Michelle Stafford — A Biography
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michelle Stafford’s family decided to move out west to Montrose, California. After graduating high school, Stafford decided to pursue a career in modeling.
A benign brain tumor threatened to derail her plans, but once it was addressed, Michelle was back on track. After some commercial work, Stafford signed with L.A. Models and traveled to such destinations as France, Japan, and Italy. While living in Italy, her mind began to drift towards acting.
In 1990, Michelle landed the role of Frankie on Tribes. After 30 episodes, the show was canceled. As luck would have it, Stafford scored two plays, The Heartbeats in Waltz Time and Savage in Limbo, with Academy Award-nominee and Tony Award-winning Charles Durning, and earned rave reviews for her performances.
Stafford began filling her resume with credits such as Body of Influence, Another Midnight Run, Models Inc., and Renegade, before signing on to play Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless in 1994 and Joanna Hadley on Pacific Palisades in 1997.
The role of Phyllis garnered Michelle the most praise and earned her two Emmy statuettes. Originally, Summers was supposed to be in Genoa City for just a month, but the character caused such a buzz with fans the writers kept Stafford busy.
Michelle continued adding to her repertoire with such TV credits as Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Players, Diagnosis Murder, JAG, V.I.P., Frasier, Judging Amy, Clubhouse, Charmed, Ringer, and The Celibate. Films include Double Jeopardy, Attraction, Cottonmouth, Vampire’s Anonymous, Like Mother Like Daughter, Totally Baked, The Grove, Parker, Earthfall, and Durant Never Closes.
In 2013, Stafford wanted to move on from the role of Phyllis and work on other things. General Hospital quickly scooped her up for the role of Nina Clay. Around this time, Michelle began a project near and dear to her heart– a comedy series about her struggles as a single mom looking for love.
In June 2019, Michelle returned to the role she originated, Phyllis Summers, on The Young and the Restless.
Concerned about the chemicals we put inside and on our bodies, Stafford founded a skincare line of natural and organic products called Skin Care Nation. Her goal as CEO is to provide everyone with access to the use of clean, plant-based products.
Michelle resides in Los Angeles with her two children, a son named Jameson and a daughter named Natalia.
Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @therealstafford.
Fast Facts
- September 14, 1965 — Birthdate
- Father was a lawyer and mother was an executive at Universal Studios.
- At age 18, was diagnosed with a brain tumor, but it wasn’t malignant.
- In 2004, Stafford, a huge hockey fan, was a hockey correspondent for The Best Damn Sports Show Period.
- In 2013, she launched her web series, The Stafford Project, based on her personal life and struggles.
- Has won two Daytime Emmys for her role as Phyllis on The Young and the Restless.
- In 2016, Stafford launched a skincare product line called Skin Nation; products are said to be organic, natural, gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
