Phyllis Summers

Phyllis Newman
Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Newman (2010).
The Young and the Restless
Portrayed by	Michelle Stafford (1994–1997, 2000–present) Sandra Nelson (1997–1999)
Duration	1994–1999, 2000–
First appearance	October 17, 1994
Created by	William J. Bell
Profile
Nickname(s)	Red (by Jack)
Gender	Female
Occupation	Former Editor-in-Chief of Restless Style magazine/webzine Formerly employed at Newman Enterprises Former Webmaster and Partner with Nick Newman at Restless Style magazine/webzine Former Head of Clear Springs property development Worked for Jack Abbott campaign for State Senate Former Partner in NVP Retreats Former Director of Internet Affairs at Jabot Cosmetics Former Webmaster at Newman Enterprises Former Glo by Jabot webmaster at Jabot Cosmetics Former Computer operator at a DMS Labs in New York City
Residence	Her Penthouse Genoa City, Wisconsin
Sandra Nelson as Phyllis Romalotti (1998).
Relationships Parents George Summers Lydia Callahan Sibling(s) Avery Bailey Clark Spouse(s) Danny Romalotti (1994-96, 1997-98) Jack Abbott (2001-03) Nicholas Newman (2007-10) Romances Brian Hamilton Peter Garrett Dr. Tim Reid Michael Baldwin Malcolm Winters Sean Bridges Damon Porter Deacon Sharpe Jack Abbott Nicholas Newman Ronan Malloy Children Daniel Romalotti Jr. (son, with Brian, legal with Danny) Unnamed child (sex unknown, with Jack, deceased) Summer Newman (daughter, with Nick) Grandchildren Lucy Summers (via Daniel) Nieces and nephews Reed Hellstrom (godson)

Phyllis Newman (née Summers; formerly Romalotti and Abbott) is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. The character of Phyllis has been portrayed by actress Michelle Stafford from October 17, 1994 to February 17, 1997 and from July 13, 2000 to the present. From March 21, 1997 to February 22, 1999, the role was played by Sandra Nelson. Michelle Stafford has won two Daytime Emmy awards for her portrayal of Phyllis, in 1997 and 2004.

Much of her character history has revolved around her relationships with Danny Romalotti, Jack Abbott, and Nicholas Newman, as well as her rivalries with Christine Blair, Drucilla Winters, Sharon Newman, Diane Jenkins, and most recently her sister Avery Bailey Clark.

Backstory

Phyllis Summers was born on June 14, 1974 in Darien, Connecticut to George Summers and Lydia Callahan Summers. Phyllis runs away from home as a teenager and leaves behind a little sister, who would be revealed to be Avery Clark in 2011. On August 17, 1993, Phyllis gives birth to a son, Daniel who would be fathered by Brian Hamilton who wanted nothing to do with him or his mother. In 1995, George and Lydia came to Genoa City to visit her but she would chase them out of town. As of 2011, Daniel's year of birth has been revised to 1987, which would re-establish Phyllis's year of birth as 1968.

Storylines

1994-03

Phyllis Summers was first seen in Genoa City, as a crazy super fan of rocker Danny Romalotti. She worked at a DNA lab. Phyllis, wanting a lot to do with Danny, drugged him and got in bed with him. She ended up pregnant with his child. Danny divorced his then wife, Christine Blair to do the right thing for the unborn child, and married Phyllis. Christine, wanting revenge dug up dirt from Phyllis' past. Phyllis, insecure that the child wouldn't have been Danny's, altered the DNA tests as she worked there. Danny ended up leaving her, filing for divorce. As a form of revenge on Christine, Phyllis ran over her and Paul Williams with her car on their wedding day. The divorce hearing between Phyllis and Danny was stopped, in order for the two to undergo therapy. Phyllis then had an affair with their psychiatrist , Dr. Time Reid(she seduced him).

Phyllis taped them having sex, and used the sex tape to allow Dr. Time to testify on her side at the courts, so that she and Danny would remain married (Time had previously thought out that the two should divorce as a result of therapy). Despite this, the two ended up divorcing. Phyllis had a relationship with Dr. Time (without revealing her lover's name) to Danny. Time proposed marriage and Phyllis accepted. Phyllis' toddler son, Daniel, became seriously ill with bacterial meningitis and was hospitalized for several weeks. Due to this, Danny re-connected with Phyllis, seeing her as a caring mother and loving wife. However, the person who was involved with Phyllis' not telling Danny that Daniel wasn't really his son (he was actually revealed as the son of Brian Hamilton), the marriage ended. However, Phyllis got into an argument with Sasha (the person who was demanding money from Phyllis in order to keep her secret safe). Sasha then died shortly after, to what seemed like a murder however it was never pronounced whether or not Phyllis was the culprit.

