Michelle Stafford Recalls Aaron Spelling Series With Finola Hughes

Earlier this week, The Young and the Restless’ Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) called out best friend Finola Hughes (General Hospital’s Anna) on National Best Friend Day, posting a photo of the two besties from the 2018 Daytime Emmys and adding the corresponding hashtag.

Michelle Stafford Shares Fond Memory With Finola Hughes

The actresses of course shared the screen on GH when Stafford played Nina, but 24 years ago, they were part of Aaron Spelling’s primetime drama, Pacific Palisades. When a photo of the cast turned up, an excited Stafford was quick to re-post it on her Instagram account.

“I just saw this!! OMG! I love this!” the actress beamed, explaining to fans how long ago the show aired. “I played Joanna and [Finola] played Kate. Kate and Joanna were best friends. Kate went nuts by the end of our show. My character was a sweet hometown girl. I had never ever been cast as a character like that. Truth be told, I had kinda a hard time with it. I had to let go of being “the bad girl” as I had always been cast that way.”

Although the show only lasted one short 13-episode season, Stafford has nothing but fond memories about her time shooting Pacific Palisades for the legendary producer. “I loved working for Aaron. He WAS a GENIUS,” the actress wrote. “I remember he had a real thing about hair. He was very specific about how he wanted your hair. He wanted mine to be a certain color of red. He had to approve it. You weren’t allowed to change it.”

And when one of the actors chose to cut his hair in the middle of shooting, things didn’t go too well as Stafford recalls he was gone the next week and chimed, “That’s Hollywood folks. Anyway, I really loved everybody on the show. They were all lovely. We all got along so well. We were all excited to be there,” Stafford shared. “To be on a Spelling Show!”

Stafford also called out “beautiful” actress Natalia Cigliuti (ex-Anita, All My Children) who played her daughter Rachel on the show. “It was the first time I had heard the name Natalia,” Stafford said. “I thought it was the most beautiful name I had ever heard. I stole it for my real daughter. Or I guess I just borrowed. Thanks Natalia!”

Looking back now, Stafford realized she didn’t appreciate the experience as much as she should have at the time, but treasures the memories. Among her castmates who weighed in on her memory enthusiastically were Tracey Bregman (Lauren), Jordi Vilasuso (Rey), Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea), and Eileen Davidson (Ashley) who wrote, “I love this! Especially reading your post because your photo looks like quintessential ‘bad girl.’”