1983-1985: Santa Barbara In the early 1980s, Reeves (then known as Melissa Brennan) began acting in television commercials to help pay for her dance classes. She worked as an extra on the NBC soap opera
Another World. Reeves moved to Los Angeles in 1984, when she was cast as
Jade Perkins on the NBC soap opera
Santa Barbara. She was seventeen years old at the time. She became
emancipated from her parents and finished high school with a
GED. Reeves received two
Young Artist Award nominations for her work on
Santa Barbara.
1985-1992: Days of Our Lives In 1985, she guest starred on
Hotel and
Highway to Heaven. Reeves received two Young Artist Award nominations for her work on
Days of Our Lives. Reeves played Heather in the thriller film
Summer Camp Nightmare (1987). She guest starred on
The Hitchhiker. In 1992, they won Soap Opera Digest Awards for Best Love Story and Best Wedding. In 1992, Reeves was nominated for a
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series.
1992-1999: Leaving Days Reeves played Jennifer Horton Deveraux in the
Days of Our Lives television film
One Stormy Night (1992). She also played Jennifer in the
Days of Our Lives television film,
Night Sins (1993). In 1994, she won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Female Star. She played Jennifer in the
Days of Our Lives television film
Winter Heat (1994). In November 1995, Reeves abruptly left
Days of Our Lives. Rumors began to circulate when she didn't attend the 30th anniversary party for
Days. In a statement, Reeves said, "I'm at a point in my life where I need to spend more time with my husband Scott, and our daughter."
Soap Opera Digest reported that Reeves leaving
Days disrupted plans for a spinoff involving her character, Jennifer. In 1999, Reeves and her husband,
Scott Reeves, co-starred in the ABC television film
Half a Dozen Babies. The movie was based on the true story of the
Dilley sextuplets, with the Reeves playing their parents.
2000-present In 2000, Reeves returned to
Days of Our Lives, playing the role of Jennifer Horton. Her first airdate was October 6, 2000. She decided to leave the show again in 2006. Reeves was unhappy with her storyline and she wanted to move to
Nashville, Tennessee, where her husband works as a country musician. Her last airdate was September 21, 2006. In 2010, Reeves returned to
Days of Our Lives for a short-term visit when the character of
Alice Horton died. She aired from June 10, 2010 to July 9, 2010. She began airing again on November 12, 2010. In 2017, she co-starred with her husband, Scott Reeves, in the film
Where the Fast Lane Ends. On September 15, 2020, it was announced that Reeves had opted not to return to the role when filming began again after a hiatus brought on by the
COVID-19 pandemic. The role of Jennifer was recast with
Cady McClain. This followed criticism Reeves received from some fans, as well as her co-stars
Lamon Archey and
Linsey Godfrey, for 'liking' social media posts by conservative commentator
Candace Owens which denounced the
Black Lives Matter movement. Reeves had previously drawn criticism in 2012 for expressing support for fast-food chain
Chick-fil-A during a controversy over its
chief operating officer declaring the chain's stance against
same-sex marriage. Reeves has made return appearances to
Days of Our Lives in 2021 and 2024. == Personal life ==