Despite not being his paternal father, Danny fought for his legal son after divorcing Phyllis, with Christine representing him. Michael Baldwin represented Phyllis. Danny won custody and fled down with Phyllis' son. Phyllis got a job working for Malcolm Winters; they flirted however she decided to move in with Michael. They had casual sex, and she got extremely jealous once he began a relationship with Diane Jenkins. Phyllis next relationship was with Jack Abbott, and she left town shortly afterwards. She returned later, as a web designer. Phyllis began working for Jabot Cosmetics, creating the Glo by Jabot successful website. She and Jack re-connected, but she was let go from Jabot, and went to the rival company, Newman Enterprises.

Later Jack and Phyllis despite working for rival companies, fell deeply in love again. The two began a relationship, and opted to have children. However Phyllis, had tubal damage and couldn't carry children. They spent time apart, but reunited shortly after. She married Jack and she was welcomed with open arms back into the family, and the family company Jabot. Phyllis underwent hormone therapy prior to in vitro fertilization, but couldn't handle it and nearly died. Due to mix up, It was revealed that Diane Jenkins's son, Kyle, was fathered by Jack's stolen sperm (no adultery). Jack was happy to father the child, however Phyllis was on edge; but she decided to help Jack with the child and at the same time get Diane (who was now aiming to have Jack for herself) out of their lives. At a custody hearing, Jack lost custody of Kyle due to Phyllis' past. Diane moved into the Abbott Pool house, and schemed to get Phyllis away from Jack (who was spending time with Jack and Kyle in the main house). The Abbott Pool house was set to fire (while Diane was inside) and Phyllis was accused for arson and attempted murder; she was jailed, despite not doing anything, while Diane got closer to Jack.

Phyllis and Jack came up with a plan to blackmail Diane. Phyllis was set free from jail, and they blackmailed Diane into giving Jack full custody of Kyle. Phyllis and Jack went through major marriage issues when their rival companies, Newman and Jabot, had Cosmetics war. Jack filed for divorce several arguments later, and Phyllis lost her job for her wrong doing throughout the situation (almost working for both companies). Phyllis began a relationship with a man named Damon, who she had romanced throughout the situation.

2003—

Danny returned to Genoa City, and it was revealed that the child which Phyllis' had been trying to get information on for years was actually growing up in a boarding school. She was furious that Danny did this to their child. Months later, Daniel Romalotti returned, now a teenager. Phyllis was desperate to form a bond with Daniel, but was forbidden from telling him she was his mother. Despite, she revealed herself to him. Daniel resented both of his parents, believing that Phyllis had abandoned him and that his father had no bother for him, sending him off to boarding school. Eventually, Phyllis and Daniel began a mother-son relationship, and Phyllis' boyfriend Damon really loved Daniel too, as his son had died years ago. Damon nearly died while trying to find his son's killer. His ex wife, Adrienne, returned to town later and Damon left Phyllis, returning to Adrienne and his ranch in Atlanta.

Lily Winters, the daughter of Phyllis's rival Drucilla Winters (Victoria Rowell), became involved with Phyllis' son Daniel. While Dru supported the relationship, Phyllis didn't, wanting nothing to do with Dru or her daughter. The two were forbidden to meet or have a relationship (the story line inspired by Romeo and Juliet). When Daniel ended up drunk at a party, the 14-year-old Cassie Newman (daughter of Sharon and Nick Newman) attempted to drive him home (as she had a crush on him), she crashed the car and died, enraging the Newmans, who wanted Daniel jailed. Daniel was sent to jail for vehicular manslaughter, and went on the run. The situation eventually died off, and Daniel was free. Jack and Phyllis got closer and closer as she began working for Jabot again.

Nick and Phyllis's Relationship—

Around this time, Phyllis began working with Nikki Newman on NVP, a company funded by Newman Enterprises.Phyllis became increasingly aware of Jack's obsession with business and his rivalry with Victor that drew a wedge yet again in their relationship. Phyllis felt betrayed by Jack after he schemed to ruin her and Nikki's business venture and realized that his desire to be on top will overshadow her part in his life which eventually leads her to drift away from him.Nick and Phyllis make a pact that they'll leave what happened between them and their children in the past and they're obvious attraction for each other becomes more apparent during a late work night where Phyllis helped Nick with a computer issue,at Michael's bachelor's party where Phyllis beat all the men and most importantly at Michael & Lauren's wedding where they spent most of the night together. Instead of spending the evening with their respective spouses(one who is out of town and dealing with her own inner feelings for another person and one who's mind is focused on business),they share it together bonding over troubled relationships. Their flirtations continues all the way to Phyllis's loft. They again show each other their playful side by playing a video game. After noticing that there's something different between them during a moment they shared, Nick decides to leave and Phyllis agrees. Nick heads to the door and before leaving says "goodnight" to Phyllis who then replies the same thing. They again have a moment and then Nick goes back in and passionately kisses her. She kisses him back then stops him. After gazing at each other, they kiss again which leads to them having sex.

