Soap Hub Performer of the Week for The Young and the Restless: Michelle Stafford

These days, we’re seeing Phyllis, played by Michelle Stafford, do what she does best — scheme, trade quips, and make out with Nick! Sure, Phyllis has had loftier ambitions in life than running a hotel on The Young and the Restless, but her feud with Victoria over the Grand Phoenix has given the fiery redhead a new rivalry and a new motivation — bring down the Newman heiress!

Michelle Stafford — Performer of the Week

Therefore, Soap Hub is bestowing Performer of the Week honors on Michelle Stafford for showing just how manipulative and delicious Phyllis can be!

When Phyllis is in scenes with Nick (Joshua Morrow), she shows her playful sex kitten side. She knows how to get what she wants from him and knows when to delicately get her point across and get what she wants, too. While she wishes stroke-victim Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) no harm, she gently probed Nick as to why he felt compelled to want to visit his ex, taking being territorial to new levels. Also, Phyllis gently, but firmly made it clear to Nick that he needs to watch out for Faith’s (Alyvia Alyn Lind) new pal Jordan (Madison Thompson).

As Phyllis had met Jordan, it wouldn’t have made sense for her not to be suspicious. After all, it takes a manipulator to know one! Stafford plays Phyllis being two steps ahead of potential problems.

Someone who gets under her skin even more is Victoria (Amelia Heinle). When she showed up at Phyllis’s hotel for a business luncheon, Phyllis couldn’t resist getting in some digs. Her nemesis shot back with a few of her own; the top exec at Newman Enterprises chided Phyllis for not being able to run a business without her brother Nick’s financial help.

Phyllis shot back to Victoria that she had a man to come home to at the end of the day and that that is what’s important in life; Victoria couldn’t help but be affected by Phyllis’s words as she is currently single. But apparently, Phyllis believes that there are other important things in life — like bringing your enemy down!

Phyllis’s next stop was Crimson Lights where she connected with cyber-whiz Kevin (Greg Rikaart) and procured info from him on what Victoria’s been up to at Newman. Kevin called Phyllis out on a lie about Nick sharing info with her and we saw Phyllis make the decision to come clean. Stafford’s portrayal is fascinating because she plays Phyllis as a woman smart enough to know when she can’t get away with something.

The pastries at Crimson Lights are probably to die for, but Phyllis chose to salivate instead over the info about Victoria that Kevin provided related to an embezzler at Newman. Phyllis realized that Victor would likely blame his daughter for what was going and that gave her a wicked rush!

Next, Phyllis returned to her room at the Grand Phoenix to find an ostensibly naked Nick in bed, ready to make love to her. COVID-19 safety protocols are likely cutting back on romantic scenes but Stafford plays with such gleeful joy how much she’s looking forward to hitting the sheets with Nick, there’s still lots of playful fun to watch. The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for airtimes.