Michelle Stafford (born September 14, 1965) is an American actress, screenwriter and producer. She currently plays Phyllis Summers on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, for which she has won three Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2013, Stafford created and starred in her own comedy web series, The Stafford Project. She also played Nina Reeves on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital from 2014-2019.
Early life Stafford was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents moved her and her older sister, Janine, to Montrose, California, where she was raised. After graduating from high school, Stafford chased after her dream of modeling.
Career In 1990 Stafford was cast in Fox soap opera Tribes. The show was canceled after 3-month airing on Fox. She later appeared in two plays directed by Charles Durning in Los Angeles stage, and co-starred in several small films.
In October 1994, Stafford began what was supposed to be a short term role of Phyllis Summers on the American CBS Daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless; however, her work impressed the producers and she was placed on contract. In 1997, Stafford left the series to pursue other career opportunities, and she was replaced by Sandra Nelson. In 1997 she was cast in Aaron Spelling primetime soap opera Pacific Palisades as lead character, but show was canceled after 13 episodes. She later guest-starred in Two Guys and a Girl, Diagnosis: Murder, and JAG. In film, Stafford appeared in 1999 thriller Double Jeopardy opposite Ashley Judd.
In July 2000, Stafford was brought back to the soap opera by former head writer Kay Alden. From December 2006 to February 2007, Stafford played dual roles on Y&R, portraying Sheila Carter, formerly played by Kimberlin Brown (Sheila had plastic surgery to look like Phyllis). In May 2013, it was announced that Stafford would be exiting the soap opera after sixteen years in the role. Stafford later confirmed that her final scenes would air sometime that August. Stafford exited the series on August 2, 2013.
In 2004, Stafford was a hockey correspondent for The Best Damn Sports Show Period. Stafford starred in Lifetime movie Like Mother, Like Daughter in 2007. In 2007, Stafford appeared on Tyra Banks' talk show to help Tyra through "soap opera school." In 2012 she appeared as Lauren on the web series The Grove, created by Crystal Chappell. She also guest-starred in Frasier, Charmed, and Ringer. She subsequently launched her web series, The Stafford Project, based on her personal life and struggles, with the first episode premiering on her YouTube Channel on August 5, 2013. The series received positive reviews from critics. Michael Logan of TV Guide appreciated the web series, calling it "terrific and audacious" and saying that "there's never a dull moment in the life of Michelle Stafford". Jamey Giddens of the entertainment website Zap2it said that Stafford is "as viable and fiery as ever", calling The Stafford Project "insanely-funny".
In 2014, Stafford returned to daytime television with the role of Nina Clay, the wife of Dr. Silas Clay (Michael Easton) on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Stafford's long-rumored addition to the cast was made official when her character Nina, the presumed-dead wife of Silas, suddenly appeared at the very end of the episode on May 1, 2014. In 2015, she co-starred alongside Tom Sizemore in the independent film Durant's Never Closes.
In 2016, Stafford launched a skincare product line called Skin Nation. The products are said to be organic, natural, gluten free, and certified cruelty-free by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). In 2019, it was announced that she would leave General Hospital as Nina Reeves and reprise her role of Phyllis Summers on The Young & the Restless.Various citations concerning the casting switch of Phyllis Summers:
Personal life Stafford's first child, a daughter, was born via a gestational surrogate in December 2009. In October 2015, Stafford had a second child, a son, by the same process.
She is a member of the Church of Scientology.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1993Body of InfluenceMadam1999Double JeopardySuzanne Monroe2000AttractionSuzanne2002LostRachelShort film2002CottonmouthRenee Alexander2003Vampires AnonymousTaffeta Munro2007Totally Baked: A Pot-U-MentaryJessica20083 Days GoneDetective Holloway2008CaraAgentShort film2013ParkerPhyllis Summers2014On Georgia's Mind TriciaShort film2015Earth Fall Nancy2016Durant's Never Closes Suzie Durant
Television Year Title Role Notes1990TribesFrankieSeries regular, 13 episodes1994Another Midnight RunHotel GuestTV movie1994RenegadeLauren JessupEpisode: "The Posse"1994Models Inc.Girl in the toiletsEpisode: "Blind by Love"1994–1997, 2000–2013, 2019–presentThe Young and the RestlessPhyllis SummersSeries regular1997Pacific PalisadesJoanna HadleySeries regular, 13 episodes1998PlayersVanessa EvansEpisode: "Wrath of Con"1998Two Guys and a GirlAprilEpisode: "Two Guys, a Girl and a Softball Team"1999Diagnosis: MurderTrishEpisodes: "Gangland: Part One" and "Gangland: Part Two"1999JAGSuzanne MooreEpisode: "Contemptuous Words"2000V.I.P.Nancy BiggsEpisode: "Val Point Blank"2001FrasierHeather MurphyEpisode: "The First Temptation of Daphne"2002Judging AmyLinda BarnesEpisode: "The Bottle Show"2005ClubhouseSydneyEpisode: "Between First and Home"2005CharmedMandiEpisode: "Desperate Housewitches"2007Like Mother, Like DaughterDawna WilliamsTV movie2011RingerPeggy LewisEpisode: "If You Ever Want a French Lesson..."2013 The Stafford ProjectHerselfWeb series, also writer and executive producer2014–2019General HospitalNina Reeves Series regular2015Secret Mind of a Single MomMichelleWeb series
Awards and nominations +List of acting awards and nominations for Michelle Stafford Year Award Category Title Result 1996 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 1996 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Female Newcomer The Young and the Restless 1997 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 1997 Soap Opera Digest AwardOutstanding Villainess The Young and the Restless 2001 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Female Scene Stealer The Young and the Restless 2003 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 2003 Soap Opera Digest AwardOutstanding Lead Actress The Young and the Restless 2004 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 2005 Daytime Emmy Award Most Irresistible Combination (shared with Peter Bergman) The Young and the Restless 2005 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 2005 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress The Young and the Restless 2007 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 2008 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 2010 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 2011 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 2013 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Young and the Restless 2023 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless 2024 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless
See also List of longest-serving soap opera actors
References
External links
Michelle Stafford's Website