This sparks an affair with the married Nick Newman after several encounters that made their attraction for each other apparent. Their "no strings attached" affair quickly became more emotionally involved though both at first weren't ready to admit it and both felt guilty about hurting their loved ones. Nick was first to declare that "he had fallen" for the red-headed beauty but Phyllis wasn't ready to face her growing feelings for him. They decide to end their affair after several close calls and have their last intimate time together. That time however got interrupted by a shocked and horrified Daniel. Both had already declared to one and another that they'll cherish the time they spent together no matter what but decided that it was best to final cut ties.(Both were struggling to move on) When Nick's wife Sharon (Sharon Case) found out about this, she asked Nick for a divorce and Sharon and Phyllis's friendship was ruined. Phyllis hoped that Sharon and Nick would work it out though she did in fact fall in love with him. Sharon eventually took him back and Nick was delighted. The reunion did not last long as Phyllis discovered that she was pregnant. She told Michael(and Lauren) and she decided to keep the secret from either Jack or Nick because she felt Jack despised her for cheating on him and she didn't want to ruin Nick's plan of repairing his marriage/family. Nick and Phyllis accidentally boarded the Newman Jet at the same time which eventually was forced to land in Los Alamos,New Mexico after technical problems surfaced.Phyllis played out scenarios of her telling Nick that she was pregnant and decided that it was best not to tell him until she was sure he was the father.After sharing a meal together, reminiscing about their past,slow dancing and sharing a passionate kiss, Nick and Phyllis head off to their own hotel rooms.The next morning Nick realizes that Phyllis had been crying and urges her to let him in because he doesn't want to hurt her again and values their friendship. She eventually reveals to him that she's pregnant as well as telling him that there's a 50% chance that it could be Jack's. Nick apologizes for not being there for Phyllis during this incredibly stressful time in her life.He declares that he will not let her fend for herself and will be there for her from now on. They try to construct a paternity test which leads to Phyllis having to confess to Sharon that she's pregnant after they both get into a car accident in which Phyllis' baby's health is at risk.Sharon struggles with the possibility of her husband sharing a child with his mistress but Nick insists that they shouldn't separate.Nick is revealed to be the father of Phyllis's baby.Sharon realizes that Nick has been holding on to their marriage because he felt obligated to after betraying her and Noah. Sharon declares that she doesn't want to be in a marriage that is based on obligation and they mutually decide to separate after realizing that they have grown apart over the years and the cheating that occurred on both sides was the result of an already broken marriage.Nick then hopes to rekindle his relationship with Phyllis since now nothing is standing in their way of being together. Though Phyllis is hesitant at first, she quickly gives in and Nick and Phyllis embark on a solid relationship. Nick exchanged marriage vows with Phyllis in New Mexico in October 2006. However, the union was not valid in Wisconsin because it has a six month waiting period before you can remarry. In December 2006, Phyllis gave birth to a daughter, who was delivered by ex-husband Jack in the elevator at Newman Enterprises during an ice storm. They named her Summer Ann Newman, due to the ironic fact that she was born in an ice storm and Phyllis' maiden name being Summers.

2007—

When Phyllis and Drucilla were forced to work in the same office, they constantly fought. Phyllis and Drucilla's "bitch fights" often provided the show's comic relief. However, in April 2007, while on location for a photo shoot, Drucilla fell off a cliff during an argument with Phyllis, presumably to her death. While Drucilla's family attended her funeral, Phyllis and Nick held their own memorial service for Drucilla atop the cliff, in which Phyllis tearfully admitted that Drucilla "had the last laugh".

