Will Michelle Stafford win her fourth Daytime Emmy for The Young and the Restless later this week?

The Young and the Restless star Michelle Stafford is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Phyllis Summers. She won in this category last year, making her a three-time Daytime Emmy-winner. Now, she's speaking out about this year's nomination.

The Young and the Restless, the Daytime Emmy goes to

In 2005, a record eight actresses were nominated for Outstanding Leading Actress in a Drama Series, including Michelle Stafford as Phyllis on The Young and the Restless | Image: JPI

"I’m always very appreciative and very shocked,” Stafford told Soap Opera Digest about her nomination. "It’s interesting, because as an actor, I’ve been rejected so often. You just are so used to being rejected and not being wanted as an actor."

Stafford says that she enjoyed putting this year's reel together, which featured last year's performances. She actually believes that if she didn't have a great year, then she would not submit scenes to earn a nomination.

"I’m a firm believer that if you don’t have something, don’t submit. There’s no need," she says. Stafford's reel includes scenes involving the aftermath of Heather's (Vail Bloom) murder. She included scenes with Phyllis breaking down in front of Billy (Jason Thompson). Also on her reel are scenes when Phyllis is in the hospital after a car accident involving Sharon (Sharon Case). Phyllis was fighting for her son in this storyline as he was going through a great deal of grief over Heather's murder.

The big night

The actress plans on bringing her daughter, Natalia, 15, to the awards. "My date is my daughter because she couldn’t be happier to go to this," shared Stafford. This isn't the first time that Natalia has accompanied her mom to the awards. Earlier this year, the actress posted a video about bouncing the idea off her son, Jameson, to see if he wanted to go to the Daytime Emmys with his mom. You can read about his response to her proposal here.

Stafford won her first Daytime Emmy in 1997 in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress for playing Phyllis on The Young and the Restless. Eileen Davidson (Ashley; ex-Kristen/Susan, Days of our Lives), who is also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and the late, great Drake Hogestyn (John Black, DAYS), presented the award to Stafford at Radio City Music Hall. That year, the show was hosted by Susan Lucci (Erica, All My Children) and the late Regis Philbin. She won her second Daytime Emmy in 2004 in the Outstanding Lead Actress category.