Soap Opera Uncensored: Issue 22

by Nelson Branco

  Part Two: Exclusive Interview With Soaps’ Best Actress: Y&R’s Michelle Stafford In Her Most Personal Interview Ever!

  Mirror, mirror on the wall — who is the greatest actress currently working in soaps of them all?

  Flannery? Chappell? Grahn? Morgan? Thomas Scott? Muhney?

  Nope, the answer is Y&R’s incomparable Michelle Stafford.

  In the pantheon of mind-blowing acting talent, Michelle Stafford will find her name in the top five best actors in the annals of daytime history.

  And the Chicago-born native is only getting better and better with each episode — if that’s possible.

  Since UNCENSORED recently interviewed all of La Staffy’s co-stars, I thought it was high time to catch up with the two-time Emmy winner. After all, our yearly interviews are always a highlight. Having known the flamed-haired sex symbol since 1997, we go way back. Through the glory days of soaps to the end days to the up and downs of our personal lives (read: boyfriends), we’ve somehow managed to survive life and soap with aplomb.

  Enjoy part two of our intimate, funny interview.

  The last time we spoke there were six soap operas on the air. Today, there are just four serials. As an ABC soap fan, what are your thoughts about seeing ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE leave the airwaves?

  I was an ABC soap fan! How did you know that?

  I have spies everywhere. I know everything about The Stafford!

  You’re good! [Sighs] Just for all of us in the daytime community, the cancellations were horrible. [Pauses] When I heard, I was really shocked. There had been talk but when they canceled two shows at the same time, it was just so harsh. Then, the reporting on the story made it seem like everything is dying. You feel like there’s a scarcity – and it made me nervous. I started to feel that way when AS THE WORLD TURNS was canceled. With GUIDING LIGHT, there had been talk for years and years they were on the chopping block so I wasn’t so surprised. Although WORLD TURNS and GL were canceled, it felt different because they were P&G shows even though they aired on our network. It’s our community — you know what I mean? You don’t feel like: “Oh, at least I’m on a show that’s still on the air…” You don’t feel like that. At least, I don’t. You feel like you’re losing members of our group and community. It doesn’t feel good. The more members you have, the stronger our community is, but having so few shows now is scary. Of course, they’re all great actors and they’ll find other jobs. Good actors will find jobs – they always do. But, as far as the [shrinking] daytime group goes, it’s sad.

  You and I got into daytime at the tail end of the glory days.

  Did we get in at the same time?

  Officially 1997, but I began writing/freelancing for soap magazines while in school so 1994.

  I got in before that: 1995.

  Remember when Bill Bell would throw those lavish Rainbow Room Emmy brunches with lobster, shrimp, scotch and champagne?

  Yeah! That’s where we first met. You were with SOAP OPERA UPDATE, right?

  Yep! Did you ever think back then that soaps would be in trouble like they are now?

  Oh God, no. Not then. Ever. Since then, the world has changed so much. Wow.

  Technology has exponentially grown leaps and bounds in such a short time. I used typewriters in school. I feel so old! My nephew can split atoms already!

  The Head is already using the iPhone and downloading apps! [Laughs] It’s crazy. Unbeknownst to me, I have all these new apps on my phone because she’s changing things around on my phone! She goes through the photos…

  I worry about the future generation’s interpersonal communicative skills or lack thereof.

  Verbally? I know, right. It’s very weird. I was talking to some friends who said they know so many people who use Twitter and Facebook to get back at ex-boyfriends. They go on there so their exes can see what they are doing! “I’m at a party and there are hot guys here!” We didn’t have that before to piss people off and screw up our relationships. I look at some tweets, and I’m like, “Oh, I wonder who that is for?” [Giggles]

  Your pre, pre-nom Emmy reel: good stuff.

  You mean the pre, pre, pre, pre Emmy noms! [Laughs]

  Yes! Officially it’s called the Pre-Nom Emmy Ballot. Why did you pick the reel… it was one of your most subtle reels to date?

