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Y&R's Michelle Stafford reaction on her Daytime Emmy Nomination!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
One of daytime’s most powerful actresses, and already a two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner, picked up another nomination this past Wednesday for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. We can only be talking about Y&R’s Michelle Stafford (Phyllis). On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Michelle on Emmy nomination day to get her thoughts on her competition, the meaning of the recognition by her peers, and what she submitted that got her into the final five. Here is what Michelle had to say!
Michelle on how she found out she was nominated, and what it means to be a nominee: “Our head writer, Maria Bell called me at 5:50am. And, I did know the nominations were coming out today. In the past, every year that I submit myself, I try not to know when the nominations are coming out, because I don’t want to be stuck to it. Every year I do that somebody the night before usually tells me, “Hey, tomorrow the nominations are coming out.” And then I go, “Oh, God! OK, great. Now I know.” So this year I was like, “I am going to find out when they are being announced ahead of time (Laughs), and this year, nobody the day before even talked about the nominations which I thought was totally hilarious! It’s so great to be recognized. I don’t know anyone who takes getting a nomination lightly. You should be out, if you are going to be so jaded and take it lightly. But if you are going to play, then you are going to play to win, and you don’t always win, but you are going in to play the game.”
Michelle on what episode she submitted that got her the Lead Actress nomination: “The show I submitted was Phyllis is trying to hold on to her marriage, and hold on to her life, and she knows she is going down. She finds out that her husband’s ex- wife is pregnant possibly with his child. And it just keeps getting worse and worse, and she knows she is losing. There is something about the reel that I liked, and that is that Phyllis just kept on coming back. She is trying to make it work, and then Nick says something to piss her off. There is desperation about it that I thought was interesting. I guess some others did, too (Laughs).”
Michelle on her fellow nominees in her category: Crystal Chappell, Maura West, Bobbie Eakes and Sarah Brown! “Well, I texted Crystal, I texted Maura, I tweeted Sarah Brown, and I face booked Bobbie. So, thank God for new communications. It’s a great group every year, and there is never a bad one in the bunch. However, it seems like every year I am nominated, I am nominated with Maura and Crystal! (Laughs)
Michelle on being nominated with the Y&R collective acting group of Peter Bergman, Doug Davidson, and Billy Miller – all of whom On-Air On-Soaps said to Michelle were “her buds” : “Well not Billy! Let’s not go that far.” (Laughs)
Michelle on how she celebrated the news: “Well, every year Christian LeBlanc (Michael) and I, whether one of us is nominated or both of us are nominated, we get together to celebrate ourselves. So, last year I went with him to celebrate him, and this year he went with me today to celebrate me.”
Michelle on the storyline this past year with Sharon/Nick/Phyllis that earned her a nomination: “The one thing I will say is: last year I worked really hard on this storyline. It was sort of written for me to be a shrew at times, for Phyllis to be the bad one. I had to bring a human quality to it because it was so shocking to her what was happening. You write these triangles and somebody has to be wrong. In the scripts I received, many times, if I played it screaming at Nick in his face, who is going to understand that? As a storyteller, I had to view it as that I am telling a story of this woman’s condition right now. The story I wanted to tell was how this woman was feeling. It was hard from October through May. I was crying and tormented over the dissolution of my marriage, and that is a long time to play that. And, as I was going through the episodes to choose for the Emmy competition, I saw that actually, Nick ended his marriage to Phyllis six times! There were six break-up scenes! Even Maria when they were looking through episodes said, “Oh, my God. I didn’t even realize…we shouldn’t do that anymore.” (Laughs) I worked hard to mold and create empathy for what this woman is feeling and that was fun.”
Make sure to read many Emmy nominee exclusive reactions on our special Daytime Emmy Nominations page !
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
The Young and the Restless enduring favorite and two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) is set to release her memoir!
Kensington Publishing has revealed on their website that Walton’s book The Young and the Rest of Us is now available for pre-order while listing an April 27, 2027 release date. In addition, in June of 2027, Walton will mark her 40th anniversary with The Young and the Restless and her debut as Jill.
The official log lines for the memoir share, “Emmy Award-winning actress Jess Walton, known to millions as the iconic Jill Abbott on the #1 soap opera The Young and the Restless, shares her extraordinary journey to stardom, sobriety, true love, and self-discovery in this startingly candid, intimate, and star-studded memoir.”
