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Michelle Stafford Talks The Stafford Project Season 2, Nina "Cray-Cray" Clay, and Roger Howarth!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: Duffmages.com

Photo Credit: Duffmages.com

Michelle Stafford (Nina Clay) has been giving powerhouse performances (as per usual ) over the last several weeks on General Hospital in the disturbing but-can’t-take-your-eyes of storyline, where Nina literally takes Ava’s (Maura West) baby right out of her and whisks the baby girl away with the help of her mother Madeline (Donna Mills).  Of course, Nina seems to live in some altered reality … the woman is certifiable!

Meanwhile, while Stafford has been playing the part of Nina “cray-cray” Clay for all she is worth and then some, Michelle is also gearing up for  season 2 of her hit web series, The Stafford Project.  And to kick things off, the DVD release of season 1 of The Stafford Project will be available on Black Friday (November 28th) with some very special never-before-seen footage/video extras!

Huffington Post Canada caught up with the Daytime Emmy winner to get some insight into what fans can expect from the second round of The Stafford Project, her thoughts on Nina Clay, and working with her current scene partner, Roger Howarth (Franco) on General Hospital.   Here are a few excerpts below!

Michelle on what to expect on The Stafford Project in Season 2, and what guest stars will be appearing:  “Confirmed right now are James Scott, Catherine Bell, and Nadia Bjorlin, but many Season 1 guest stars are expected to come back, too. I just need confirmations because they’re so busy.  Oh, Corbin Bernsen is joining.  We’ve written outlines for the entire season. We’re going edgier, as if we could be any edgier, right? We’re putting a microscope on Michelle’s life in the soap world. “

Michelle on what fans can see on the DVD compilation:  “I’m really excited about it. I worked my ass off editing all the behind-the-scenes stuff. I did it myself, because I know what fans expect. I’m such a nerd in that respect. People want to see the guest stars and actors screw up the shots.”

Michelle on if she clicked right away working with Roger Howarth (Franco) on GH:  “Yes. He’s really good; if he throws you a ball, he expects you to catch it. And if you drop it, he’ll throw you another one … and expect you to catch it again! We did some scenes the other day that’ll air in December that made me go, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t even have to act!’ I just had to be there. I hope they turn out great. What happened between us in that particular scene, I have never experienced before as an actress with another actor. Ever.”

Michelle on how Nina missing 20 years of her life has impacted her character: “They (GH) love making reference to what she’s missed. What I love, personally, is that her emotional state is like a 20-year-old. She still believes in love — and she’s not jaded. It’s cool.”

Watch a teaser of some of the best moments from The Stafford Project season one below that will be part of the DVD! Then let us know, what do you think of Michelle and Roger Howarth’s scenes on General Hospital this week?  Will you check out the new season of The Stafford Project?  What do you think will happen next to GH’s Nina Clay? Comment below!

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Michelle Stafford (Nina Clay) and Roger Howarth (Franco)
WOW!
How to describe their chemistry..
Apart they are a firecracker – together they are TNT Dynomite!!
They are the best ”thrilling” ”mysterious” ”spellbinding” couple ever..
It is a very different love story.. truly intriguing as it develops..

I can’t get enough of Maura West (Ava) and Nina and Franco..!!
the acting is overwhelmingly great..

ALL the GH cast.. again- ALL the actors are way above the fold and only greatness would describe them ALL..
I have not enjoyed a soap more than I do GH..
There is never a dull moment..
GH offers a variety of stories, there is always a story of awesome intrigue among the stories..
…………………… The GH cast is ”magic” ………………………..

Looking forward to once again seeing Michelle online in her series, The Stafford Project . it is very entertaining and always fun to watch.. BRAVO Michelle..

i am glad she came to GH, Michelle is so much more powerful an actress with GH as Nina than she ever was as Phyllis with Y&R..
Ron and team are writing her to highlight her great acting skills..

LOL

GREAT post : Yikes

Thursdays ep : Michelle Stafford bowled me over… were we not “ALL” waiting for her to enilven… and get out of that wheel chair… (no disrespect intended) but

Nina and Franco…. per your post : “… truly intriguing as it develops ”

add in Maura West… and GH rocks

it truly is standing O for the greatness, and heavyweight their presence unspool tended

i’m present when they reel

Everything you said, Su.

