<P> Michelle Stafford (born September 14, 1965) is an American actress, screenwriter and producer . She is perhaps best known for her role as Phyllis Summers on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, for which she has won two Daytime Emmy Awards . In 2013, Stafford created and starred in her own comedy web series, The Stafford Project . She currently stars as Nina Clay on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital . </P> <P> In 1990 Stafford was cast in Fox soap opera Tribes . The show was canceled after 3 - month airing on Fox . She later appeared in two plays directed by Charles Durning in Los Angeles stage, and co-starred in several small films . </P> <P> In October 1994, Stafford began what was supposed to be a short term role of Phyllis Summers on the American CBS Daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless; however, her work impressed the producers and she was placed on contract . In 1997, Stafford left the series to pursue other career opportunities, and she was replaced by Sandra Nelson . In 1997 she was cast in Aaron Spelling primetime soap opera Pacific Palisades as lead character, but show was canceled after 13 episodes . She later guest - starred in Two Guys and a Girl, Diagnosis: Murder, and JAG . In film, Stafford appeared in 1999 thriller Double Jeopardy opposite Ashley Judd . </P> <P> In July 2000, Stafford was brought back to the soap opera by former head writer Kay Alden . From December 2006 to February 2007, Stafford played dual roles on Y&R, portraying Sheila Carter, formerly played by Kimberlin Brown (Sheila had plastic surgery to look like Phyllis). In May 2013, it was announced that Stafford would be exiting the soap opera after sixteen years in the role . Stafford later confirmed that her final scenes would air sometime that August . Stafford exited the series on August 2, 2013 . </P>

Who played the original phyllis on young and the restless
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