Photo; Kensington Books
CAKE FIGHTS AND CORPORATE INTRIGUE
The book description for The Young and the Rest of Us adds, “In June 1987, Jess Walton walked through the artists’ entrance at CBS for her first day on The Young and the Restless,where she had just been hired to play the recast role of Jill Abbott. Two Emmy awards, four decades, and countless onscreen affairs, marriages, corporate takeovers, and cake fights later, she’s a beloved icon with an astonishing tale to tell.”
“In her refreshingly candid style, Jess shares her journey as a young actress from Toronto theaters to Los Angeles, where she found herself at the center of a Laurel Canyon circle that included the likes of Neil Young, David Geffen, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell. Landing a Universal contract and a steady stream of guest starring roles, Jess embraced everything 1970s L.A. had to offer—including Hollywood parties fueled by limitless booze and drugs, and trysts with stars. She recounts with candor and gratitude the surprising path that eventually led her to sobriety, true love—and ultimately, to fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and the role of a lifetime.”
“Brimming with behind-the-scenes drama and celebrity cameos to delight fans, The Young and the Rest of Us is also rich in personal, relatable truths about marriage, motherhood, empty-nesting, self-discovery, and finding the courage to start over—as often as it takes. In a voice as fearless and frank as Jill’s, but with, humor and grace all her own, Jess Walton looks back on a life as unpredictable, and adventure filled as anything she has portrayed on screen.”
WHO ELSE PLAYED JILL FOSER ABBOTT?
Fans of The Young and the Restless know that Walton became the fourth actress to take on the role of Katherine Chancellor’s original nemesis Jill Foster back in 1987. The OG Jill was played by Brenda Dickson, also Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and Melinda O. Fee played the part.
This year, Days of our Lives star Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) filled-in for several episodes for Walton who was unavailable to travel from her home in Oregon to Los Angeles where Y&R was taped. Walton is still with the long-running soap opera as Jill.
So, excited to learn of Jess Walton’s upcoming memoir, ‘The Young and the Rest of Us?’ Will it be it a must-read for you? Drop a comment below.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
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Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
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Congratuations to all the Y& R nominees but, Michael did you for get that Christel Khalil was also a Y&R emmy nominee?
Hey Anny: Not at all. I Know Christel is up. The reason I did not bring her name up during the interview with Michelle was Christel does not have hardly any scenes with Michelle on the show. There stories do not mix. So therefore she is not one of the people she performs with often. It was meant as no slight to Christel. Hope this makes sense.
It’s cool. Now I understand.
Stafford turned crappy Shick-based material into gold.
Best of luck, Michelle!
Congratulations Michelle,
You really really are a remarkable actress and such a lovely person, and that’s why you are my favourite soap actress EVER!! No other actress has ever made me feel every single emotion onscreen like you have. Trust me on this one, I was in as much agony watching Phyllis being dragged through the mud for almost an entire year…many times I felt like I wanted to jump into the TV, get a crappy old car (because Phyllis doesn’t do that anymore LOL) and drive over Nick and Sharon 100 times until you couldn’t tell the asphalt from their selfish bodies.
I never ever pay attention to who gets nominated or even watch the Emmys but I wanted you to get nominated this year, you were outstanding and had so many great scenes. I am still not going to watch the Emmys but I will be praying for you to win this year so that your little Mini-Staffy can get her first Emmy too 🙂
Best Wishes.
I was surprised that Stacy Haiduk was not nominated. Playing two characters (Patty & Emily) at the same time is not an easy task. Stacy has done some really difficult scenes, portraying a mentally ill person, etc. Michelle is a good actress, but nothing comparable to Stacy’s performances this past year. In my opinion, Stacy should have been the nominee, which she well deserved.
Christel Khalil’s nomination is a real mystery. I see no exceptional talent with her or the character she portrays. In my opinion, she is quite boring.
I know I will be watching as my favourite actress is up for the Emmy. Congratulations to Michelle for her excellent work in a year when so much of the material was not written from her character’s point of view. Thank your for highlighting the vulnerbility and the grace of Phyllis on a daily basis.
He left Phyllis 6 times? Wow! That’s much. Time for him to fight for her