Love love love this actress! Love her on GH & The Stafford Project!

On Howarth, ‘We did some scenes the other day that’ll air in December that made me go, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t even have to act!’ I just had to be there.’

Well that says a lot and not in a good way. Not having to act and just having to be there. That’s what I see often in Howarth’s scenes. His schtick is about him. Having other actors as bystanders in a scene is only interesting if you just tune in to see him do stuff.

Actors often refer kindly to other actors when they use the term “generous.” That an actor is giving to another actor and allows them space to do what they need to do. Howarth does his thing, which often is just short of lighting his hair on fire. It is distracting, often inconsistent with the character and makes Franco just unwatchable for me.

Great actors don’t do schtick that steps on other actors and is interchangeable between roles that they play. Great actors develop unique characters and elevate the actors around them.

I took that statement completely another way.
She was bragging on RH in that paragraph. She said they did some scenes the other day that made her go ‘Oh my God, I didn’t even have to act.’ I just had to be there. Then she added: I hope they turn out great. What happened between us in that particular scene I’ve never experienced before as an actress with another actor. Ever.

That’s a compliment to RH, IMO. The beginning of that paragraph was also her complimenting him.

She said those scenes will air in December, so I’ll be watching for them.

In the full interview she speaks of how the GH cast is “drama-free” & they just do their job and go home. Her and Billy Miller were discussing it and they were going “Where’s the drama?” (Now that is a TELLING statement!) She also discussed how Billy came over to GH ego-free and says he doesn’t have that ego thing going on.

She also spoke of her love of working with Maura West and explains that Maura always wants the other person in the scene to shine as well. MS explained she’s worked with actors didn’t want her to shine. Once again, a very telling statement!

Last thing: She actually watches GH (true, because she’s always live tweeting during the show). She praised the Dante, Morgan, Michael & Sonny scene a few wks back, describing it as f**king awesome & such good tv. Love that, love her!

Yes Laurie, it’s obvious that she was complimenting RH. I didn’t say she wasn’t. I said that the example she used was telling. What she thinks would be cause for praise, other actors may not.

You’re absolutely 110% correct! The other commenter is totally wrong about Franco! His character is one of the best on a soap ever! I believe that is what MS was insinuating.

Yeah, Michelle is a big time TV star, she didnt have to single out those four actors but it goes to show you she doesnt have a huge ego and it seems as though she views her fellow cast mates as if she was a fan. Good inside work Michael.

“Howarth does his thing, which often is just short of lighting his hair on fire.”

Hilarious statement and so true. It’s called upstaging although I think both Roger Howarth and Michelle Stafford have met their match in each other in that regard.

That’s the problem I have with GH these days. The cartoon villains and upstaging are relentless while other characters/actors are reduced to little more than dull straight men/women/props to their antics. There’s not much in between. Certainly not in the sense of any relatable story to take these characters beyond one dimensional caricatures.

I can’t not disagree with you

Roger Howarth : “generous” scene stealer, upstaging

I think… he’s realizing that he’s going with MS… along for the ride… and he’s giving back… and we’ll reap the reward of what we’ve long known…. that these two persons catapulted , with their own character drive… and have now collided…. I like Timmm… prose : “Funny how the stars aligned for these two stars to end up working on GH together.”

RH i gather, has always had that comedic flair for tops with…. I think his deliver will now be in the subtelty to share …. he’s finally : as another post : met his match : equal : deliver with

i’m just happy that these two actors have , it seems, found their niche to circumvent and elevate

hasn’t Maura West been carrying driving and standing forward …

here comes Billy Miller

notwithstanding… equal measure to the whole cast… who collectively steer

DAYS and GH are pulling : Misses Nielsen says so

Nina and Franco are hands down the best couple on the soap..I love every scene…you can’t take your eyes off of them..I want more NICO

Funny how the stars aligned for these two stars to end up working on GH together.

