The Young and the Restless star Michelle Stafford never imagined sticking around in Genoa City for this long. After all, she was supposed to be a mere visitor, but look how the tables turned! Cut to the present, her character Phyllis Newman is the soul of the CBS soap who just completed thirty long years. That’s quite a feat! So, how does Stafford feel about it? Catch some interesting tidbits about the legendary character.
Stafford Dishes on Phyllis’ Game-Changing Twist!
*The Young and the Restless* star recently discussed her challenges prior to securing the role of Phyllis. Did her life transform overnight? Michelle revealed, “Phyllis was created by Bill Bell, and he didn’t have a clear vision for the character.” Initially, Phyllis was intended to make a brief appearance, stir up some drama, and then exit the show!
Phyllis made her debut in Genoa City on October 18, 1994, as a groupie who was infatuated with Danny Romalotti. Her initial purpose? To create tension in the passionate relationship between Christine and Danny. While it was an exciting role, few expected her to stick around for long. But then, something magical happened!
Bill Bell, the mastermind behind the show, recognized Michelle’s talent and found inspiration in her performance. “I like to say that I helped flesh out Phyllis because Bill liked what I was doing,” Stafford explained. She quickly evolved from a fleeting antagonist to a prominent diva in the series. Don’t miss the celebration for her milestone birthday below!
“To have her become someone who has remained on the canvas for three decades is an incredible honor!” Michelle said. Did the soap star ever envision that Phyllis would turn into a Y&R phenomenon, eliciting both love and hate from fans? Absolutely not! Stafford expressed her astonishment, saying, “It’s absolutely freakin’ insane!”
And the drama is far from over! Michelle hinted at the explosive scenes currently being filmed. “It would be interesting to learn more about her mom,” the Y&R icon shared. The character of Phyllis’ mother, Lydia, was portrayed by the talented Abby Dalton, whom Michelle described as a wealthy woman who enjoyed cocktails for lunch and had little patience for Phyllis’ antics.
After Abby’s passing in 2020, Michelle thinks bringing her sister, Avery, could stir up some serious drama. She teased, “There’s a lot left to explore in that family!” Though Phyllis started with a cameo, she’s still the queen of Genoa City chaos! Keep reading for more updates on The Young and the Restless celebs. How do you feel about Phyllis’ wild ride on Y&R?
