She thought they were in love. He... did not.
Actually, she had him captive. It was classic soap opera stuff, but Braun brought this visceral, grounded pain to it that made it feel less like a trope and more like a character study on mental health and isolation. You’ve gotta remember her father was Martino Vitali, a massive kingpin in the Five Families. You don’t grow up in that house and come out "normal."
The Steve and Kayla Problem
Most fans of Ava Vitali from Days of our Lives remember the sheer chaos she caused for "Stayla." For the uninitiated, Steve and Kayla are the gold standard of Salem couples. Coming for them is a death wish in terms of fan popularity, yet Ava managed to survive it.
She forced Steve to sleep with her to save Kayla's life. It was a consent nightmare that the show has circled back to multiple times. It’s one of those storylines that hasn't aged particularly well in a modern context, but it established Ava as a high-stakes player. She wasn't just stealing jewelry; she was stealing souls.
Then she died. Or we thought she did.
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In Salem, "dead" usually just means "taking a long nap in a cryogenic chamber" or "trapped in a warehouse in Nashville." Ava's return years later showed a woman who was still broken but arguably more dangerous because she had nothing left to lose.
The Tripp Dalton Connection Changed Everything
Everything shifted when we found out Ava had a son. Tripp Dalton.
This was the turning point. Suddenly, this woman who had been a one-dimensional villain had a tether to humanity. Her relationship with Tripp—played by Lucas Adams—is probably the most "real" thing about her character. It’s messy. She wants to be a good mom, but her instincts are still tuned to the frequency of a mob boss.
She constantly tries to "protect" him in ways that usually involve blackmail or light kidnapping. It’s her love language. Fans really started leaning into the character during this era because we saw the struggle. It’s hard to change. It’s even harder when your last name carries a body count.
The Harris Michaels and Stefan DiMera Era
Lately, we’ve seen Ava tangled up with the likes of Harris Michaels (Steve Burton) and the ever-scheming Stefan DiMera. This is where the writing gets interesting. Ava has spent a lot of time at the Bistro, trying to go legit, but the mob life—and the DiMera life—keeps pulling her back.
Her "situationship" with Harris was a highlight for many. It was two broken people trying to find a version of peace that doesn't exist in a town where people get possessed by the devil every few years. They had chemistry. It felt earned. But because this is Ava Vitali from Days of our Lives, peace is always a temporary state of being.
Why We Forgive Her (And Why We Shouldn't)
Let's be real. Ava has done some irredeemable stuff.
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- She helped plant a bomb that killed Abigail DiMera (indirectly, but still).
- She hallucinated her dead son Charlie Dale and let him talk her into some dark places.
- She crashed a wedding or two.
- She’s manipulated more people than a politician in an election year.
Yet, when she’s on screen, you can’t look away. Part of that is the acting. Tamara Braun has won Daytime Emmys for a reason. She plays the "crazy" without making it a caricature. When Ava is having a breakdown, you feel the walls closing in on her.
There’s also the "underdog" factor. Despite her mob ties, Ava is often an outsider in Salem. She’s not a Brady. She’s not a Horton. She’s a Vitali. In a town built on legacy and "good" families, she’s the permanent black sheep. There is something deeply relatable about a person who is constantly trying to prove they’ve changed, only to have their past used as a weapon against them. Even if that past involves a few felonies.
The Hallucination Arc
We have to talk about the mental health aspect. The show has used Ava to explore some pretty heavy themes regarding grief and psychosis. Her visions of Charlie were haunting. It wasn't just "soap opera crazy"; it was a depiction of a woman drowning in guilt.
Seeing her in Bayview (the local sanitarium) has become a recurring theme. It’s a cycle. Sin, break down, go to Bayview, come out "cured," try to be good, rinse, repeat. It should be boring by now, but it isn't. Every time she comes out of that hospital, we wonder: Is this the time she actually makes it?
How to Keep Up With Ava’s Latest Schemes
If you’re trying to track the movements of Ava Vitali from Days of our Lives in 2026, you’re looking at a woman who is currently balancing her loyalty to her friends with the constant threat of the underworld. The show’s move to Peacock has allowed for a slightly grittier tone, which suits Ava perfectly.
She’s currently navigating the power vacuum in Salem’s organized crime scene while trying to keep her hands clean for Tripp’s sake. It’s a tightrope walk. One wrong move and she’s back in orange or back in a padded room.
Key things to watch for in upcoming episodes:
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- Her evolving tension with Gabi Hernandez.
- Whether she finally gives in to her darker impulses to "settle" DiMera scores.
- The inevitable return of ghosts from her past (because in Salem, no one stays buried).
The Vitali Legacy: More Than Just a Mob Name
Is Ava a hero? No. Is she a villain? Sometimes.
She’s a survivor. That’s the label that sticks. She has survived assassination attempts, mental collapses, the death of her father, and the rejection of the town. She is the embodiment of the idea that you can't go home again, but you can build a new home out of the wreckage.
Common Misconceptions About Ava
People often think Ava is just a "female Stefano DiMera." That's a lazy comparison. Stefano was a mastermind who wanted power. Ava doesn't really care about power; she cares about belonging. Most of her crimes are born out of a desperate need to be loved or a fear of being abandoned.
Another misconception is that she’s "fixed" every time she leaves therapy. She’s never fixed. She’s just managing. That nuance is what makes her one of the most complex women on daytime television.
Actionable Steps for the Dedicated Fan
If you want to dive deeper into the lore of Ava Vitali from Days of our Lives, don't just watch the clips.
- Watch the 2008 Debut: Go back to the archives or YouTube and watch Tamara Braun's first few weeks. The energy is completely different from the Ava we see today. It gives you the "why" behind her current trauma.
- Follow the Awards: Look up the Emmy reels for Braun. It’s a masterclass in how to play a soap character with the subtlety of a prestige drama actor.
- Engage with the "Stayla" Fandom: To understand Ava’s impact, you have to talk to the people who hate her. The Steve and Kayla fans have valid reasons for their distaste, and hearing that perspective makes her "redemption" arcs much more interesting to analyze.
- Monitor the Bistro Scenes: The Bistro is her territory. Pay attention to who she lets into her space. It’s the best way to tell who she actually trusts.
Ava Vitali is a reminder that we are all a collection of our worst mistakes and our best intentions. She just happens to make those mistakes while wearing designer clothes and holding a glass of expensive wine. Whether she’s being a "good girl" or a total nightmare, Salem is significantly less interesting whenever she’s out of town. Keep an eye on her; she’s usually three steps ahead of the police and one step away from a total meltdown.
Next Steps:
To stay truly updated on Ava's journey, check the official Peacock episode summaries every Friday. Since the show now operates on a streaming schedule, plot leaks happen differently than they did on network TV. Focus on the casting news—any mention of "Vitali family members" usually means a massive shift is coming for Ava's storyline. If you are catching up on missed seasons, prioritize the "Ava and Rafe" era to see her most sincere (and doomed) attempt at a normal life.