I had the entire interview e mailed to me today I am glad that she is happy everybody should be happy in their job. I am also very happy that GT is making the role of Phyllis her own. Memo to Ms Stafford never burn bridges sometime you might need those people for whatever in your life. I find over the years in my life people tend to make their own drama! Good Luck!

Loved her acting on YnR even with worthless story lines.

It’s true, it seemed like in her last year on Y&R she didn’t have really awesome material worthy of her talents. That must have been one of the reasons she jumped to GH to play Nina – look at the material she’s been given. I mean, within the first few weeks she was already screaming and kicking over wheelchairs, and now she’s stealing babies. Talk about utilizing Michelle’s talents.

I love Michelle Stafford, she is so talented and a wonderful actress. I love love Nina Clay so much. I hope Michelle, stays on General Hospital for many years. The woman can act and she is a pretty woman.

Love Michelle Stafford. Before she joined GH I always wondered what all the hype was about (had never seen her), but man does she ever deliver with her performances.

GH has such a strong cast (and great direction that brings out their best), but more than anyone I’d like to see Michelle get an emmy for her work – she just rocks her material so incredibly well.

She was phenomenal on Y&R as Phyllis, but she was definitely more controlled than she is on GH. Here, she can spread her wings as far as they can go because Nina is truly crazy; it allows Michelle to play the happiness, sadness, anger, seething hatred, deep hurt… all the extremes and everything in between. And she’s been rocking it. She definitely deserves an Emmy for her work, and that says something since she’s only been on for 6 months.

Agreed – it really is an accomplishment

Michelle is a powerhouse and she’s been rocking it on GH. Nina isn’t just another villain, because she has a soft and sympathetic side that fights internally with her demons and hatred for those who have wronged her. That’s why I love Nina so much. Yes, she does heinous things, and yes, she probably deserves to be locked up in Miscavige. But underneath all the evil, there’s a broken person who has lost a husband, a baby and 20 years of her life. I’m not justifying her actions; but people don’t just come back from that unscathed. Regardless, I want Nina around as long as possible because Michelle absolutely rocks the role and her chemistry with Roger Howarth is phenomenal.

I like Michelle…but it seems to me in the video interview she did with Michael a few weeks ago, as well as this snippet from her web series…that her real life personality is rather similar to Nina’s! I don’t mean that she’s a loon or psychologically out there like Nina…but her gestures, animation, seemingly aggressive or strong nature…her expressions, demeanor…I just see Nina when I see or hear Michelle. Never saw her series…looks fun!

GH is her only work I’ve seen to date and imo it’s stand-out and amazing. She’s a talent they need to hold on to. I’d like to see the writers challenge themselves to develop a serious storyline about coming to grips/dealing with mental illness. For whatever reason they don’t seem to be able to tackle it with Heather (and Robin M would SO bat that storyline out of the park given the chance), so maybe Michelle’s Nina…?

Nina has help..
Franco will save her, wake her up to herself, and Nina will be well..
It is a soap!!
Heather needs to be as she is= Heather.. don’t mess with Heather..

RC and team will not bore up with cures for mental illness, that is not GH, that would be Y&R stuff..
GH is totally not like Y&R, thanky god..
however; GH gave us Kate and Connie for a year, a mental case but with drama tons of drama.. she got cured by being shot and killed LOL ..
gotta luv GH for what is .. out of the traditional soap box!! 🙂

I would LOVE to see Nina and Franco join Heather for Thanksgiving dinner!

Michelle is a phenomenal actress. Even when you hate her character, you can’t stop watching her.
I hated Nina until she started having scenes with Franco.
I hated Franco until his scenes with Nina.
Together they have exploded!

you nailed it with :

having the right partner… co-star : is a dream team…. of finesse and reap the reward of job well done

“Together they have exploded!”

finally

it’s a feast to behold… when the cast can orbit with…. the bigwigs, if you will. MS feeds off of/with in equal equanimity… give and take and implode

ditto for Roger Howarth . He is the one, that I’ve been rooting for… at last, I can rest, that he’s in good company to further his character.

Unbelievable performance. I cannot get enough of GH or her. The whole cast deserves the emmy for best performances. Then I heard Roger is leaving. The deal with Michelle and Roger is just too good to go away. Everyone stay.