Phyllis and Nick legally wed after the six month waiting period on May 1, 2007, weeks after Sharon married Jack on April 23. However, their marital bliss is short-lived when Nick is presumed dead after a plane crash. When Nick is finally found and makes his way back to Genoa City, he suffers from amnesia, forgetting the last few years of his life and the fact that he is now married to Phyllis and not Sharon. Nick continues to pursue Sharon and the life they once shared but slowly he began to realize why he fell for Phyllis. All during this time, Phyllis is on trial for extortion and when she is found guilty, Nick finally falls in love with Phyllis all over again just as she in sentenced. When she is released, things go well for a while but Sharon continues to be an intruder in their marriage. During this time, Phyllis, Nick, Jack and Sharon develop a company called Restless Style together, a magazine. The company clashes and didn't work out; Jack and Sharon end up leaving. Later on, in Paris during a nostalgic moment about their deceased daughter, Nick kisses Sharon a bridge which Phyllis witnesses. Phyllis tries to hold on to Nick, even getting former enemy Brad Carlton involved, but when her plan to unite Brad and Sharon by breaking up Sharon and Jack backfires, and Sharon is sent into the arms of Nick during another ice storm, where they have sex at the Abbott cabin.

Nick and Phyllis try to reconcile but Nick continues to pander between his past relationship with Sharon and his current relationship with Phyllis, and it only becomes more difficult when Sharon finds out that she is pregnant. When Nick and Phyllis' daughter Summer goes into anaphalatic shock from an allergic reaction to nuts, it reunites them for the sake of their daughter. Seeing the way Phyllis continues to fight for their daughter, Nick realizes how much he still loves her and proposes marriage for a third time. The two are married at The Ranch surrounded by Daniel, Noah, Summer, and Nikki. Soon after Nick is told that the baby Sharon is carrying is his, but he continues to be committed to Phyllis. When the baby is born it is believed to be deceased due to the schemes of Adam Newman, and Phyllis once again helps Nick in his grief for the loss of a daughter. When Phyllis does some digging on Adam she discovers Faith, Sharon and Nick's baby, is alive and helps to reunite them, thus putting another strain on her relationship with Nick. Nick then began to pander between trying to "save" Sharon from her emotional crisis, all while proclaiming to be invested in a future with Phyllis.

By June 2010, Phyllis slowly began to realize that she will never be able to feel that Nick loves only her and starts to question her desperation in trying to hold on to her marriage while Nick will always have divided loyalties. She stands by his side while he's accused of the murder of Adam but decides to leave once the charges are dropped. Nick makes a public speech at a press conference that he wouldn't have gotten through his ordeal without the support of his wife and plans to spend the rest of his life showing her how grateful he is to be her husband but it appears for Phyllis his promises have come too late. On July 9, 2010, Phyllis tells Nick that she knows that he loves her, but can no longer take the back and forth between her and Sharon, saying it's "goodbye forever" before leaving their home. Phyllis then moves into her old penthouse. Nick asks her to give their marriage one last chance, but Phyllis refuses, knowing that he will never truly commit himself to her, and asks Nick to walk away from her, which he does. They are divorced by September 2010.

By April 2011, Phyllis, Nick, and even Adam have attempted to save Sharon in her trial for supposedly killing Skye Lockhart Newman. However, Sharon is eventually found guilty and escapes thanks to Adam setting the whole thing up. Publicly, Adam wants to see Sharon return and convinces Nick and Phyllis to help her. During these past few weeks Nick and Phyllis have drawn closer to each other because of Sharon's trial. In St. Martins while on the search for Sharon and Adam, Nick and Phyllis express their feelings for each other by having sex. In July 2011, Phyllis is hired back at Restless Style by Nick, who bought it back from Billy Abbott. A couple of days later while Nick and Phyllis work to get Restless Style up and running again together but they cannot deny their attraction to each other. Also during this time, both Nick and Phyllis are suspects in the murder of Diane in August 2011. Later on, Sharon's lawyer Avery Bailey Clark was revealed to be Phyllis's younger sister. Avery and Phyllis despise each other, and their rivalry becomes more severe when Avery begins dating Nick.

Afterwards, Nick and Phyllis begin to argue because Phyllis wants to publish a story about the murder of Diane and the growing suspicion on the Newmans, but Nick continuously refuses. This leads to Nick firing Phyllis from the role of chief editor, and Nick eventually sells Restless Style back to Billy. After Nikki returns to town from rehab, more suspicion grows upon her as she disappeared the night of Diane's murder. Phyllis hacks into the Restless Style website and posts a story about Nikki and the murder, which aggravates Billy and his wife Victoria. Phyllis then begins to try and convince Billy to hire her back as chief editor at the magazine, which, after much thought and hesitation, he does.

After months of dating Nick, Avery helps Nick to realize that he was only dating Avery to get back at Phyllis, and that he is still in love with her. He arrives on Phyllis's doorstep saying that he ended things with Avery because he still loves her, leading them to have sex. Since then, Phyllis and Nick have agreed to spend more time together for the sake of Summer, meaning that they will resist the sexual tension between them.

External links

• Phyllis Newman from soapcentral.com