  I didn’t realize – and this was kind of dumb of me – that we were supposed to be going full guns already. I thought the pre, pre-nom reels were just to introduce ourselves to the industry and give them a little taste of our work. I don’t want to make excuses for it because it is what it is. But the entire scene, I really liked it. It was a seven-minute scene and it was my favourite scene of last year. I cut two minutes out of that but I don’t know if it was strong or not. I voted and up against some of the other lead actress’ reels it may not have been as strong. It’s interesting…. I thought maybe I should have picked something where I was angry. But it is what it is. If I get one, I get one; If I don’t, I don’t. There’s always a learning curve when it comes to the Emmys.

  Especially when the rules change each year. I thought your reel was a nice change of pace from all the Sturm und Drang. And you’re Michelle Freakin’ Stafford so you have that going for yourself.

  Actually, I will tell you that there were a bunch of lead actress [hopefuls] that were really great. I’m not allowed to say who… but I was like, “Omigod, they’re really good,” and I probably wouldn’t have voted for them prior to seeing their reel.

  Are you saying the new system worked?

  Yeah, if you played the whole 2-minute reel and not just clicked the link to see whom you were voting for. NATAS asked us to play the game differently this year, so I did. The game has changed quite a few times in the last few years…. It feels like there are changes every year. I guess people weren’t happy with how it played out in previous years… so you do it differently.

  You probably would have three Emmys on your crowded mantle had someone not accidentally chopped off the last scene in your Emmy reel a few years back.

  I wouldn’t have won.

  We all thought you had it in the bag.

  No, I wouldn’t have won. I know that for sure.

  I remember SOAP OPERA WEEKLY’s Mark McGarry nearly had a stroke after he figured out what happened.

  Remember how funny that story was? I mean, it actually happened. It was hilarious.

  I always advise new soap actors that story: make sure you check your Emmy reels from head to tail.

  Yes. Hey, it’s your responsibility. It’s your award so you should check your own reel.

  How do you feel about the Emmys possibly not being televised? I think it’s a great idea. I’m dying for an old-fashioned Emmy show, clips and all.

  Me, too! It’d be in LA… and it’s still a party. The only reason we love the Emmys is because we all like getting together in the same room and have a good time. Of course, you want to be on TV so your family can see you win or lose… I’m OK either way. It’s a fun evening. It’s more fun when you win; less fun when you lose; but it’s still fun! [Laughs]

  My favourite thing Emmy-time is always: What will Michelle wear?

  You gotta get it on. You always look good, too.

  I try. I loved that black dress with the slits two years ago.

  I loved it, too. I couldn’t bend over though.

  [Laughs] I would have found a way! George Guzman ordered me to ask you where is his money for the haircut he gave you recently! A-hole!

  He’s a total asshole! [Laughs] He wants full payment despite the fact that he doesn’t wash or blow my hair. He just cuts it. I’m like, “Dude, I’m giving you $25 and that’s it.” And I’ve certainly paid for many lunches for him. You can tell him that! [Laughs]

  I will! Honestly, despite me interviewing you a million times, I’ve never asked you this: Why is acting so seemingly effortless for you?

  It does?

  Yes. You are one of the best actors ever in this genre.
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  Well, thank you. Do I stress about scenes? Sometimes I do. Yeah. I really like to act. I like it. I like playing a storyline that’s really… The only time I didn’t like it — and I’ve never said this to anyone in print — the only time it was really hard was when we played the Nick and Phyllis break-up because we played it for almost two years. It went on and on…

  It did!

  We went through five break-up scenes, I’m not kidding you. Even Maria Arena Bell said, “We were going through Emmy reels and we didn’t realize how many break-up scenes we wrote you guys. We have to stop writing that.”[Laughs]

  As Mimi Torchin likes to quip, “It was needless torture” — and endless.

  It was too much! I’ll be honest: I was going through so much in my personal life. I felt like I was such a failure in my personal life and, in the storyline, Phyllis did, too. At the time, I felt I should use my personal life as inspiration for those scenes and, let me tell you, it was really hard. Really hard. I almost made myself crazy. Today, whenever I hear about Sharon/Nick/Phyllis it makes me nervous because it reminds me of that time. I don’t ever want to do that again. As actors, we use what we know, right? But, at the time, it was hard and I didn’t know the story would go on for this long. I never anticipated it — and that my life was going to be so difficult, too. It was painful because I was in so