Photo Credit: JPI Studios

In October, Days of Our Lives’ Xander had his fair share of highs and lows. For him, the month began with a big loss. However, that didn’t hold a candle to how his month ended. Let’s just say it was on a spectacularly low note. Through it all, Paul Telfer infused his character with a vulnerability that made us feel bad for Xander, even though the character did a lot of it to himself. For that, Telfer is the DAYS Performer of the Month for the month of October.

Key Takeaways

• Paul Telfer is Soap Hub’s Days of Our Lives Performer of the Month for October 2025.
• Xander’s month went from emotional highs with Sarah to devastating lows of heartbreak and regret.
• Telfer showcased powerful vulnerability, making fans sympathize with Xander’s downfall.
• His layered portrayal continues his winning streak, following his first Daytime Emmy win earlier in October.

The Nominee

Our September Performer of the Month for DAYS, Rachel Boyd (Sophia), put in another amazing performance when Sophia faced the music at the Brady Pub. It was all too overwhelming for her. She had been through so much pain and angst and betrayal. And she had told too many lies and hurt too many people.

Sophia ultimately had a breakdown, and she is still in a catatonic state. Boyd knocked every second of her performance out of the park. Soap Hub‘s Rachelle Lewis was compelled to single her out for her work in the Monday, October 20 episode.

The Top Spot

This has been a particularly fruitful month for Telfer. Earlier in October, he won his first Daytime Emmy. He took home the award for Leading Actor in a Daytime Series over such heavyweight talents like The Young and the Restless‘ Peter Bergman (Jack), General Hospital‘s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), and fellow DAYS co-stars Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Greg Rikaart (Leo).

And that was for his 2024 work. Soap Hub already recognized the actor over the summer as one of July’s Performers of the Month. And here he is again, playing the emotions of a man who continually sabotages himself, but is doing his best to become a better person.

The Highs

At one point in October, Xander was riding high. Titan may have been in shambles, but his marriage seemed to be rebounding. He and Sarah were back on track. Xander looked so happy, even though it was clear he (and the audience) knew that disaster could happen at any time.

This was a character emotionally living on borrowed time. His happiness, the type that he experienced with his wife during the blackout, would undoubtedly come to an end. And it did.

The Lows

Xander’s lows were very low. He had to give DiMera back to Tony (Thaao Penghlis) and his family. What kept Xander from hitting a new low was that he had his family by his side and backing him up. And their determination to regroup and save Titan was an uplifting moment.

Ultimately, however, Xander’s lies caught up to him. In Telfer’s riveting scenes with Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Xander finally confessed that he brutally beat up Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier). He even let her blame herself for thinking such a bad thing about him.

Since these scenes, Xander has been utterly devastated. He lost Sarah — perhaps for good — and she is cutting ties between him and the daughter he loves with every fiber of his heart and soul.

Xander’s saving grace this month is his therapy sessions with Marlena (Deidre Hall), as well as the realization that Philip has his back in every way. Telfer, as Xander, has played his character’s vulnerability, insecurity, and despair so effortlessly. And we can’t forget those sad puppy dog eyes he sports every time Xander oozes pain, anger, regret, and heartbreak…simultaneously.

The Emmy-winning actor is doing his job exceptionally well and has a good chance of earning Emmy recognition again next year.