“The Young and The Restless” (Y&R) spoilers reveal Phyllis Abbott (Gina Tognoni) soon makes major missteps in her marriage and this brings to mind some of Phyllis’ past antics and how former portrayer Michelle Stafford played them. Who is your favorite Phyllis – Stafford or Tognoni?
No matter which actress is your fave, you can agree that Gina Tognoni and Michelle Stafford have played the role of Phyllis in drastically different styles. Of course, part of the difference in portrayal is the difference in plot dynamics since Tognoni came aboard Y&R.
The Marco Annicelli (Peter Bergman) mess has changed Phyllis for the worse and that has consumed most of Gina Tognoni’s screen time. Since the Marco plot, we’ve seen a very angry and revenge-obsessed Phyllis whose sole purpose in life is punishing Victor Newman (Eric Braeden).
By comparison, The Young and the Restless spoilers remind us that Stafford’s Phyllis enjoyed affairs, intrigue, nutty obsessions, crazy revenge schemes and a lighter, if no less dramatic, two decades of storylines. But since Tognoni took on the role in August 2014, Phyllis has been dealing with much darker material, even for a soap.
That makes it hard to judge Tognoni vs Stafford on a level playing field because there have been few apples-to-apples storylines. Even though Stafford’s Phyllis had affairs, she never did so in the aftermath of being effectively raped by an imposter husband for months.
So when we now see Phyllis toying with the idea of hooking up with Billy Abbott (Billy Miller), it’s because she’s coming from the darkest possible place. This is a man who has demons as dark as hers so there’s no possibility of light romance.
As a comparison, Phyllis dealing with her ex Nick Newman’s (Joshua Morrow) dallying with her sister Avery Clark (Jessica Collins) was a recipe for family angst that got deep and heated, but it’s nowhere near as dire as the Marco chapter of Phyllis’ life.
We have to wonder how Tognoni would play Phyllis if Marco had never darkened her door. Tognoni’s Phyllis is always angry, always focused on revenge, and even her sweet interludes with Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) seem only respites from her omni-present outrage.
In contrast, Stafford’s Phyllis never had to deal with the horrors that Tognoni’s Phyllis has – so Tognoni’s comparative lack of joy is understandable. Many fans love Stafford’s lighter but no less devious Phyllis but Tognoni is playing a different Phyllis altogether.
Perhaps it’s not a fair comparison given what Y&R showrunners have done to Phyllis’ character, but we know “The Young and The Restless” fans still have their favorites – what’s yours? Do you prefer Michelle Stafford or Gina Tognoni as Phyllis Abbott?
Vote in the Y&R POLL and share your comments below. And be sure to check back with CDL often for day ahead “The Young and The Restless” spoilers and news.
