Kristian-Joy Alfonso (born September 5, 1963)[1][2] is an American actress, former figure skater, and fashion model.

She is best known for playing the role of Hope Williams Brady on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives (1983 to 1987, 1990, 1994 to 2020, return appearances from 2023 to present).

Alfonso also played Pilar Ortega on Falcon Crest (1988 to 1990) and Lauren Ethridge on Melrose Place (1993 to 1994).

She was cast as Kelly Blake in the television film The Star Maker (1981), co-starring with Rock Hudson.

[6][4][8] She was asked to audition for the role of Hope Williams on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, but she declined because she didn't want to move to Los Angeles.

Soap Opera Digest said the love story was "classic in its origins and continues to make people melt: gruff boy from the wrong side of the tracks...tames the spoiled rich girl who was getting into all sorts of trouble.

"[6] Alfonso won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Exciting Female Newcomer for her role on Days in 1984.

In 1986, she and Peter Reckell received a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Daytime Super Couple.

[17] In 1988, Alfonso joined the cast of the CBS series Falcon Crest, playing Pilar Ortega.

[16] Since Peter Reckell was able to make a long term return to Days and Alfonso wasn't, the character of Hope was killed off.

From 1993 to 1994, Alfonso played the recurring role of Lauren Ethridge, a Hollywood madam, on Melrose Place.

[26] In 1999, she won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Female Star for her role on Days of Our Lives.

"[37] In October 2020, it was announced that Alfonso would join her former Days co-star Alison Sweeney in the Hallmark Channel film Chronicle Mysteries.

[38] In 2021, she joined the cast of Lifetime's four-movie V. C. Andrews event, appearing in the episodes All That Glitters and Hidden Jewel.

[39] In July 2022, Alfonso returned to the role of Hope Brady in Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, a spinoff series streaming on Peacock.

[41] In April 2024, it was announced that Alfonso would make a brief return to Days for the funeral of Doug Williams (Bill Hayes), airing November 29.

They had a long distance marriage, with Macauley based in Sint Maarten and Alfonso working in Los Angeles.