Roger is NOT leaving 🙂
He will be playing a part in the TV series The Flash..
Roger will still be with GH, also ..

According to Frank Valenti Roger’s staying put on GH.

Michelle thank you so much for coming to GH and giving us Nina Clay… Wow Does it get any better than Nina, Madeline, Liesel and Franco!!

So Roger is staying right? I can’t imagine GH without Franco and Nina! They’re a force to be reckoned with and I adore Franco for how he deals with Nina! Best soap ever!

GH fans, we are so lucky. When Michelle left Y&R I got my Michelle Stafford fix watching The Stafford Project. Go out and buy the DVD it is SO entertaining! Now she is on GH and Billy Miller has joined her. These two actors are so talented and we are so lucky to have them. Michelle states how much fun it is to work on GH. She raves about Frank V. Michelle has a good friend over at Y&R that is leaving the show. Dollars to donuts Michelle has talked to this actor and has told him how much fun it is to work on GH and how talented every one is with none of the ego BS! That actor is Christian LeBlanc. Mark my words, he will join GH in 2015. He will be connected to Michelle somehow and those two along with Roger will blow up the screen! How much better can this get?

General Hospital

Paige Herschell Shares Heartfelt Goodbye: ‘Thank You ‘General Hospital’ for Giving Me Jacinda’

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For just under 24 hours, fans of ABC’s General Hospital took to social media and, for the most part, were unhappy to see that character of Jacinda Bracken written off the soap opera on the Tuesday, August 11 episode.

The story turn marked the end of the latest run of Paige Herschell who had initially joined the show back in April of 2025.  Many viewers liked the romance between Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) and the often down on her luck former escort.

However now, the beginnings of their love story was aborted, as previously reported, in a story-line dictated move, after Michael learned Jacinda drugged Willow’s (Katelyn MacMullen) iced coffee, while his ex-wife was with his children, Amelia and Wiley.

Courtesy/ABC

In Herschell’s final scenes, Michael tells her that Willow is going to come after him for full custody of his children after Jacinda’s actions, and he cannot lose his kids. He informs her he has to break-up with her, and he set up a bank account for her, so she can start a new life anywhere in the world. They shared a tearful goodbye. From the looks of it, GH may be heading back to a Michael and Willow reconciliation. Time will tell.

PAIGE HERSCHELL OPEN TO A RETURN AS JACINDA

After her final episode aired, Paige Herschell took to her Instagram story, and shared these heartfelt words: “Thank you General Hospital for giving me Jacinda. I’ve loved every moment with her, on stage and off. And thank you to the fns for your sweet messages and encouragement. I’m overwhelmed with your kindness. I’ve loved sharing this journey with you all.”

In closing, Paige left the door open, that she would definitely be interested to return down the line to GH as Jacinda. Herschell expressed, “If you need me … I’ll be in the character closet.”

With Jacinda, you never know when she might show up. She has come and gone from the Port Charles canvas before, and she may prove be useful a character to come back and seek revenge or extort money from Michael or someone else down the line.

General Hospital had been making a lot of moves in front of the camera recently with several new cast additions and several exits. Who might be coming or leaving next? Stay tuned.

So, what did you think of Paige’s heartfelt goodbye? Did you get emotional watching Jacinda lose the man she loved, and once again finding herself down on her luck and feeling less than? Let us know via the comment section.

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Paige Herschell Exits ‘General Hospital’ as Jacinda Bracken

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As suspected, Jacinda Bracken got a one way ticket out of Port Charles, thus ending the run of Paige Herschell as the escort-turned-girlfriend of Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson). The story turn took place on the Tuesday, August 11 episode of General Hospital.

After Jacinda drugged Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) by spiking her iced coffee, and Michael finding Willow drugged out in front of their kids, Amelia and Wiley, he knew he had to break things off with her.

Michael gave Jacinda enough money to get out of town and start a new life for herself, because given these recent developments, Willow will use this against him to gain full custody of his children. In their final scenes, Michael and Jacinda said a heartfelt goodbye to one another.

