Michelle Stafford

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SOAP STAR STATS

Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R)

Vital Statistics

THE 411

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michelle Stafford made the trek to California as an infant. 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. None of the modeling agents in town were interested in her because she lacked the look they were searching for. After a year of struggling, she landed an agent, who helped her book television commercials.

Just as she was finally breaking into modeling, she developed a brain tumor. Her eyelid kept swelling, which led to the diagnosis. With the help of her family (her parents were now divorced, and her mom since remarried), she recovered and leapt back into her career.

Luck was with Stafford this time around. She signed with L.A. Models and found herself doing runway shows all over the world. Despite the success, her mind kept drifting to acting. When she first left modeling, Stafford landed a role on the soap TRIBES, but after the show was canceled, she was unemployed for three years. Determined as always, she threw herself into episodic work until she finally landed the role of Phyllis on Y&R.

She settled in happily at Y&R until 1997, when negotiations for a new contract fell through. Stafford assumed that the show didn't want to re-sign her, so she started auditioning and landed the role of good girl Joanna (the polar opposite of Phyllis) on Aaron Spelling's nighttime soap, PACIFIC PALISADES. Y&R quickly recast Phyllis, but Sandra Nelson didn't last and left in 1999. In 2000, Stafford decided to return to Genoa City and breathe new life into scheming Phyllis, who remains one of the most complex, beloved characters on Y&R.

ET CETERA

—In 2004, Stafford was the hockey correspondent for BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD.
—She is a huge fan of the band Live.
—Won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1997, and one for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2004.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Other Soap Roles
PACIFIC PALISADES (Joanna, 1997)
TRIBES (Frankie, 1990)
TV Roles
CLUBHOUSE (Sydney, 2004)
JUDGING AMY (Linda, 2002)
FRASIER (Heather, 2001)
V.I.P. (Nancy, 2000)
JAG (Suzanne, 1999)
DIAGNOSIS MURDER (Trish, 1999)
TWO GUYS, A GIRL AND A PIZZA PLACE (April, 1998)
Fim Roles
Double Jeopardy (Suzanne, 1999)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"Once I went red, compliments of Clairol, I got more modeling work." — On her career, Soap Opera Digest, 6/6/95

"It just comes out! It's like projectile communication [laughs]." — On her notoriously racy language during interviews, Digest, 8/22/00

"We love doing love scenes. It's fun. You get to make out with somebody. All the time. There are no ramifications. There's no, 'You didn't call me. How come you didn't call me?' You don't have to deal with that. And you're married." — In an interview with co-star Peter Bergman (Jack), Digest, 10/16/01

"Phyllis is like a cross between Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction and Faye Dunaway in Network." — On what movie character is most like her Y&R character, Digest, 9/28/04

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

www.michellestafford.com

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