Soap Opera Veteran Michelle Stafford Is Grateful For Set Safety

It’s been a difficult six months or so producing more hours and half hours if all your favorite soaps as COVID-19 has made it a whole new world on the set. Michelle Stafford who plays Phyllis on The Young and the Restless and originated the role of Nina on General Hospital is grateful for what everyone does every day to bring soap towns to life.

Michelle Stafford: Soaps During COVID-19

“Old School Phyllis coming at cha,” Stafford wrote on Instagram next to a mirror selfie of herself in a signature Phyllis skin-tight dress. “A special shout out to our crew for keeping safe and coming to work wearing their quasi hazmat suits on the set. Some of them having gone through their own tragedies.”

“A special Thank you to our wardrobe, hair and make up depts too for working their asses off during this time as they are the ones in close contact with others. Our protocols are quite stiff and everyone is respecting them and respecting each other, most importantly. I love my Y&R family!! We ARE a family. We all know we are so lucky to be working.”

Each soap seems to be handling social distancing a bit differently. While General Hospital and Days of Our Lives have actors standing closer than six feet (with daily testing and DAYS even having actors run their lines on FaceTime), YR keeps actors distanced, as does The Bold and the Beautiful. Even the last two Genoa City weddings had barely any guests in attendance.

Stafford has still found a way to enjoy lunchtime with her YR pals Tracey Bregman (Lauren) and Christian Le Blanc (Michael) with each actor sitting six feet apart on an outdoor staircase. (Scientists agree there is much less chance of catching COVID-19 when in natural outdoor air.)