Michael and Jacinda

Courtesy/ABC

THE HISTORY OF JACINDA BRACKEN

According to Soap Opera Digest, a GH rep confirmed that today marked Paige Herschell’s final appearance in the role and that her exit was indeed, storyline-dictated. Herschell had originally auditioned for the role of Blaze a few years back. That part went to Jacqueline Grace Lopez.

Later, Herschell was brought in for a short stint beginning in April 2025, as the escort hired by Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Portia (Brook Kerr) to paint Drew (Cameron Mathison) in a bad light. So with Nina and Portia supplying her with ketamine, she drugged Drew. Next, Jacinda was able to get the then congressman to do liquor shots off her body in front of everyone at the Savoy Nightclub. After Drew made a public spectacle of himself, Nina paid Jacinda to leave town and she wound up in Australia.

However, by September of 2025, Jacinda was back in town, where she agreed to pretend to be Michael’s girlfriend for appearances sake and to give him an alibi on the night Drew Cain was shot. The arrangement eventually turned into genuine feelings for one another.

Back in April of 2026, Paige celebrated her one-year anniversary with GH as Jacinda and posted on Instagram,”Holy smokes! It’s been one year since Jacinda was introduced on Genera Hospital. I’m so grateful to this show for the work! Thank you to the amazing fans and the awesome cast and crew! One year! Holy moly! Jacinda- you continue to surprise me.”  Fast-forward and now by August, Herschell has wrapped her run.

So, with the news of Jacinda’s departure on GH, are you glad Michael sent her packing. or were you hoping that Michael and Jacinda would wind up a bonafide couple that would go on for quite some time? Let us know via the comment section below.

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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Are Michael and Willow Headed Back Into Each Other’s Arms?

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Could it be after all is said and done that Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) and Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) might actually get back together? It sure seemed like a possibility after viewers witnessed the Monday, August 10 episode of General Hospital.

In it, Michael raced to Nina’s after Jacinda revealed she drugged Willow. Out of an abundance of concern, Michael wanted to make sure his children, Amelia and Wiley, were safe, but also to check on his ex-wife.

When he arrived on the scene, Willow was high as a kite and Michael was trying to defuse the situation when he sees Amelia and Wiley witnessing the whole thing. He is shocked to find out from Willow that Yuri dropped off the kids to her when it wasn’t her night to have them, because Yuri said he had a hot date. Michael noticed the iced coffee on the table, realizing he has to keep it away from Willow (who had been drinking it).

Courtesy/ABC

THE SPARK BETWEEN MICHAEL AND WILLOW

Once the kids left the room, Michael informed Willow she was high. She tells him she would never take drugs and that he was ruining her buzz kill and asks him to please not fight with her. When Michael finally gets Willow to lay down on the couch she tells him that she likes when they were friends and his calming voice. Michael told Willow, “I liked that, too.”

In that moment between Michael and Willow, it appeared like the spark was still there between the former couple, but how could they go back to anything after all the terrible things they have done to one another, and mostly all of Willow’s machinations, which to this point Michael doesn’t even know?

If Michael finds out (as in the preview this week where it’s teased that Trina and Kai tell him about Willow shooting Drew), will he still feel the same about her, or understand all of her motives and what led to it?

JACINDA IS OUTTA HERE

At the end of Monday’s episode, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) called Michael, and was so relieved when he told her he was able to get to Willow in time, before things escalated further. Jacinda say, “No harm done. That’s good, right?” Michael looks over at Willow asleep and is beyond pissed with Jacinda.

Now. in the preview for today’s Tuesday, August 11 episode of the ABC daytime drama series, Jacinda is in tears telling Michael, “I’ll go, on one condition.” Looks like this will be the end of Michael and Jacinda, but what will she ask of him before she makes her exit?  stay tuned.

So, do you think the GH writers will circle back to Michael and Willow getting back together for the sake of their children, and fall back in love with each other? Do you think Serena Baldwin and Michael being teased as potential pairing, was just a tease and no more than that? Glad that it seems like Jacinda is on her way out, or do you like Jacinda and Michael together?

Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out the scenes from Monday’s GH, where Michael rescues Willow, and the GH video teaser for today’s episode below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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